Arsenal would have loved imminent new FIFA rule change in Champions League final - ex-refs chief

Arsenal would have benefitted from a sudden rule change FIFA are plotting to introduce at the World Cup, ex-refs chief Keith Hackett has told Football Insider.

The Gunners were on the wrong end of the current coin toss rule in the Champions League final as Paris Saint-Germain captain Achraf Hakimi decided that the spot-kicks would take place in front of the French club's fans and then opted to take them first.

Mikel Arteta's team lost both tosses and eventually saw Gabriel Magalhaes miss the fifth penalty as the Ligue 1 outfit won back-to-back UCL titles.

FIFA have now asked IFAB to change the law so it's just one coin toss, with the winner choosing the end or who kicks first and the loser getting the second option.

Before the knockout stages of the 2026 World Cup, the governing body of football want the change to come into effect.

The final group stage game will take place between Jordan and Argentina in the early hours of 28 June before the first round of 32 commences.

Keith Hackett is fully behind FIFA's desire to change the laws of penalty shootouts, which would result in quicker outcomes.

The ex-PGMOL chief wonders why it wasn't brought up sooner, though, considering the World Cup is already underway.

Towards the end of April, IFAB held a special meeting in Vancouver, during which two major FIFA-proposed amendments were implemented, including the rule that players receive red cards for covering their mouths.

Speaking to Football Insider, Hackett said, "It's a change that I would support and delivers a much speedier outcome. Arsenal would have liked it in the final as well.

"However, I wonder why they didn't raise this idea when FIFA and IFAB had a special meeting in Canada. This is the meeting where, afterwards, they announced that a red card would be issued to a player covering their mouth."

At the moment, two of the tournament's hosts, Mexico and the USA, have booked their place in the round of 32, with Germany, Argentina, France and Norway.

On 22 June, La Albiceleste beat Austria after Lionel Messi's brace and Didier Deschamps' team got the better of Iraq in a 3-0 win as Kylian Mbappe bagged two goals.

France and Norway face each other on 26 June in their final group stage fixture, but Erling Haaland has already helped his nation qualify after his brace against Senegal in the Scandinavian nation's 3-2 victory.