Question Number: 20597

Kicks From The Penalty mark 11/27/2008

RE: PRO Adult

ROHAN of KOLKATTA, WEST BENGAL INDIA asks...

CAN A GOALKEEPER BE CHANGED AT THE PENALTY SHOOTOUT?

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Depends what you mean by 'changed'. The only players allowed to participate at the taking of kicks from the penalty mark are those players on the field at the end of play, one of whom on each team is the goalkeeper. ANY of these players may become the keeper, so the keeper could be changed for any of these players, but no player may be substituted in for the keeper. The only exception to this is if during the kicks phase, the goalkeeper is injured and cannot continue. In that case, if the team has any substitutions left, they may substitute in for the injured keeper.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

YES.
PK shootout for FIFA means only those players on the field at the match end can act as replacements and there is nothing to prevent it other than informing the referee. This is a SWITCH not a substitution!
As my colleague points out a litlle known fact that IF there are STILL available substitutions in the limited matches if a keeper was actually injured then a substitute from the bench could come in and replace him.
Cheers