Is rené higuita alive

'Higuita's Rule' cut time wasting and, after 30 years, is still changing football

BOGOTA: Sweeper-keepers such as Manchester City's Ederson, his Brazilian compatriot Alisson Becker at Liverpool and Bayern Munich's Manuel Neuer are all the rage in modern football.

But until FIFA changed the back pass rule 30 years ago, goalkeepers were rarely expected to use their feet to take part in the team's build-up play other than to punt the ball upfield. They could take their time and throw the ball.

Former Colombia international goalkeeper Rene Higuita -- famed for his outrageous overhead scorpion kick -- claims he was responsible for the rule change.

"Football greats like Pele and (Diego) Maradona ... (were) very good players, but they didn't change a rule at FIFA," Higuita told AFP by video call.

In Colombia, the decision to ban goalkeepers picking up a back pass with their hands is known as the "Higuita Rule."

World football's governing body FIFA decided to act After the 1990 World Cup in Italy came in for huge criticism for dull matches that produced a record low 2.2

René Higuita facts for kids

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal family name is Higuita and the second or maternal family name is Zapata.

Higuita in 2007

Date of birth(1966-08-27) 27 August 1966 (age 58)
Place of birthMedellín, Colombia
Height1.75 m
Playing positionGoalkeeper
Current clubAtlético Nacional (goalkeeper coach)
Millonarios
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
1985Millonarios16(7)
1986–1992Atlético Nacional112(1)
1992Real Valladolid15(2)
1993–1997Atlético Nacional69(1)
1997–1998Veracruz30(2)
1999–2000Independiente Medellín20(11)
2000–2001Real Cartagena21(0)
2001–2002Atlético Junior4(0)
2002–2003Deportivo Pereira13(0)
2004Aucas35(3)
2007Guaros FC10(5)
2008Deportivo Rionegro10(3)
2008–2009Deportivo Pereira12(5)
Total380(41)
1987–1999Colombia68(3)
  • Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only.
† Appearances (Goals).

José René Higuita Zapata (Spanish p

A forensic analysis of Maradona’s 2001 testimonial: Higuita, Riquelme…

In 2001, four years after his retirement, Diego Maradona was honoured with a testimonial match: Argentina versus a World XI. It was farcical but entertaining.

Testimonials. Celebrity games for charity. ‘Legends’ tournaments. Football is more nostalgic than ever, and 40-something ex-pros are finding themselves with schedules no less crammed than those of their younger, non-retired counterparts.

Gone are the days when it was rare to see an ageing legend don their old kit. Today, footballers are only ever semi-retired.

What’s more, ex-pros tend to take these kickabouts quite seriously. Certainly, there will be smiles and silly celebrations when the goals go flying in past Jamie Theakston, but the competitive edge remains — and even appears to be growing.

During Andrea Pirlo’s star-studded testimonial in May 2018, the hunger of a 44-year-old Filippo Inzaghi was evidently still there as the Italian threw himself into goalscoring positions. As recently as January 2019, Jason McAteer w

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