Question Number: 16053

Kicks From The Penalty mark 7/17/2007

RE: Under 19

Kuli of Fresno, CA United States asks...

Copa America 2007 Semifinal Brazil vs Uruguay#

The PK that was saved by Brazil goalie and that was the one that made Brazil win the match was that not encroachment from the goalie? I thought the goalie can not move blatantly forward off his line before the ball is kicked by the attacker? On the same match when Brazil won and there this big fights or confrontations from the players I thought a referee step in and help with calming down the situation but those referees stood aside helpless. Is that what FIFA wants from referees?

One last question if the game goes to PK's and first 5 have been selected and we ready to go suddenly one of the selected players punch another one in the face before the kick and obviously a red card does he get replaced? Since they do need five players for the PK's.

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

Referees are free to determine whether or not what they observe has any bearing on what is happening. Some will retake this kick and others will not. That is the field condition.

Regarding fights and confrontations on the field between the players. The referee is expected, in the USA, to not lay hands upon the players. For a referee to wade into a fight in hopes of defusing the situation is just adding another possible victim to the tally. If the referee gets in between two fighting players to calm them he has understood he may be hit, injured or, if he touches one of them, sued. When doing something like this you must calculate the risk and accept it.

On kicks from the penalty mark the reduce to equate provision is done at the end of time. Once the sides are equal there are no further reductions possible. In the event one of the first five is sent off or is injured he will be replaced by another eligible player.

Regards,

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

Whether the goalkeeper has encroached or not is a judgment call for the referee, with the assistance of the AR.
As for the confrontations, take a look at the USSF Position Paper on Mass Confrontations for some good advice. How the referee deals with such situations has a lot to do with the level, the teams themselves and their playing style and history, what is happening in the game and so many other factors. Did the game continue? Did the referee suffer any loss of control as a result? The referee is never helpless - the wise ones watch what is happening and act according to what they have observed during the game.
Regarding kicks from the penalty mark, remember there must be at least 7 players on the field from each team at the final whistle, or the game would have been abandoned. Next, as I'm sure you know, if one team ends the game with 9 players and one with 11, the team captain for the team with 11 will inform the referee which two are to be excused from the kicks. If any other players are sent off besides the ones excused in the reduce to equate, then their teams simply kick with fewer than the other team.
Now, regarding the five kickers - the teams are NOT required to name the first five kickers! Nope. The only rule is a player may not kick again until all of the eligible players have kicked. And if they go into another round of kicks, the order can be completely different! How cool is that?

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

HI Kuli,
Great questions my friend. Your observations and wonderings are well followed by others. I agree with you I felt the distance off the line was more than doubtful but must have been trivial in the opinion of the referee in part perhaps because the referee received no ranting or raving from Uruguay and the shot was close to the middle of the goal?

Referees are warned **REPEATEDLY** observe and record do not get in-between the combatants. The COLLINA mentality of being able to physically make them stop is a strength of character thing and a big element of luck as you can get hurt or sued for such exchanges.

Most times a referee is having to back away hold up the palm and not get his back to the confrontations directed at him. When the players feel the need to go ape just like at the zoo we watch and try not to poke sticks at them or laugh at their discomfort.

Pk shootout requires 5 first shooters from each team to see if the outcome is decided before sudden death pks are required. No list is required or select group set to one side a referee simply records who takes each kick from the pool of players at the centre circle! Cardable conduct that requires a sending off after the pool of players is set within the circle that player goes off his team is reduced to a 10 player pool! Any of the 10 teammate within the pool remaining who has not yet shot is eligible to take the fifth shot. At this point there would be 6 players to choose from!
Cheers