With the World Cup in South Africa fast approaching, FIFA has announced its decision to change the rules regarding the controversial penalty-kick maneuver known as the paradinha (pronounced par-a-JEEN-ya).
The move means “little stop” in Portuguese and it’s designed to throw off the goalkeeper’s timing by the shooter who pauses unexpectedly before striking the ball on a penalty kick.
The paradinha, which was first popularized by the soccer legend Pelé in the 1970s, has become a growing trend in Brazil in the past years.
The tricky tactic is rather effective, but it’s not quite sporting, and so penalty takers will no longer be allowed to be deceptive as they are about to kick the ball.
[video:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Gf97iiJdiE&feature=player_embedded]
Photo: Brazilian goalkeeper Taffarel defending a penalty-kick
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Wow I never knew about Paradinha (pronounced par-a-JEEN-ya), I am a big fan of football and I like the tricks in football very much. As the information given above Pele in 1970’s introduced this style, now it means the sports are coming up with fifth gear technologies not only on football but in other sports as well. Now we need to see the new Era of the sports and I guess it will be more exiting.