World Cup rule suspension attempts to address goalkeeper VAR complaints

FIFA has decided to suspend giving yellow cards to goalkeepers for coming off their line during penalty-kick shootouts.

In a rare move, FIFA announced on Friday that a rule that says goalkeepers must be cautioned for coming off their line on a penalty kick has been suspended in shootouts during the knockout stage at the Women’s World Cup in France.

Under the updated guidelines, goalkeepers at this competition have been given a yellow card if they come off their line prior to a penalty kick being taken. Three goalies were given yellow cards for breaking the rule during the group stage.

Being cautioned, however, has been suspended for penalty shootouts, which will take place if teams are tied after regulation and 30 minutes of overtime.

The request for the rule suspension, in place for the remainder of the tournament, was made by FIFA to the International Football Association Board, the BBC reported.

The IFAB, which oversees any changes to the laws of the game, approved the request.

Pierluigi Collina, Chairman of FIFA’s Refereeing Committee, told FIFA.com there was a fear that the “risk for a second caution was too high considering the number of penalties that are taken.”

Goalkeepers should not totally rejoice. They can still be booked for coming off their line if a penalty is awarded during the course of a game or in overtime.

VAR has not been kind to goalkeepers. Nigeria and Scotland were both burned this past week by such calls. Nigeria was burned by this very rule when a Wendie Renard penalty kick went wide, but ordered to be retaken following a controversial VAR decision. On the second kick, Renard scored and France won 1-0.

Scotland squandered a 3-0 lead against Argentina when a penalty kick in the dying minutes was initially saved by goalkeeper Lee Alexander. A VAR decision ordered the kick re-taken. Alexander could not save the second attempt and the game ended 3-3, eliminating Scotland from the tournament.

“Enforcing the laws is the referees’ task and they cannot refrain from doing it,” Collina said. “However, I have to say referees are doing something extra too as before every penalty kick is taken they are providing a very clear reminder to the goalkeeper what she can do and what she cannot.”

The knockout round starts Saturday when Germany play Nigeria. The undefeated United States plays on Monday against Spain.