Pierluigi Collina Proposes a Radical Change to Penalty Rule

Legendary referee Pierluigi Collina believes that football’s penalty rule needs a significant change. The Italian has suggested banning attackers from scoring on rebound attempts after a goalkeeper’s save.

"I think there is a huge gap between the opportunities available to the striker and the goalkeeper," Collina said in an interview with Repubblica.

"On average, 75% of penalties are converted, and often a penalty is the biggest chance to score. To add to that, the striker is given an additional opportunity if the goalkeeper makes a save. If anyone should be complaining, it’s the goalkeepers."

"One solution could be the 'one-strike' rule—just like during penalty shootouts after extra time. No rebounds. Either you score, or the game restarts with a goal kick. That’s it. It would also eliminate the chaos around the penalty area before the kick, where players crowd in anticipation of a rebound."

Collina is widely regarded as one of the greatest referees in football history. Active from 1988 to 2005, he officiated many iconic matches, including the 1999 Champions League Final and the 2002 World Cup Final.