A passionate Ghanaian football fan, Maxwell Atuanor Dwirah, has taken his love for the sport to the top levels of world football's rule-making machinery. He has submitted a formal proposal to the International Football Association Board's (IFAB) Laws of the Game Committee, calling for a change to Law 14, which governs penalty kicks. Dwirah's proposal suggests that saved penalties should restart with a goal kick, rather than allowing players to score off the rebound.
Dwirah's argument centers around the idea that goalkeepers who make a save are currently denied the full reward for their effort. He believes that a goalkeeper's save should count fully, rather than merely delaying a goal. In his letter, Dwirah described the current system as unacceptable, insisting that a goalkeeper's save should be the final word, rather than an invitation for a second chance.
The proposed change would mirror the way penalty shootouts conclude, where a goalkeeper's save ends the contest over that ball. Under Dwirah's plan, if a penalty is saved, play would stop and restart with a goal kick. He argues that this change would make penalty situations fairer and give goalkeepers the recognition they deserve for stopping a shot.
Penalty-kick rebounds are a common and often decisive feature of matches in Ghana, from Black Stars World Cup qualifiers to local Ghana Premier League fixtures. A change to Law 14 would alter how referees, players, and goalkeepers approach penalty situations, potentially shifting tactics for both strikers and defenders.
For goalkeepers, the proposal would mean a save is final, rather than provisional. This would change how their performances in big matches are judged and celebrated. The proposal has not yet received a public response from IFAB, and there is no indication of when or if the committee will formally consider it.
IFAB, jointly responsible for deciding football's Laws of the Game alongside FIFA, has not issued a timeline for a decision on Dwirah's proposal. The process for reviewing individual proposals like this one is unclear, but it typically involves approval from the full IFAB board.
For now, the rebound rule remains standard across professional and amateur football worldwide. Any penalty saved in ongoing competitions, including upcoming Black Stars fixtures and domestic league matches, will continue to be live for a follow-up shot unless and until IFAB acts.
Key points
- Maxwell Atuanor Dwirah proposes changing penalty rules so saved penalties restart with a goal kick.
- The proposed change aims to make penalty situations fairer and give goalkeepers recognition for their saves.
- IFAB has not yet responded to Dwirah's proposal, and no timeline for a decision has been given.
