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Kicks from the Penalty Mark

The aim of this page is to deal correctly with penalty 'shoot outs' that decide the outcome of a game.

Introduction:

Dopey Penalty Ref Cartoon By Julian Carosi

Penalty Shoot Out Card:
Referees' Position:
Procedure:
Questions and Answers:

Introduction:              Go to top of this page

Taking kicks from the penalty mark is a method of determining a result where competition rules require there to be a winning team after a match has been drawn, or following the playing of extra time when the score is still level.

Penalty kicks can be one of the most dramatic events in a game of football (soccer). They can also be one of the most nerve-wracking and stressful occasions. This is a very tense and immediate way of reaching a conclusion for the result of a drawn game. It has a highly ritualised feel to it, and there are a number of procedures that must be adhered to by both teams. Television has 'milked' the drama of these situations, particularly when the result leads to winning an important Cup Competition.

For specific details covering the procedure for taking penalties, the position and placement of the ball, infringements and sanctions etc. - see the Law 14 - The Penalty Kick page on this Corsham Referee web site.

 

Particularly in football (soccer) cup competitions and tournaments, the Rules may stipulate that a result is required if a match is drawn. (For example if only one team is to go progress forward whilst the losing team is to be eliminated.) Before the advent of 'Penalty Shoot Outs', results of drawn games were decided by the toss of a coin.  To include an additional element of interest, and to enable teams to take some responsibility for the result of a game, one modern way to decide the outcome of a drawn game is to have the two teams take a series of kicks from the penalty mark. There is no specific Law to cover 'shoot-outs' - but it is important enough to warrant an appendix to the Laws entitled 'Kicks from the Penalty Mark'   that may be found immediately following Law 17. All the details from the above appendix, are contained within this 'Kicks from the Penalty Mark' web page, along with further advice and comment.

 


 

Penalty Shoot Out Card:               Go to top of this page

It is important that Referees read the respective competition rules before officiating a game. It is very easy to be complacent, and to only have a vague idea on how to organise penalty 'shoot outs' properly and efficiently. It is essential that the Referee gets all the details correct - otherwise problems will arise unnecessarily.

 

Here is a Penalty Shoot-out Card design image. Download a pdf file by clicking here and then print off copies for yourself.

Those of you who do not have the appropriate software can design your own card based on the template shown here. It beats having to mess around with bits of scrappy paper when you have to organise a Penalty Shoot-Out.
By
Julian Carosi (webmaster) and Keith Butler

Penalty Shoot-out Card by Julian Carosi & Keith Butler from England


Referees' Position:                   Go to top of this page

 

The Referee should always indicate the start of a penalty by using a short but loud and clear whistle.

 

The Referee is the sole judge as to when a penalty has been completed, or if a goal has been scored or not. (with the help of his Assistant Referees' of course !!)

 

Position of the Referee and Assistant Referees

Over the years, there have been discussions as to the best position for Referees and Assistant Referees' to take during penalty kicks. Individual Referees have their own ideas as to their best position. See Fig. 5b below. There is a great deal to look for and monitor during the taking of a penalty kick. The nature of any signals to be given, is to be determined by the officials in pre-match discussions (briefs).

 

The Referee must give a clear signal to the players (particularly to the penalty taker and the goalkeeper) to tell them exactly when the penalty kick can be taken.

 

See my Positioning Page for details of all Referee positions on the Field of Play

Fig. (5b) Kicks from the Penalty Mark.

The Referee should position himself as shown in Fig. 5b (black circle Ref. No. 1).

The Assistant Referee (AR) who is responsible for monitoring the goal, will take up a position alongside the goal as shown in Fig 5b -  (to the right of the goal).

To ensure that the kicks are taken fairly, and as quickly and smoothly as possible, the awaiting goalkeeper (round figure No. 1) should remain in the position shown in Fig. 5b - near the Assistant Referee (AR). In other words  - the goalkeeper who is the team mate of the penalty kick taker, must remain on the field of play, outside the penalty area in which the kicks are being taken, and on the goal line where it meets the penalty area boundary line, at the position shown in Fig 5b 'Awaiting Round Team Goalkeeper' round clear figure No. 1.

This minimises the  distance that the goalkeepers' have to walk between kicks. It also prevents managers from providing additional coaching to their goalkeepers between kicks. The position of the waiting  goalkeeper, also allows the Referees' to keep them within sight - thus preventing any unnecessary antics.

The Referee must give a clear signal to the players (particularly to the penalty taker and the goalkeeper) to tell them exactly when the penalty kicks can be taken.

All players, except the player taking the kick and the two goalkeepers, must remain within the centre circle. All team officials must remain off the field of play.

The Assistant Referee who is responsible for organising the players waiting in the centre circle, should position himself in (or near) the centre circle.

Fig. (5b) Kicks from the Penalty Mark.

 

 The Referee should position himself as shown here.


Procedure:                            Go to top of this page

The Referee is the sole judge as to which goal will be used for the penalty 'shoot-out', and he may need to listen to advice from Police or security personnel. This can be an important decision if the supporters of one team are behind one goal, and those of the other team are at the opposite end. Team officials etc. must leave the field of play before the kicks can commence. The condition of the playing surface and the proximity of the changing rooms (in case an early exit is required) are also factors that the Referee will need to consider when selecting which goal to use.

Reason:
To give the team who wins the toss a fair choice and not to insist that they take the first kick, which can be perceived as an advantage to the team which loses the toss.

This task can be delegated to the Assistant Referee.

 

Subject to the conditions explained below, both teams take five kicks

 

 

If one team gains an insurmountable advantage during the taking of the first five kicks, there is no need for the remaining kicks to be taken, and the Referee will stop the penalty kicks at that point.
For example: if the blue team have scored all of their first three penalties, and the red team have missed all of their first three penalties (e.g. the score is 3-0 to the blue team), then it is impossible for the red team to score more than two penalties. The blue team is therefore the winner, and there is no need to take the remaining penalties. The Referee must keep a careful record of the penalty kicks taken (because it is very   easy to get muddled up when keeping count).

 

This is commonly know in Referees' jargon as 'sudden death' penalties.

 

 

 

 

It is the responsibility of each team to select the order of players who will take their team's kicks from the penalty mark. Most teams will have already decided beforehand, who their first five players will be. The Referee's only duty is to ensure that the penalty kicks are taken correctly. It is not the Referee's duty to note down a team's agreed listing of the first five kickers (unless any peculiar competition rules require otherwise, this is not normally the case) - neither should the Referee involve himself with any change to the order of kickers selected by a team. The Referee (or Assistant Referee) should note the name or number of the kicker before each penalty kick is taken. This is to ensure that the same kicker does not have a second kick until all the correct number of penalty kicks (per team) have been taken during the first series of kicks. If a result is not achieved after the taking of five penalty kicks by each team, other players from each team will take a penalty kick each, until a result is obtained. If each team has taken 11 kicks and no result has been achieved, players from each team will take a second penalty kick each, until a result is achieved. The Referee must ensure that no player takes a second kick before all the players in his team have taken at least one kick each. The team-order of the players taking a second series of kicks, does not have to match the team-order of the players who took the first series of penalty kicks - so long as each player does not take two penalty kicks in each series. It is not necessary that they follow the same order in taking their second kick as they had for the first series of kicks. The Assistant Referee normally orchestrates and controls the players waiting within the centre circle. The taking of kicks from the penalty mark, does not form part of the match - it is only a method of deciding a winner. Nevertheless, normal discipline rules still count - for example, players can be cautioned or sent-off during the taking of kicks from the penalty mark.

Normal penalty kick Law 14 rules apply (except where modified by the instructions for the taking of kicks from the penalty mark):  For example: if during the run up to kick the ball, the player taking the penalty purposefully stops his run, and cheats the goalkeeper into diving the wrong way. If a goal is scored, the penalty should be retaken, if a goal is not scored, the penalty should not be retaken.

 

 

 

All players, except the player taking the kick and the two goalkeepers, must remain within the centre.

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Note: This arrangement for kicks from the penalty mark is applied at the end of play when one team has fewer players on the field of play than the other because of expulsion or injury.

The team with more players will be asked to reduce their number of players to equate to the lesser numbers of the other team. This is to avert the situation when all the 10 players in the team with less players have taken their kicks, and use their strongest kicker again to take the eleventh penalty - thus giving the team with less players an unfair advantage. When a team has to reduce its numbers, the team captain is responsible for informing the Referee of the name and number of the player(s) who will not take kicks from the penalty mark. The named player must leave the field of play before the kicks can commence.

 

 

PROCEDURES TO DETERMINE THE WINNER OF A MATCH     Go to top of this page

Away goals, extra time and taking kicks from the penalty mark are methods of determining the winning team where competition rules require there to be a winning team after a match has been drawn.

Away Goals

Competition rules may provide that where teams play each other home and away, if the scores are equal after the second match, any goals scored at the ground of the opposing team will count double.

Extra Time

Competition rules may provide for two further equal periods, not exceeding 15 minutes each, to be played. The conditions of Law 8 will apply.


 

Questions and Answers:                 Go to top of this page

Additional Questions and Answers provided by FIFA covering all of the Laws of the game, can be found on this web site here. The original FIFA Questions and Answers pdf file can be downloaded from the FIFA web site here.

 

Question 1: What action should the Referee take if it becomes too dark to complete the penalty 'shoot out' kicks?

Answer 1: The 2003 "Advice on the Application of the Laws of the Game" booklet by the FA (England) page 21 paragraph No. 11 states:

"If at the taking of kicks from the penalty mark, the light fails badly and the kicks, therefore cannot be completed, the result shall be decided by the tossing of a coin or the drawing of lots."

If the light (natural or artificial) deteriorates badly during the kicks, the Referee therefore, does have the power to decide the result of the match. It would also be irresponsible for the Referee to allow the kicks to take place in unsafe and unfair circumstances.

The following factors would deem a replay of the match unfair:

(a) One of the teams may have another match to play early the next day.

(b) It would be virtually impossible for the officials to ensure that the same players take part in a replayed match.

(c) A player from one team may have been injured and not able to play in a replay. This would give one team an unfair advantage.

If the lights in the football stadium fail after extra time but before taking kicks from the penalty-mark, the Referee should allow a reasonable time for the lights to be repaired. If this is impossible, the result could be decided by tossing a coin or by drawing lots as mentioned above.

Note - the 2004 FIFA Questions & Answers (Kicks from the Penalty Mark) Question 'i' states:


(i) The floodlights fail in the stadium after extra time but before or during the taking of kicks from the penalty mark. What action does the referee take?
The referee allows a reasonable amount of time for the lights to be repaired but if matters do not improve, the result is decided according to competition rules.

 

Question 2: Which team takes the first kick, during a penalty 'shoot out' ?

Answer 2: The Referee tosses a coin and the team whose captain wins the toss decides whether to take the first or the second kick. 

Reason:

To give the team who wins the toss a fair choice and not to insist that they take the first kick, which can be perceived as an advantage to the team which loses the toss.

 

Question 3: Which goal should the Referee select for the taking of the penalty 'shoot out' kicks?

Answer 3: The Referee is the sole judge as to which goal will be used. Although he may need to listen to advice from Police or security personnel. The condition of the playing surface, the position of respective supporters, and the proximity of the changing rooms are also factors that the Referee will need to consider.

 

Question 4: Where must all the other players and team officials be positioned - apart from the penalty taker, and the goalkeepers?

Answer 4: The players must be in the centre circle. Team officials must be off the field of play. Only the players who were playing at the end of the match, must remain in the centre circle. All other players (substitutes etc..)  must remain off the field of play. A change to the Laws in season 2000/2001 stated that;

"When a team finishes the match with a greater number of players than their opponents, they shall reduce their numbers to equate with that of their opponents and inform the referee of the name and number of each player excluded. The team captain has this responsibility."

Advice: To avoid any confusion, if a team is required to reduce their number because they finished with more players than the opposition - any reduced nominated player(s) should leave the field of play, and not remain in the centre circle with his colleagues, whilst the kicks are taking place.

This reflects the ruling within the Laws that state:

Only the eligible players and match officials are permitted to remain on the field of play when kicks from the penalty mark are being taken

 

Question 5: Is a player (not the goalkeeper) allowed to be substituted during the taking of penalty 'shoot out' kicks?

Answer 5: No. (but there is a loophole - see below). The Laws stipulate that:

"A goalkeeper who is injured while kicks are being taken from the penalty mark and is unable to continue as goalkeeper may be replaced by a named substitute provided his team has not used the maximum number of substitutes permitted under the competition rules."

The Laws do not allow the outfield players to be substituted.

BUT....... the Laws also stipulate that:

"An eligible player may change places with the goalkeeper at any time when kicks from the penalty mark are being taken "

There does seem to be a loophole within the Laws that actually allows a team to replace an injured outfield player. For example:

(a) An eligible outfield player (who has not yet taken his kick) becomes injured during the taking of the kicks. The outfield player does not make his injury known to the Referee.

(b) The goalkeeper is replaced by this injured outfield player. The injured outfield player then immediately becomes the official goalkeeper.

(c) Before the next kick takes place, the goalkeeper (who is essentially the injured outfield player) prepares to face the oncoming kick, but then protests to the Referee that he has just that very moment injured himself. The goalkeeper (who is essentially the injured outfield player is then replaced by an eligible substitute.

(d) The substitute takes up his position as the goalkeeper.

(e) Before the kick takes place, the substitute is replaced by the original goalkeeper who is still on the field of play, and who has not infringed any of the Laws regarding Kicks from the Penalty Mark.

 

Question 6: A team manager asks the Referee if he could stay with his players in the centre-circle whilst the penalties area taking place. What should the Referee tell the team manager?


Answer 6: "Sorry, but no team officials are allowed to be on the field of play during the taking of kicks from the penalty mark".


Because of the high stresses experienced during 'shoot outs', Referees should obviously use their discretion when there are very young players involved. In this case, the Referee could choose to disregard this stipulation and allow a manager or coach to remain with the players of each team - so long as both teams agree.


Advice: In the above situation - only allow one manager or coach or responsible parent to stay with the players in the centre-circle. It is not advisable to allow multiple parents and supporters onto the field of play during the taking of the kicks.

 

Question 7: If the captains of both teams mutually decide that they do not want the match to be decided by the taking of kicks from the penalty-mark - despite being told by he Referee that the rules stipulate this. Can the Referee order the captains to take the penalties?

Answer 7: The Referee cannot force the captains to take the penalties. The Referee must explain the competition regulations to both captains. If they still refuse to take the kicks, the Referee must make a report to the appropriate competition authorities, explaining what happened.

 

Question 8: During a youth tournament, the Referee decides to take the penalty kicks at the other end to where the moaning parents are situated. Is the Referee allowed to do this ?

Answer 8. The Referee is the sole judge as to which goal will be used, and has complete authority to choose the end at which the kicks will be taken. Some further examples of why he would favour a particular end - are as follows:

(a) the sun may be low enough in the sky to cause a serious problem for the keepers or the officials at one end.

(b) there may be an overwhelming majority of raucous supporters from one team at one end of the ground  - the kicks must be taken as fairly as possible.

(c) there may have already been crowd trouble at one end of the ground.

(d) the tunnel or changing rooms are located very near one end of the ground, and it would be beneficial to the players and officials to seek early sanctuary as soon as possible after the taking of the penalties has finished.

 

Question 9: A Referee declares one team the winner even though the other team had not taken all of its five penalty kicks. Is the Referee correct?

Answer 9: If one team gains an insurmountable advantage during the taking of the first five kicks, there is no need for the remaining kicks to be taken, and the Referee will stop the kicks at that point.
For example: if the blue team have scored all of their first three penalties, and the red team have missed all of their first three penalties, then it is impossible for the red team to score more than two penalties. The blue team is therefore the winner, and there is no need to take the remaining penalties.

 

Question 10: During the taking of a penalty 'shoot out' kick, the ball strikes the crossbar and then hits the goalkeeper on the back of the head and enters the net. The Referee allows the goal to stand. Is the Referee correct, and is this a valid goal?

Answer 10: Yes. Before the re-write of the Laws, the following advice was given in the Laws of Associated Football. " If, at the taking of kicks from the penalty mark, or when extended time is being allowed for a penalty kick to be taken in normal playing time, the ball strikes the goal-post or cross-bar, strikes the goalkeeper and enters the goal, a goal shall be awarded. 

 

Question 11: After the end of a drawn game, a team asks the Referee if they can bring on an unused substitute who is a brilliant penalty taker. The Referee does not allow this substitution to take place - why ?

Answer 11: Only the players who are on the field at the end of play may take part in the kicks from the penalty mark. The team should have made their substitution just before the Referee signalled for the end of play.

 

Question 12: Following the completion of the five kicks, the score was tied at 4 goals each. A team captain asks the Referee if he could use his best penalty taker to take the sixth kick. The Referee said that because this player had already taken one of the kicks, he could not be used again until everyone else in the captain's team had taken at least one kick. Was the Referee correct?

Answer 12: Yes. No player is allowed to take a second kick until all the eligible team-mates have taken a kick.

 

Question 13: The Red team's goalkeeper made two bad mistakes, and let in the first two easy penalties. The Red team then changed their goalkeeper with one of their other players. The replacement goalkeeper saved the remaining penalties, and the Red team eventually won the penalty  'shoot out'. Is this allowed?

Answer 13: Yes, provided that the replacement goalkeeper was already on the field of play and eligible to take part. Any eligible player who was on the field at the conclusion of play is allowed to take part in the penalty 'shoot out', and may change places with the goalkeeper at any time. Both players must inform the Referee before changing places.

 

Question 14: The Red team captain asked the Referee to let their goalkeeper sit in the centre circle between the taking of kicks. The Referee stated that the goalkeeper had to remain down by the edge of the penalty area, away from the team. Why can't the goalkeeper sit in the centre circle with his mates?

Answer 14: To ensure that the kicks are taken fairly, and as quickly and smoothly as possible, the waiting opposition goalkeeper must remain in the position stipulated in the diagram below. This minimises the  distance that the goalkeepers' have to walk between kicks. It also prevents managers from providing additional coaching to their goalkeepers between kicks. The position of the waiting goalkeeper, also allows the Referees' to keep them within sight - thus preventing any unnecessary antics.

 

All players, except the player taking the kick and the two goalkeepers, must remain within the centre

 

Question 15: A goalkeeper is injured during the course of a shootout and a substitute goalkeeper from the technical area is making ready to enter the field of play. An opposing player makes a snide remark of "Chicken" to the goalkeeper who then strikes the opposing player. What action should the Referee take?

Answer 15: A goalkeeper who is injured while kicks are being taken from the penalty mark and who is unable to continue may be replaced by a named substitute provided his team has not used the maximum number of substitutes permitted under the competition rules. The Referee should red card the goalkeeper for violent conduct (because he is still on the field of play and thus a legal player); yellow card the attacker for unsporting behaviour; and tell the substitute that he may not enter the field of play to replace the goalkeeper. 

 

Question 16. A cup tie is to be decided by kicks from the penalty mark. During the game itself all substitutes from both teams had been used. During the kicks the goalkeeper from one team sustains an injury to his hand and cannot continue in goal.  Is his team forced to make an outfield player act as goalkeeper?


Answer 16: As all of the substitutes have been used, the goalkeeper could be replaced by one of his team-mates on the field of play. The injured goalkeeper could still take one of the penalty kicks if he is able, and if required.

 

Question 17: A player has to leave the field of play to receive treatment for an injury in the last minute of extra time in a cup match, but before the player can return to the game the Referee blows for full time and the game has now to be decided by the taking of penalty kicks to determine the winner. Can the player who is off the field of play receiving attention now rejoin his/her team mates and take part in the taking of the Penalty kicks?

The Laws state that with the exception of the foregoing case, only players who are on the field of play at the end of the match, which includes extra time where appropriate, are allowed to take kicks from the penalty mark.

Answer 17: Mr George Cumming, FIFA Head of Refereeing, replied:

The player is still considered to be part of the match since his removal is because of injury and is temporary. The text referred to in the Laws means that substitutes who have not officially entered the field of play during the actual match cannot take part in kicks from the penalty mark.

(Source - South Australia Referees Circulars Numbers 1-6: 2002)

 

The following is also supplied by the FA England (May 2004):

A game was to be decided by kicks from the penalty mark.
- Just before the game finished a player was injured and left the field for treatment.
- He had not returned before the end of the game as the treatment was not completed.
- He had not been replaced by a named substitute.
- The team assumed that as he was fit again before kicks from the penalty mark he would be able to participate in the kicks.

- The team was advised that only the players on the field at the end of the game would be allowed to participate in the kicks and that this player and one from the opposition would need to stand down.

The Law actually says:-
When a team finishes the match with a greater number of players than their opponents, they shall reduce their numbers to equate with that of their opponents and inform the referee of the name and number of each player excluded. The team captain has this responsibility.
FIFA guidance points to the Spirit of the Law. The reduction in the number of players in the team was temporary as the player had not been replaced.
If the injury had not been treated in time for the Kicks from the Penalty Mark to proceed the equalisation procedure would have come into play.

In other words the player should have been allowed to participate.

 

Question 18: During kicks taken from the penalty mark to decide the outcome of a game, a player did not wait for the Referee's signal on two occasions. Instead, he struck the ball as soon as it was placed on the penalty spot.
After the second occurrence, the player was denied another opportunity to take the kick again, and asked by the Referee to go back into the centre circle and sit down. The player's team eventually lost the game. Following the end of the game, the losing team sent in an appeal. 
Will the game be replayed from the start? And what is the sanction if any, for ignoring the referee in these circumstances?

Answer 18:  The Referee is partly responsible in the scenario mentioned in the question. Had the Referee made it abundantly clear to the penalty taker, that the kick "MUST NOT" commence until the receipt of a whistle signal from him (the Referee), then this situation may have been prevented.  Unless specifically mentioned in the local rules of the competition, a Referee cannot deny a player the opportunity to take a kick. Unless of course, that the Referee has awarded a caution for unsporting behaviour for not waiting for a signal, and then awarded a second caution on the second time that this happened. I think that the team has a reasonable chance of winning their appeal, based on the fact that the Referee does not have the power to refuse a player from taking a kick. Whether or not the game is played again or not, is up to the league authority or the FA to decide. It is certainly not a Refereeing decision.

 

Question 19: I was a Referee at a six-a-side tournament. As usual, penalty shoot-outs were required in the knockout stages. I believe I correctly allowed only those players present on the pitch at the final whistle (after extra time) to be penalty takers. I then supervised the usual up to five different players from each team to take a penalty in turn. There was still no result. Sudden death began and that meant the remaining one available player from each side had to start the sudden death penalties. Still no result - but I believed I got everything right so far. Then I wasn't sure in what order the players should come up to take the kicks. Do they have to come up in the same order as before - or what is the rule?


Answer 19: The general rules for six-a-side can sometimes be different, but they normally follow the same rulings for kicks from the penalty mark, as stipulated in the Laws of Association Football. You were indeed correct, in only allowing those players who remained on the field at the end of the match, to participate in the penalty kicks. 
There is no stipulation in the Laws that state that once all of the players in a team have taken a turn, they must keep to the same order of penalty takers, should a further sequence of penalties be required.

In your game for example, if the following sequence of 6 Red Team players took the first batch of penalty kicks in the following order. Note, that each kick is taken by a different player and all eligible players must take a kick before any player can take a second kick.

SEQUENCE 1
Red Team Penalty No. 1: Red Player No. 1
Red Team Penalty No. 2: Red Player. No. 3
Red Team Penalty No. 3: Red Player No. 4
Red Team Penalty No. 4: Red Player. No. 6
Red Team Penalty No. 5: Red Player No. 5
Sudden death now begins.
Red Team Penalty No. 6: Red Player. No. 2 

The Red Team can use any order they like in the next sequence (and so forth in any further sequences). For example: 

SEQUENCE 2
Sudden death continues.
Red Team Penalty No. 7: Red Player No. 2
Red Team Penalty No. 8: Red Player. No. 1
Red Team Penalty No. 9: Red Player No. 6
Red Team Penalty No. 10: Red Player. No. 5
Red Team Penalty No. 11: Red Player No. 4
Red Team Penalty No. 12: Red Player. No. 3

You will note that the 2 sequences above result in Player No. 2 taking two penalty kicks in a row. Red Team Penalty No. 6 and Red Team Penalty No. 7. 
This is legal, because each kick in SEQUENCE 1 had been taken by a different Red Team player, and all the eligible (6) players had a kick before the Red Player No. 2 took his second kick in SEQUENCE 2.

Note also, that there is no requirement for a Referee to list down the sequence order of the penalty kick takers, before the kicks commence. Just make a list of the numbers of eligible players, and jot them down as they come up to take their individual penalties.

 

Question 20: During a penalty shoot out, can a player remove his/her shin pads in order to take a better penalty?
If so, what other items of kit can be removed also?


Answer 20: The old Law 5, International Board Decision No. 8 paragraph below, nicely sums up what Refereeing is all about.

The Laws of the Game are intended to provide that games should be played with as little interference as possible, and in this view it is the duty of Referees to penalize only deliberate breaches of the Laws. Constant whistling for trifling and doubtful breaches produces bad feeling and loss of temper on the part of the players and spoils the pleasure of spectators.

Shin pads, although listed as part of a player's basic equipment in Law 4, are there for the purpose of protecting against injury. During the taking of kicks from the penalty mark, there is no physical contact between opponents, and the shin pads therefore become redundant. In other words, it makes no difference if they are worn or not. 
The game has never been for the benefit of the Referee; the game is about the players, and should result in pleasure for all participants.
Therefore, if a Referee wishes to aggravate the players by quoting the Laws, and insisting that the shin pads are to be worn at all times, I suppose that he must be obeyed. 
But a more astute Referee will quietly ask the player "if he wouldn't mind keeping his shin pads on".
If the player still decides not to replace the shin pads, then let him/her. Why spoil the game for the players, over such an innocent request that can have no bearing on the result? The latter Referee, is the type who can read between the lines to ensure that the 'Spirit of the game' lives on. The former Referee is the type who is unable to temporarily disregard the printed word.

You also ask: If so, what other items of kit can be removed also?

That all very much depends on which type of referee you are! The former, or the latter? But there should always be a level of decorum that must be adhered to with respect to revealing parts of the body!

 

Question 21: During an U12's game, a team was given a penalty at the end of the first half in 'injury time'. The Referee explained to both teams that this would be the last kick of the half and that no rebounds etc would be allowed. The penalty was taken and the goalkeeper managed to get a hand to it to slow it down, but the ball spilled out and continued to trickle toward the goal. He then got up and dived onto it to prevent it going into the goal and the Referee blew for half-time.
Is it legal (or even fair) for the goalkeeper to basically have 2 touches/attempts to save the ball when the attacker is NOT allowed to follow up after the goalkeeper's first touch. Should the save stand or should the kick be retaken?

Answer 21: The understanding of exactly when a penalty kick is over, has always been a contentious issue, no more so, than between Referees who love to debate Law interpretations such as this one.
The bottom line, is that the momentum of the kick is the crucial point here. No matter how many combinations of goalpost, crossbar, goalkeeper's body parts etc are involved, if the ball ends up in the goal because of the energy imparted onto it by the kicker's boot, a goal should be allowed. If the ball does not end up on the goal, then no goal can be allowed; and as no infringement has occurred, the penalty cannot be retaken.
The goalkeeper can touch it as many times as he like. In fact, if you imagine the scenario, of a ball being deflected onto the crossbar by the hand of the goalkeeper, and then hits the back of his head and goes in the goal, this is not different to your scenario when the goalkeeper touches it twice! 
In both cases, no infringement has occurred. 
The Referee in this game was therefore correct.

 

Question 22: In a recent Cup game - one away team player had been badly injured late in the 90th minute of the game, so that he was unable to return immediately onto the field of play before the end of the game, which was a draw. The injured player's team did not have a substitute, so they carried on with ten men into extra time, and played out the 30 minutes. In the meantime, the injured player continued to be treated on the sidelines. The game ended in a draw, which resulted in Kicks from the Penalty Mark.

At the end of the 30 minutes extra time, the now recovered injured player was still standing on the sideline, in full kit, and no formal substitution had been made, so my view he was technically still a legal player, and able to return. I asked him to confirm whether he was fit enough to continue, and he said no. Only then did I ask the home team to remove one of their players to make it ten apiece.

Was I correct? Or can I just decide straight away, that he was gone for good?
Is it any different from if a player has gone off injured in 119th minute, and not yet returned by final whistle?


Answer 22: There is no stipulation the Laws, which states that if an injured player remains off the field of play for a given time, his right to return is forfeited.

Further confusion arises, because of the ambiguous wording in the Laws that state, "only the players who are on the field of play at the end of the match are allowed to take kicks from the penalty mark. When in reality, an injured player who just happens to be off the field of play receiving treatment when the final whistle blows (no matter how long his treatment may have taken), should certainly not be prevented from taking part in the 'kicks from the penalty mark,' if he is eventually able to continue. To prevent him from doing so would be a gross miscarriage of the 'Spirit of the Laws' as they are meant to be applied. If this were the case, those unscrupulous players and coaches who have no qualms in manipulating any loophole (fair or unfair), would aim to knobble their opponents' 'best penalty' kick taker, seconds before the end of the game, to give the unscrupulous team a much better chance of winning the 'shoot-out'. 

As mentioned above, the stipulation within the Laws of Association Football (LOAF), states that only the players who are on the field of play at the end of the match are allowed to take kicks from the penalty mark. The only exception is when a goalkeeper is injured and is unable to continue; he may be replaced by a named substitute, provided that his team has not used the maximum number of substitutes permitted under the competition rules.

FIFA Questions and Answers (now included in the LOAF for ease of reference), also state:

Kicks from the penalty Mark, question (e).

e)May an injured player be excused from taking part in kicks from the penalty mark to determine the result of the match or home-and-away tie?
Yes, but he cannot be replaced by another player.

Therefore, in your scenario, because the injured player was no longer unable to continue, both teams will go into kicks from the penalty mark with 10 players per side. An injured player can only be substituted during the 90 minutes of a game (or 30 minutes of extra time). Once you have blown your whistle to end the game/period, (apart from the exception with the goalkeeper mentioned above) no substitutions can be made.

You were correct to ask the injured player in your game whether he was able to take part in the shootout or not? And to subsequently ask the home team to remove one of their players to make it ten apiece.

This is the end of this Kicks from the Penalty Mark page

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