Pierluigi Collina says Premier League will have to adopt FIFA rules on keeper encroachment

FIFA refereeing chief Pierluigi Collina says the Premier League will have to use the Video Assistant Referee to check whether goalkeepers have moved off their line to save a penalty next season.

The issue has become a talking point at the Women’s World Cup in France after VAR checks led to the re-taking of several penalties after ruling keepers did not have at least part of one foot on the goalline.

Professional Game Match Officials Limited, who oversee referees in the Premier League, which will see VAR used for the first time from August, have decided that these decisions will be left to on-field officials instead of VAR.

FIFA referees Pierluigi Collina has appeared to contradict the Premier League on enforcing a rule about VAR being used to check goalkeeper encroachment at penalties

There has been a debate over whether VAR should check for goalkeepers moving off their line

But Collina, chairman of FIFA’s refereeing committee, challenged this by saying that the same laws of the game must be enforced in every country.

Speaking in a press conference on Wednesday, Collina said: ‘I didn’t see any document in which this is written.

‘The laws are the same all over the world. What is written in the laws of the game has to be enforced in every one of the countries that belong to FIFA and in every one of the competitions arranged by the member associations of FIFA.’

World football’s law-making body, the International Football Association Board, introduced a new rule shortly before the Women’s World Cup to address the issue of goalkeeper encroachment when penalties are taken.

It stated that keepers must have at least one foot on the goalline when a penalty is taken or, if they are jumping at the time of contact, have one foot in line with it.

Lee Alexander was booked for Scotland after coming off her line for a penalty kick

The Scotland goalkeeper had saved a late penalty during a clash against Argentina

But VAR reviews showed the keeper had just come off her line, leading to a retake

With referees keeping a close eye on this during the Women’s World Cup, there have been a number of high profile incidents.

Scotland were eliminated after the group stage after Argentina were able to re-take a penalty that had initially been saved by their keeper Lee Alexander.

She was judged not to have had at least part of her foot on the line when Argentina’s Florencia Bonsegundo struck the ball. Bonsegundo scored the second attempt, earning a 3-3 draw that eliminated Scotland.

Hosts France also benefited from the rule during the group phase when Nigeria keeper Chiamaka Nnadozie stepped off her line before Wendy Renard’s kick hit the post.

Renard duly scored the winning goal at the second time of asking.