Imagine scoring one of the most dramatic goals of your life—only to find out a year later that it would’ve been disallowed under new rules.
That’s the situation England’s Chloe Kelly might have faced if the proposed football law changes had already been in effect.
On Tuesday night in Switzerland, during a nail-biting Euro 2025 semi-final, Kelly stepped up in the 119th minute to take a penalty that could send England to the final.
Beth Mead had just been dragged down in the box, and the clock was ticking.
A Heart-Stopping Moment in Switzerland
Kelly’s shot, cool and low to the right, was initially saved by Italy’s goalkeeper Laura Giuliani.
But she didn’t give up. As the ball rebounded into play, Kelly chased it down and smashed it home, sparking wild celebrations from the Lionesses and fans alike.
But here’s the twist—under a rule change being explored by football’s top decision-makers, that kind of rebound finish could be completely outlawed.
No More Second Chances?
Football’s law-making body, IFAB (International Football Association Board), is reviewing a major shake-up to how penalties work.
The idea? If a penalty isn’t scored immediately, that’s it.
No rebounds, no chaos in the box—just a goal kick and move on.
The rule would treat a penalty like a one-time shot, similar to how hockey does it.
Either the ball hits the back of the net or it doesn’t. If it doesn’t, play ends right there.
What This Means for the Game
This change wouldn’t just affect future moments like Kelly’s—it would rewrite the history books too.
Think back to Harry Kane’s rebound goal against Denmark in Euro 2020, or Xabi Alonso’s equaliser in Liverpool’s famous 2005 Champions League final.
Under these proposed rules, those goals wouldn’t count.
Officials say the aim is to eliminate controversies like players encroaching before the kick or attackers gaining an unfair edge by reacting first to rebounds.
They argue that the current setup can sometimes feel like defenders are being punished twice—first for the foul, then for the chaotic rebound.
Why Now?
With the 2026 World Cup expanding to 48 teams, IFAB is reportedly keen to modernise and simplify some elements of the game.
The new penalty rule is just one part of a broader reform package under review.
These changes aren’t final yet, but they’d need to be locked in by February 2026 to be implemented in time for the tournament.
VAR Could Get an Upgrade Too
Penalty changes aren’t the only things on IFAB’s radar.
They’re also considering expanding the powers of VAR.
One idea is to allow video checks for second yellow cards and corner kick decisions—but only in cases where there’s a clear error or unfair dismissal that can be reviewed quickly.
Talks Already Happening Behind the Scenes
These proposed changes were discussed at the recent Club World Cup in the United States, where senior figures reportedly expressed growing support for a more modern rulebook.
While nothing’s set in stone yet, the pace of discussions suggests football fans could be watching a very different version of the sport when the 2026 World Cup kicks off.
