Mike Maignan has a hilarious reaction to IFAB's goalkeeper rule changes during penalties

AC Milan #1 Mike Maignan was vocal on Twitter about his thoughts on IFAB's new rule changes to goalkeepers while a penalty is being taken.

IFAB have recently announced some changes to rules on penalties, and they are all to do with restricting goalkeepers from taunting or distracting the penalty taker.

The rules state that, from the 1st of July: Goalkeepers cannot touch goalposts and nets, delay the execution of penalty, unfairly distract the taker, demonstrate behaviours that fail to show respect.

These new rules seem to favour the penalty-takers in every aspect, which adds to the clamping down on the strictness of goalkeepers staying on their line during penalties in the past few years.

It is fair then, that goalkeepers may feel hard done by by these new rules and regulations which they will have to abide by.

Mike Maignan has openly shared his thoughts on social media, saying (translated):

New IFAB rules for penalties in 2026:

Goalkeepers must have their backs to the shot.

In case of stoppage, indirect free kick.

Nouvelles règles de l'IFAB pour les penalties en 2026:

🔄Les gardiens devront être de dos au moment du tir
❌En cas d'arrêt, coup-franc indirect https://t.co/nRpa0wi0b2

— Magic Mike Maignan (@mmseize) March 25, 2023

Maignan is clearly not thrilled at these rule changes, with his sarcasm coming across in the tweet.

The new rules do seem to scrutinise the actions of goalkeepers, but things like stuttered penalty run-ups or slowed penalty run-ups, which put the goalkeeper at a disadvantage, have not been mentioned in the new rules.

Fans have had differing opinions, with some saying that these new rules are taking out a vital part of the game, and others saying that they should start looking at styles run-ups from penalty-takers that can distract the goalkeepers.