Question Number: 20954

Kicks From The Penalty mark 3/10/2009

RE: Silver A Under 16

Sheri McGovern of Coquitlam, b.c. Canada asks...

After two 10 minute overtime halfs my daughters team was tied and it went to a shoot out (cup play). The apposing team took their shot and it was saved by our keeper. The ref called the shot back because he never blew the whistle to singnal the player to take the shot.The player shot again and it went in. This ultimately lost us the game. I was wondering if the ref did the right thing first by calling off the shot and second by allowing the player to shoot again. I would think that the first shot should have counted and if the ref did the right thing by calling it off than the shooter should have not been given the chance to shoot again.

Answer provided by Referee Steve Montanino

If the referee didn't give a signal then the kick must be retaken. Sorry.

It doesn't seem fair, but that is the law.

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

The referee was correct in forcing a retake.

I believe what ultimately lost you the match was a failure to score more goals than your opponents during the first and second periods of play, the first and second periods of extra time AND during kicks from the penalty mark. The referee can not and should not be blamed for your team's failure because he correctly enforced the Laws of the Game.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

This is what the Laws Of The Game have to say on the use of the whistle:


Use of whistle
The whistle is needed to:
? start play (1st, 2nd half), after a goal
? stop play:
? for a free kick or penalty kick
? if the match is suspended or abandoned
? when a period of play has ended due to the expiration of time
? restart play at:
? free kicks when the wall is ordered back the appropriate distance
? penalty kicks

You will note that the whistle MUST be used at the taking of a penalty kick and this applies to kicks from the penalty mark after the match has ended. That said, it is absolutely preposterous for you to say the referee's decision, which was correct, cost your team the game. Referees do not decide the outcome of games, players do. How many shots on goal did your team miss? How many times was an attack wasted because one of your players was offside? Did a poor defensive play allow the other team to score? How many attacks were thwarted by a poorly placed pass? The list of possible mistakes by your players is endless. Suffice it to say your team lost because they could not score more goals than the opponents. To blame the referee is not only unfair but incorrect.