Question Number: 13253

Kicks From The Penalty mark 7/2/2006

RE: Amateur Adult

Jerry Collins of Jersey, Channel Islands UK asks...

The BBC commentary team asked a question during the World Cup game England v Portugal(but had no answer) to something that has bothered me for ages

If the England / Portugal penalty shoot out had gone to the 11th penalty, would England (with only ten players left due to a sending off) have been able to take it?

If so, who would have taken it? Their first choice player again, or would the tenth choice have to take another one?

If the first choice, then would the Portugal 11th choice or 1st choice respond? Obviously putting the Portugal 11th choice against the England 1st choice would be unfair on Portugal.

And lastly, would the answer be the same if the 10 player situation was due to injury rather than sending off

I have tried all over the internet to find an answer to this poser

Jerry Collins

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

This question was settled in Law in 2002. When Kicks From The Penalty Mark begin the side with more players will reduce their number to equate with that of their opponents. With regard to when does a player have a chance to kick: he may not go again until all others have. The order in which he has another go is not defined, just he must wait until all others have.

The answer is found in the Laws of the Game (.pdf version) under Procedures to determine the winner of a match in the last two paragraphs.

Regards,

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Jerry,
reduce to equate is the correct proceedure when a match is ended and PKFTM are to be conducted to determine a winner. . IN the England/Portugal match Portugal was required to send off one player voluntarily so there would be 10 versus 10 in the shootout.

It might be interesting if no player wanted to leave if asked by the captain and it was left to the referee to impose sanctions against a selected player to begin the proceedure?

? 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.
? Before the start of kicks from the penalty mark the referee shall
ensure that only an equal number of players from each team
remain within the centre circle and they shall take the kicks.

In answer to the injury question If there is an available substitution still allowed it is theoretically possible for an INJURED KEEPER to be replaced by a player who was not on the field at the match end. This new keeper could then be eligable to shoot a PK. If a player is injured during the shootout or becomes unable to shoot he can not be replaced although he can leave the FOP to be treated. The reduce to equate occurs only at the match end NOT later during the shootout! Cheers