News, goals, and analysis – only on the official A BOLA app. World Cup The FIFA has reversed its intention to change the penalty shootout draw to just one, instead of the usual two. According to the BBC, the idea did not come to fruition in time, and the traditional framework was maintained just before the Canada – South Africa match, the first game of the Round of 16. The governing body of the sport aimed to make changes in this area and, according to The Times from England, there were discussions with the IFAB (the body responsible for football rules for 140 years) and the introduction of the new model was even considered during the competition. The reasons for the measure not being implemented are still unknown, but it is very likely that FIFA will revisit the issue soon because its officials believe that having two draws could lead to a potential imbalance if one team wins both decisions. This means that the respective captain, in the coin toss, could choose the side of the field where the tiebreaker will be played (usually the side where their fans are) and also the order of who kicks (first or last, depending on preferences). For FIFA, the ideal situation is to have only one draw: whoever wins, and if they prefer to choose the field, the other team decides to kick first or second. Essentially, it’s like the draw at the beginning of the match: whoever chooses the field, the other team gets the ball. For now, however, nothing changes… in a World Cup that will go down in history for so many changes, from the record number of teams, the first to be held in three countries, hydration breaks, and changes in rules (time limits for throw-ins, goal kicks, substitutions, VAR intervention on corners or double yellows) and the minute out if the medical team is called for assistance without a yellow card for the opponent.
Read more in Serie A news. and related tags: Penalty Shootouts News, South Africa.