In Brazil they call it the paradinha (little stop)
At the World Cup, they're going to call it illegal.
The IFAB Board, chaired by FIFA Godfather Sepp Blatter – who, if he had his way, would replace the four members from the Home Countries with much more pliable guys – has voted to call the PK "feint" routine "unsporting conduct" beginning on June 1 of this year and thereby just in time for the World Cup.
Here's an example of what they're talking about:
The announcement was made by FIFA secretary general Jerome Valcke, who told a press conference held at the organizations headquarters in Switzerland that:
"Feinting in the run-up to take a penalty kick to confuse opponents is permitted, however feinting to kick the ball once the player has completed his run-up is now considered an infringement… and an act of unsporting behaviour for which the player must be cautioned."
(Note that, apparently, the second guy in the video above would not be penalized; you can still stutter-step on the way to the ball. The rule simply says that once you get there you have to kick it, not do a Samba)
FIFA doesn't normally like to institute last minute rule changes just prior to a World Cup (they've been known to make some minor tweaks) but apparently they felt this was urgent enough to make an exception. Valcke added that "We will work with the players and the referees to make sure they understand exactly what the new rule is".
This is reportedly all the rage in South America now, the rest of the world not so much.
But I'm sure we can agree that all things considered nobody wants to see a critical World Cup match – let alone, God forbid, a final – decided by ten guys who stroll up to the ball and wave their foot around until the keeper dives one way or the other.
It's quite likely that nobody on the IFAB has ever heard of Jim Rome or PTI but we should send them a thank you on behalf of all American Soccer fans who will now be spared the derision, mockery and shame that surely would have followed a World Cup championship being decided by flummery.