Question Number: 15701

Kicks From The Penalty mark 6/4/2007

RE: Competitive Adult

Ryan of Flower Mound, TX U.S.A. asks...

Dear Referee Panel,

During kicks from the penalty mark to determine a winner one team is reduced to 6 players or less because of misconduct and/or injury. The LOTG it says:

Unless otherwise stated, the relevant Laws of the Game and International F.A. Board
Decisions apply when kicks from the penalty mark are being taken.

One would then assume that it is FIFA's intention that Law 3 be enforced since there is no mention of special circumstances in the LOTG. But ATR says:

Although LAW 3 requires that a match may not be started with fewer than seven players on each side, this does not apply to the taking of kicks from the penalty mark. If one of the teams is able to field five or six players for the kicks, the taking of the kicks may begin, and it may continue as long as there is one player left. Until a result is produced, both teams must continue to use their eligible players without duplication until all (including the goalkeeper) have kicked, at which time players who have already kicked may kick again. If one team has fewer players than the other, it will need to begin using its players who have already kicked sooner than will the opposing team.

Shouldn't that be addressed in the LOTG? Also, LOTG Q&A mentions that kicks from the mark are not part of the match. Is that correct and is this an unwritten Law or did I miss it in the LOTG somewhere?

With all that being said, ATR says the kicks from the mark may begin and may continue. Does that imply that the referee has some input whether the kicks may begin or may continue if a team is reduced below 7 players? Do the coaches or players have the right to input whether the kicks from the mark may begin or continue? Or is ATR telling us that kicks from the mark must continue as long as there is one player eligible to participate in kicks from the mark.

I personally think that even though kicks from the mark to deteremine a winner are not part of the match but still under the guidance of the LOTG, that if a team is reduced to 6 or fewer players the match should be abandonned. If a match cannot continue with fewer than seven players on one team participating, I do not see the logic in allowing that a game be decided by fewer than seven players of one team. I believe that beginning and continuing kicks from the mark in this situation is not in the spirit in the game. I appreciate your thoughts and comments on this. Thank you.

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

Ryan when reduce to equate first came to pass during kicks from the penalty mark we found the same thing you now do. We asked as well and found out the match is over so the requirement to have at least seven players was no longer applicable. The other side reduces to six players and we begin. Simple elegance, assuming kicks from the penalty mark are elegance...

Regards,

Answer provided by Referee Ben Mueller

Both teams will have 6 on their team for the kicks from the penalty mark. Technically the kicks from the penalty mark is not part of the match and thus the 7 player min does not apply.