According to reports, the International Football Association Board (IFAB) is looking to address actions such as those of Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez during the World Cup final. Martinez was accused of using various methods to distract French players during the penalty shootout in the final match. This included walking out of his goal line, moving from side to side, and making sudden movements. These actions, which are not explicitly prohibited by the current rules, were seen as an attempt to influence the outcome of the shootout.
As a result of Martinez’s actions, FIFA announced that the goalkeeper had violated their code of conduct and warned him about his conduct in future matches. However, the incident has sparked a debate about whether the current rules are adequate to deal with such tactics. Critics argue that the current rules lack clarity and are open to interpretation, making it difficult for referees to penalize goalkeepers who engage in such behavior.
In light of this, the IFAB is reportedly considering changes to the rules to prevent similar actions from happening in the future. These changes could include specific guidelines on the behavior of goalkeepers during penalty shootouts or new penalties for goalkeepers who break the rules. However, it is important to note that the IFAB has not officially confirmed these reports, and it is not yet clear what specific changes, if any, will be made.
It should be noted that as of now there is no official statement from IFAB about this, and the news is based on reports circulating in the media. The IFAB is the body responsible for the laws of the game, and any rule changes would need to be approved by them.