By Soccernet staff
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Players may no longer be sent off for fouls which deny
an obvious goal-scoring opportunity if the referee gives a penalty
as well, under a proposal submitted to the game's rulemaking
body.
There has been a growing chorus of opinion that the punishment
is too harsh - a penalty, a red card for the defender and a
subsequent suspension.
FIFA have submitted the item to the International Football
Associations Board (IFAB) meeting on March 6 and the outcome may be
that the offence is downgraded to a yellow card if a penalty is
awarded.
The IFAB agenda released today says the FIFA submission is "to
discuss sending-off offences, particularly the triple punishment
(penalty kick, red card, player suspension) that results when a
player denies an obvious goal-scoring opportunity to the opposing
team''.
FIFA are also raising the issue of whether players should be
allowed to feint at all during the run-up to take a penalty - for
some penalty-takers such as Robbie Keane it has become a trademark
of their spot-kick routine.
The current law is open to interpretation with feinting being
permitted unless the referee considers it "an act of unsporting
behaviour''.
The latest developments in goal-line technology and the on-going
experiment in the Europa League of having two extra assistant
referees behind each goal-line will also be discussed at the
meeting in Zurich.
The IFAB is made up of the four home nations, who each have one
vote, and FIFA, who have four. Any rule change needs a minimum of
six votes in favour.