Premier League penalty rule is NOT changing - despite reports claiming otherwise

The ball will remain in play in the event of a penalty kick rebounding from the goalkeeper, crossbar or goalposts. [Courtesy]

New rules that could be introduced in the Premier League and Champions League were under the spotlight at the 133rd annual general meeting of the International Football Association Board (IFAB) this weekend.

But one of those that was NOT was the suggestion that a penalty that is saved or hits the post would see play stop dead.

On Monday it was suggested that the IFAB has decided to change the penalty law for efforts that are either repelled by the goalkeeper or strike the woodwork and stay in play.

As such, tap ins would be a thing of the past - and so too would defenders looking to rush into the penalty area.

On Sky Sports, former Premier League official Dermot Gallagher was called in to explain the supposed new law and how it would work.

He explained: "We've seen Manchester United's Paul Pogba this year score a penalty from his own rebound and on Saturday the Arsenal penalty was saved and the players chased it down and the ball was still alive.

"Now if it hits the post or the goalkeeper saves and it comes back out to the forward, the game will be stopped, there'll be no second chance.”

That is simply not true.

The IFAB did think about it, but dropped the idea back in November. As such it wasn't on the agenda in Aberdeen last week at the AGM.

Thus, while rebounds remain very much a thing, so too will encroachment, as defenders seek to get back to clear potential rebounds ahead of the penalty-taker -such as that from Jan Vertonghen in the weekend's north London derby.

On Tuesday, the IFAB declared: "Contrary to some incorrect reports in the media related to the penalty kick procedure (Law 14), the ball will remain in play in the event of a penalty kick rebounding from the goalkeeper, crossbar or goalposts."

Instead, discussions in Scotland were focused on other areas looking to fine-tune laws such as handball and the continued use - and improvement - of VAR.

Arsenal penalty was saved and the players chased it down and the ball was still alive. [Courtesy]

The IFAB agreed that a definition of handball needs to be “more precise”.

"On the topic of defining handball, a decision was taken by The IFAB to provide a more precise and detailed definition for what constitutes handball, in particular with regard to the occasions when a non-deliberate/accidental handball will be penalised.

"For example a goal scored directly from the hand/arm (even if accidental) and a player scoring or creating a goal-scoring opportunity after having gained possession/control of the ball from their hand/arm (even if accidental) will no longer be allowed.”

That would see efforts such as Willy Boly for Wolves vs Man City and Sergio Aguero for City vs Arsenal - both earlier this season - ruled out.

The IFAB also approved substitutes can leave the pitch at the nearest touchline, rather than needing to exit at the halfway line, in a bid to eradicate time-wasting and that attacking players must be one metre from a defensive wall at set-pieces.

One penalty rule that is set to change however regards goalkeepers, who will only need to have one foot on the line at a penalty, as of 2019-20.