IFAB addresses ”ridiculous” Premier League penalty rule following the degree of confusion in the immediate aftermath.

New rules that could be introduced in the Premier League and Champions League were under the spotlight at the 133rd annual general meeting of the International Football Association Board (IFAB) this weekend.

But one of those that was NOT was the suggestion that a penalty that is saved or hits the post would see play stop dead.

On Monday it was suggested that the IFAB has decided to change the penalty law for efforts that are either repelled by the goalkeeper or strike the woodwork and stay in play.

As such, tap-ins would be a thing of the past – and so too would defenders looking to rush into the penalty area.

On Sky Sports, former Premier League official Dermot Gallagher was called in to explain the supposed new law and how it would work.

Pickford denied Pogba from 12 yards earlier this season – but the Frenchman scored the rebound (Image: Getty Images)

He explained: “We’ve seen Manchester United’s Paul Pogba this year score a penalty from his own rebound and on Saturday the Arsenal penalty was saved and the players chased it down and the ball was still alive.

“Now if it hits the post or the goalkeeper saves and it comes back out to the forward, the game will be stopped, there’ll be no second chance.” That is simply not true.

Dermot Gallagher on Sky Sports (Image: Sky Sports)

The IFAB did think about it, but dropped the idea back in November. As such it wasn’t on the agenda in Aberdeen last week at the AGM.

Thus, while rebounds remain very much a thing, so too will encroachment, as defenders seek to get back to clear potential rebounds ahead of the penalty-taker -such as that from Jan Vertonghen in the weekend’s north London derby.

Vertonghen was well in the area as Aubameyang struck

Instead, discussions in Scotland were focused on other areas looking to fine-tune laws such as handball and the continued use – and improvement – of VAR.

The IFAB agreed that a definition of handball needs to be “more precise”.

“On the topic of defining handball, a decision was taken by The IFAB to provide a more precise and detailed definition for what constitutes handball, in particular with regard to the occasions when a non-deliberate/accidental handball will be penalised.

“For example a goal scored directly from the hand/arm (even if accidental) and a player scoring or creating a goal-scoring opportunity after having gained possession/control of the ball from their hand/arm (even if accidental) will no longer be allowed.”

This will not count from next season (Image: Sky Sports)

That would see efforts such as Willy Boly for Wolves vs Man City and Sergio Aguero for City vs Arsenal – both earlier this season – ruled out.

The IFAB also approved substitutes can leave the pitch at the nearest touchline, rather than needing to exit at the halfway line, in a bid to eradicate time-wasting and that attacking players must be one metre from a defensive wall at set-pieces.

One penalty rule that is set to change however regards goalkeepers, who will only need to have one foot on the line at a penalty, as of 2019-20.

I really do not have any issue with the new modification by IFAB.the new rules are welcomed and I’m sure the players and coaches will get familiar with those rules as soon as possible as it is set to start been implemented in june..@metro977fm— Salami Sodiq (@salami_sidiq) March 5, 2019

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