A recent FIFA law change regarding goal kicks resulted in a rather interesting piece of rule bending today, by Portuguese team Benfica on 28th. The rules state that goal kicks no longer need to leave the area, and as such here we see Benfica goalkeeper Odisseas Vlachodimos flick the ball to a centreback who then heads it back to him. This allows the keeper to then throw the ball in something of a surprise to the opposing side!
Sortie de balle 6 mètres? pic.twitter.com/tgXv7WaoIh
— La Gazette Tactique (@Gazettetactique) July 29, 2019
Whether this cheely method of avoiding the back pass rule will be stamped out is anyone’s guess, though perhaps it can be considered unsporting behavior!