27 January 2023 , 13:52
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Goalkeepers are set to be banned from distracting penalty takers after Emi Martinez's antics in the World Cup final proved the final straw for football's lawmakers.
The International Football Association Board are set to introduce new rules to ban keepers from acting in a way that puts off opponents from the spot.
As first reported by The Sun, IFAB will ratify the new rules at their annual general meeting in March before they are officially introduced into the laws of the game.
Argentina keeper Martinez was the hero of their shootout win against France in Qatar last month - having successfully put off Les Bleus players by repeatedly kicking the ball away and delaying their attempts from being taken.
He ended up being booked by referee Szymon Marciniak after France's third penalty. Kingsley Coman and Aurelien Tchouameni missed for the 2018 champions, with Argentina scoring all four of their kicks.
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IFAB's new rules may also stop goalkeepers from dancing or making amusing gestures on their goal-line as that is also seen as a distraction. Martinez could also be seen dancing on his line and shouting during the shootout.
Martinez defended his mind games and insisted that he should have saved Kylian Mbappe's attempt at the beginning of the shootout
"It's a moment that I always have to give to my teammates, they scored three goals against me and it hurt, but then I did everything right. It was a game of suffering, just two efforts against us and they drew level with us," he said.
"It is in this moment that I have to give my teammates peace of mind. I could have stopped it [Mbappe’s penalty] too, I dived badly. But then I did everything right. I have no words for it.
Martinez decided to dance again when he saved a penalty in the World Cup final (FIFA via Getty Images)
Rules will now be changed to prevent a repeat of tactics like those deployed by Martinez (Getty Images)"I was calm during the penalty shootout and everything went as we wanted. All that I have dreamed of has been achieved. To my family, I came from a very humble place, I left when I was very young to England and I want to dedicate it to them."
But the golden glove winner was widely criticised for his actions afterwards, with Ian Wright saying that the now Aston Villa keeper had “crossed the line”.
"I look at Emi Martinez, remember the s***housery with Auba [Martinez tried to put off Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang when he stepped up to take a penalty against Aston Villa in October 2021] and all that stuff he was doing at ," Wright told the three days after the final.
"I was thinking this guy is going to go to another level of s***housery if this final goes to penalties. And he did. I like Emi but what he did in the penalty shootout crossed the line, in respect of sportsmanship. He crossed the line."