Question Number: 19375

Law 14 - Penalty kick 6/14/2008

RE: amateur Adult

Martin Gautrey of Southport, Merseyside England asks...

In the champions League Final, Drogba was sent off and it went to penalties.

I think i know that Chelsea would have had to nominate someone on their team to stand down in the penalty shoot out so it would be 10 V 10.

Assuming this is right, when does this happen - is it right at the beginning, after sudden death?

Also, does the opposition team get to know who has stood down, or just the referee?

Answer provided by Referee Gene Nagy

Martin, the Laws of the Game clearly outline the process. At the start of the shots from the penalty mark, each team has to have equal number of players. It is up to the captain to tell the referee which player or players will LEAVE the field to equate the teams before selection of the first five shooters. If there are further send offs, after the shots started, the other team does not have to reduce its numbers. Chelsea captain tells the ref who goes off, the list is made and the shots begin.

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

The moment the game ends is when we determine how many players from each team will be involved in the KFTPM. If one team had 10 and the other 11, then each team has 10 to start the kicks. If a team loses players due to injury or misconduct past that point there is no further reduce to equate. Every player on a team has to kick before anyone can kick again, but the order of kickers can change on the second go round - if they get that far! Who is asked to stand down should be fairly obvious - it's not a secret.

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