Collina: legendary Italian ref calls for penalty kick rule change | OneFootball

Legendary Italian referee Pierluigi Collina believes the penalty kick rule should be changed, not allowing the penalty taker to get on the rebound after a goalkeeper’s save.

Former Italian referee Collina believes 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.

Collina: legendary Italian ref calls for penalty kick rule change

RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA – JANUARY 03: Michele Di Gregorio of Juventus fails to make a save as Christian Pulisic of AC Milan scores his team’s first goal from a penalty kick during the Italian Super Cup Semi-Final match between AC Milan and Juventus at Al Awwal Park on January 03, 2025 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (Photo by Abdullah Ahmed/Getty Images)

“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,

A 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 will turn 65 on February 13.