FIFA considers new regulation that may favour Dibu Martinez

Football, like any sport, is a constantly evolving organism. Its rules, designed to guarantee fairness and beauty of play, are the subject of debate and periodic revision. In this context, the proposal of Pierluigi Collina, an iconic figure of world refereeing, has generated great interest in the football environment.

Collina, in a recent interview, expressed his concern about the disproportion between the opportunities of the executor and the goalkeeper in penalties. According to his statistics, about 75% of penalties are converted into goals, which suggests a clear advantage for the attackers. In addition, the possibility of a rebound after the first attempt of the executor adds an element of uncertainty that, on occasions, can favour the team that launches the penalty.

To address this situation, Collina proposes a radical modification in the execution of penalties: the implementation of the "single shot" rule. This rule, similar to that used in penalty shootouts after extra time, would eliminate the possibility of additional shots. If the goalkeeper stops the penalty or the ball goes wide, the game would resume with a goal kick.

"I think there is an excessive gap between the opportunities that the executor and the goalkeeper have," Collina said. "On top of that, there is also the possibility of the rebound against the goalkeeper. One solution is the 'single shot' rule... This would also eliminate the spectacle we see before a penalty is taken, with everyone crowding around the area. They look like horses at the starting gates before a race."

Collina's words have resonated in the world of football, generating an intense debate. On the one hand, defenders of this proposal argue that the "single shot" rule would balance the forces at play, giving the goalkeeper a greater opportunity to stop the penalty. In addition, it would eliminate the element of distraction and psychological pressure that goalkeepers often experience before the execution.

On the other hand, detractors of this proposal believe that it would eliminate one of the most exciting moments of a football match. The suspense generated by the possibility of a rebound or a spectacular save is, for many fans, an essential part of the appeal of penalties.

Beyond the conflicting opinions, the truth is that Collina's proposal has opened a crucial debate about the future of penalties in football. FIFA, as the highest governing body of the sport, must carefully evaluate the pros and cons of this proposal before making a decision in this regard.