Question Number: 24413

Kicks From The Penalty mark 12/12/2010

RE: played the game in england for years Adult

martin wade of santa cruz, california usa asks...

why did the fifa award the world cup to the usa womens team?.When every china team penalty that the us goalie saved should have been re-taken due to encroachment!.Also yellow cards and ultimately red and a sending off of the us goalie should have been part of the ruling.

Answer provided by Referee MrRef

FIFA did not award the WC to the USA women's team. They won it on the field. That's also really old news, sir.

While one could quibble with the referee's choices on what to call or not call, quibble is all that happens, as the referee has the final authority to make the decisions in a game.

FIFA is always after referees to uphold the Laws on the one hand, and ready to fuss at us when we do. It's a hard life being a referee - give us a break!

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

First China kick; Scurry comes off her line 3 yards but China scores 1-0
First USA kick: Carla Overbeck scores. Chinese keeper also left early but only a yard
Second China kick: Scurry leaves early. China scores 2-1
Second US kick; scores 2-2
Third China kick: Scurry leaves early blocks kick 2-2
Third US kick scores 3-2
Fourth China Kick: Scurry does NOT leave early, China scores 3-3
Fourth US kick: Mia Hamm. China keeper leaves early. Mia drills it 4-3
Fifth China shot:Sun Wen. Greatest player in China history. Scurry MAY have left a fraction early. Sun blasts it. 4-4
Fifth US kick:Brandi Chastain. China keeper leaves a bit early. Brandi nails it. Off comes shirt USA wins 5-4.

What's your problem? Scurry only blocked ONE kick. Did she leave early? Probably but the other times she obviously left early China scored. Why do you think she deserved a yellow card? Had the referee decided she left early on the one she stopped, there would simply be a retake of the kick. No yellow card and certainly no red. You don't give a yellow when the opponents score. You retake the kick ONLY if the opponent doesn't score.

FIFA had nothing to do with the USA winning. They won the game in thrilling fashion.

No one with any understanding of the LOTG should want Brianna Scurry sent off for leaving her line early when the Chinese scored 4 out of 5 times

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi
Encroachment off the line by a goalkeeper at a penalty is rarely a yellow card. The GK is expected to move to have any chance of a save and what referees look for is the blatant infringement of Law 14. The censure is a retake of the penalty kick if it is not scored, with an instruction to the GK to remain on the line until the ball is kicked. If the goal is scored no action is taken by the referee
Constant blatant infringement of the penalty kick law would be a caution where the penalty kicks have to be constantly retaken. When the penalty is scored no action is taken by the referee if it the defending team that infringes while it is a retake if the attacking team infringe. If the penalty is not scored it is an IDFK to the defence if the attacking team infringe Law 14 or the LotG.

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

FIFA awarded the trophy because that was the result of the Kicks From The Penalty Mark. Just as with other parts of the game, 'The decisions of the referee regarding facts connected with play, including whether or not a goal is scored and the result of the match, are final.' (Law 5)

While we can debate whether Scurry should or should not have been penalized for leaving the line early - or whether it even had any effect - the referee on that day decided there were no infractions by either goalkeeper.

This issue been gnawing at you for a number of years, has it?