IFAB's scores an own goal with latest rule changes

England Women's European Championship semi final was edging towards a penalty shootout when England, with moments to play, were awared a penalty.

Up stepped Chloe Kelly, whose spot kick was saved by Italy's Laura Giuliani. But Kelly was on the ball and already following up to tuck it under the unfortunate Giuliani, firing England to the final.

It was thrilling, an edge of your seat, will-she-won't-she moment as Kelly closed in on goal and Giuliani desperately got to her feet to try and block the follow up. Heart stopping moments like that are what you watch football for.

Fast forward one year and that goal doesn't stand. IFAB - the game's lawmakers - is planning to change the laws so that if a penalty is saved, the ball is considered dead and no rebound will be allowed. Play will restart with a goal kick, even if the keepers pushes it behind.

England's Chloe Kelly's follow up will not be allowed next season if the rules are changed

There is no good reason whatsoever for the rule makers to interfere here in a 134-year rule. Part of the excitement of a penalty is all the players lining up to follow in, what happens if the keeper saves or the ball hits the woodwork and rebounds. We've seen plenty of thrilling goalmouth scrambles in the past as a result of a missed penalty. And as a defensive team there's nothing more glorious than seeing a penalty saved then the opposing team failing to score from a follow up. It's just so exciting.

The argument for centres around rebalancing the moment in favour of the defensive team - the attackers have already been given an advantage with the penalty, why should they have another with a rebound? Fine, well here's an idea: don't give away a penalty in the first place. And anyway, unless the ball goes straight back to the striker, it's a 50/50 full on charge to get to it first between defenders and attackers.

So why are IFAB interfering where they are not wanted? We discussed this on the Road to World Cup 26 podcast last week and my co-host Ken seemed to think it was to bring it into line with penalty shootouts, where of course no rebounds are allowed.

But penalty shootouts are completely different to a penalty kick during open play. They a standalone, specific way to decide a match, not just part of the overall game where the game continues when the penalty is taken.

By changing the rule, IFAB is denying supporters excitement in favour of sterilisation, and for no apparent reason. UEFA, with a glimmer of hope, have already said they don't want this rule change. Let's hope when they come to vote, common sense will prevail.