Penalty rule changed for World Cup 2010

The controversial act of feinting a penalty kick has been classified as a yellow card offence under new rulings.
Penalty takers will no longer be allowed to stop at the end of their run in an attempt to get an advantage over goalkeepers.

I think it’s a good ruling as I have long believed it is bad sportsmanship to do this and it’s up there with diving as a way of cheating. My only concern is that the ruling is, as per usual, not enough. Runners can still pause mid-run in order to try to confuse a keeper. It seems to me then that this will turn out to be a pointless ruling.

English referee, Howard Webb. We applaud you.

Howard Webb is not like most other English football professionals. He actually did make it to Euro 2008!

Not only did he make it but he is doing rather well there too.

Last night in a tight, highly charged game between Austria and Poland he awarded an injury time penalty to the joint hosts which gave them an equalizer against the Poles.

Many people where quick to comment on the penalty award, of course the Poles believed that they where victims in some sort of conspiracy to ensure one of the host nations at least had another meaningful game in the tournament.

I think it was an excellent decision. Just seconds before Mr. Webb had warned the Poles about their jostling and shirt pulling in the box and they, as most professional footballers these days, paid absolutely no attention to the official and immediately grabbed the shirt of his opponent once again.

Yes I know we see this game in game out without punishment but the fact is it’s a foul. And the only reason we do see it game in game out is because referees don’t have the guts to punish the players as Howard Webb did.

I am thrilled to see UEFA have backed him up and agree he was in the right to do as he did.

I think Mr Webb will now be regarded and respected during games by players much as Mr Colina was for many years.

Footballers need to learn the rules and abide by them, yelling and screaming at referees should be an instant red card in my opinion. Never in rugby union would you see an official stand for any such abuse.

So I just wanted to say well done Howard Webb, Sideline Soccer salutes you.

I was just searching for a video of the penalty award and was going to ask you all to comment on what you thought of the decision. I searched you tube and it just resulted in many abusive videos compiled by Poles (most of them probably living in the UK!!) launching hate messages at Mr Webb.
Isn’t it funny how they seem to have forgotten that they where totally outplayed in the first half and their own goal was clearly offside. IDIOTS!

Please comment on the decision.