Question Number: 23361

Kicks From The Penalty mark 5/24/2010

Todd of Houston, TX USA asks...

With regard to the concept of 'must reduce to equate', I have always thought of this as more of a benefit to the team with more players, since they may now remove their weaker penalty kick takers from the competition, and so something that they are allowed to do, rather than are required to do.

What is the whole idea behind 'reduce to equate'?

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

That is correct, it is a benefit to the side with all their members in the game. That said, it is not optional.

Note that 'reduce to equate' only applies before kicks start. If it were applied later, there could be some circumstances in which it was not possible to take another kick, and the game would have to be abandoned.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

What is the idea between reduce to equate? Beats me. I suppose the good folks at IFAB thought it was unfair for one team to have MORE kickers than the other. One of those things I never have understood but have to accept.

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

Reduce to equate was instituted to allow a team with more players at the end of the game to 'even up' with their opponent. There were teams whose worst PK kickers would magically be injured near the end of a tied game, and they would not be substituted for - imagine! Or at a sub opportunity, the coach would simply take them out.

The reduce to equate allows the other team to do the same thing after the game is finished. The purpose is to allow the kicks to be as fair as is practical with as little gamesmanship as possible.