The International Board has published some changes to soccer regulations that will take effect as of July 1 this year, and one of the changes includes a specific prohibition for goalkeepers during penalty kicks. According to the new regulations, the goalkeeper must remain on his goal line, between the goal posts, without touching any element of the goal and without distracting the kick taker. This means that goalkeepers will no longer be allowed to delay the penalty kick or talk to the referee or the kicker before the kick.
This change is a direct reaction to the behavior of Argentine goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez, who has used various distraction strategies against penalty takers in previous matches. The regulations also include a new provision regarding warnings and cautions during a penalty shootout: these will not be taken into account. Therefore, if a player carries a caution and commits a yellow card foul during the shootout, he will not be sent off but will receive another yellow card.
Other updates to the regulations include a clarification on when a defender who commits an infraction inside the area after a penalty kick should be penalized. If the infraction is in the contest for the ball, a yellow card will be given. If it is a “grab, pull, push, or failure to play the ball,” the offender will be sent off. In addition, the International Board has clarified that if there is field encroachment during a goal, the goal will only be disallowed if the person encroaching interferes with play.