ZURICH: A request from UEFA to change the so-called triple punishment rule has been rejected by soccer’s law-making body while a proposal to study the use of video technology also got short shrift.
The International Football Association Board (IFAB) said yesterday that it was concerned that changing the controversial rule would re-open the door for goalkeepers to commit cynical fouls to prevent clear scoring opportunities.
“We don’t want to flip back to where we were before where some goalkeepers knew that if they could not be sent off, they would simply take out the attacker,” board member Stewart Regan told reporters.
The so-called triple punishment happens when a defender or goalkeeper denies an opposing forward a clear scoring opportunity in the penalty area.
The defender is sent off, concedes a penalty and also has to serve an automatic one-match suspension.
Critics say that it can completely kill a game. Supporters say it prevents more cynical fouling taking place than already exists.
Manchester City were on the wrong end of such a decision in their Champions League tie at home to Barcelona as were Arsenal against Bayern Munich.
FIFA secretary general Jerome Valcke said UEFA had written to the board asking for the rule to be changed.
“Again, there was a lot of discussion and it was not approved,” he said, adding that IFAB would instead send the matter to its two specialist panels for further debate.
“We know that is something the football community feel really strongly about. It will make such an impact on the game of football if it’s changed, we have got to get it right,” said Regan, the chief executive of the Scottish FA.
“A lot of us felt that taking UEFA’s wording would reopen the door for cynical fouls,” added Alex Horne, another board member and chief executive of the English FA.
“That is not to say we don’t listen, we don’t understand. “Maybe we just need to re-educate people about why it was introduced in the first place.”
Valcke said that the use of videos to help match officials had been ruled out altogether.
“There is a risk that using the video will change the nature of the game and maybe we will reach the day when the referee will ask one day to stop the game to make sure he has made the right decision,” said Valcke. “The use of video will not be in the game apart from goal line technology.”
REUTERS
