France’s Mike Maignan hits out penalty rules after Robert Lewandowski retake

Mike Maignan’s (28) views on penalty rules have been clear for some time. The AC Milan goalkeeper believes that the penalty taker is afforded too many advantages by the current rules, a fact he once again pointed out after Tuesday’s incident between France and Poland.

In 2023, IFAB changed the rules for goalkeepers in penalties. It was no longer permitted to delay the taking of the penalty, a tactic notably used by Emi Martinez to destabilise the taker, whilst it was also banned for goalkeepers to touch the posts or the bar, as had become customary for many goalkeepers.

At the time, Maignan poked fun at the new rules, joking that in 2026, IFAB would create a new set of rules that meant goalkeepers would have to be facing backwards as the penalty was taken and that, should the taker miss, an indirect free-kick would be awarded.

Maignan has now expressed his frustration at Robert Lewandowski’s retake in Les Bleus’ 1-1 draw against Poland. The Barcelona forward stuttered as he took his penalty, which was initially saved by the AC Milan shot-stopper. However, Maignan had come slightly off his line before making the save. The penalty was retaken, and scored, by Lewandowski.

The former Lille OSC goalkeeper then shared a story from the agency Excellence Sport Nation that read: “while the striker makes his 87th stutter in the run-up.” Maignan shared the story, adding a sprinkling of emojis to voice his frustration.

GFFN | Luke Entwistle