German FA Appeals To FIFA To Overturn 'Double Punishment' Rule

Ahead of next week's annual meeting of the International Football Association Board, the DFB (German FA) HAS announced that it will make an appeal to abolish the 'double punishment' rule given for certain fouls in the penalty area.

According to FIFA's Laws of the Game, any foul committed inside the penalty area is punished with a penalty kick. Additionally, any foul committed on a player adjudged to have a clear path to goal is to be automatically punished with a red card. Accordingly, a foul inside the penalty box that also denies a clear chance on goal is punished with both a red card for the perpetrator and a penalty kick for the team that drew the foul.

If the DFB has its way, only a spot-kick will be awarded for a foul inside the penalty area, even if the transgression denies a clear chance on goal.