French Proligue to introduce penalty shootouts for draws

The Ligue Nationale de Handball (LNH) has announced a significant rule change for the French Proligue, set to take effect from the 2026/27 season. Under the new system, matches that end in a draw after 60 minutes will proceed to a penalty shootout to determine a bonus point.

Both teams will retain the single point earned from the initial draw. The winner of the seven-meter penalty duel will receive an additional bonus point, bringing their total to two points, equivalent to a standard victory. This model, which has been utilized in leagues such as the Polish Superliga, aims to increase intensity and drama for both live spectators and television audiences.

In the previous season, 11 matches in the Proligue ended without a winner after regulation time, with US Ivry recording the highest number of draws at four matches.