Retired Italian referee, Collina calls for change in Penalty Kick rule

By Emuobonuvie Ojeni

Former Italian referee Pierluigi Collina believes that the penalty kick rule should be changed, not allowing penalty takers to score on the rebound.

“I believe there is an excessive gap between the opportunities available to the attacker and those of the goalkeeper,” Collina told Repubblica.

“On average, 75% of penalties are already scored, and often, the penalty kick is a bigger chance than the one taken away by the foul.

“On top of that, the attacker is also given a chance to play the rebound off the goalkeeper. In my opinion, goalkeepers should be complaining.

I’ve already mentioned this in discussions we’ve had at IFAB,” continued the former referee.

“One solution is the ‘one shot’ rule. Just like in penalty shootouts after extra time.

“No rebound. Either you score or play resumes with a goal kick, period. This would also eliminate the spectacle we see before a penalty is taken, with everyone crowding around the area. It looks like horses at the starting gates before the Palio di Siena.”

Collina is one of football’s most legendary referees. Officiating from 1988 to 2005, he refereed the 1999 UEFA Champions League final and the 2002 FIFA World Cup final.

Aside from big games in domestic competitions in Italy, other notable games that Collina refereed are the 1996 Olympic Games Final between Nigeria and Argentina, the 2003-04 UEFA Cup Final won by Valencia against Marseille and even a Tunisian Cup Final in 1989-99,

Six-time IFFHS Best Referee award winner, Collina became UEFA’s chief refereeing officer in 2017.

Collina officiated 240 Serie A matches, debuting on December 15, 1991, in Verona vs. Ascoli. His last game was in May 2005, a 3-0 win Fiorentina win over Brescia at the Stadio Franchi.

Born in Bologna in 1960, Collina turned 65 on February 13.