Question Number: 23390

Kicks From The Penalty mark 5/28/2010

RE: Competive High School

Steve Johnston of Kamloops, BC Canada asks...

We have won a game on a ref's bad decision. We were in extra PK's, Our sixth player shoots first and scores. Opposition's sixth player shoots and the ball hits the the goal post then our keeper's back and goes in the net. The ref calls it no goal and explains because the ball hit the face of the post and came straight out it is no goal. Our team celebrates the win and everyone goes home. The losing team protests the game the next day and an executive decides the shootout should be carried on because the ref's call was wrong. I know it should be a goal, but once a ref has made a decision is that not the final decision right or wrong?

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

The referee made a misapplication of the Laws, not an incorrect judgement. The protest should stand. The competition authority must determine how the game should be resolved. Continuing the kicks from the penalty mark where they left off is a reasonable decision, although as Ref McHugh notes, it comes with problems. Would there be any records of who has already taken kicks? Would all the same players be available for the rekicks? An alternative would be ordering the whole game replayed.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Steve
The referee has clearly made a misapplication of the Laws and that is a protestable decision. No doubt the referee admitted his error when asked about the decision by the Executive and as such the Executive decided that the result should not stand. The Executive then has to make a decision about how to resolve the matter and it has decided on continuing kicks from the penalty mark. That is the Executive's decision to make.
Personally I would rather see a replay as both exact teams have to be brought to a location with everyone kitted out, the exact situation recreated for perhaps two penalty kicks. I have never seen this happen and the most common solution is a replay of the game. The reason that KFTPM are used in the first place is to do away with the need for a replay by bringing both team on another date, to a venue with referee etc. If it is happening then why not play the game and the best team on the days wins.
At one time ties were decided by the toss of a coin after the game.