Question Number: 24421

Kicks From The Penalty mark 12/15/2010

RE: Under 16

rusty of roland, ok usa asks...

why is there a shootout in soccer to the determind a winner if the game ends in a tie?

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

Kicks From The Penalty Mark (the proper name) is one of the ways to determine a winner when the game must have a winner. The other two methods are Away Goals and Extra Time (FIFA Laws, page 50):
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PROCEDURES TO DETERMINE THE WINNER OF A MATCH OR HOME-AND-AWAY

Away goals, extra time and kicks from the penalty mark are the three methods approved for determining the winning team where competition rules require there to be a winning team after a match has been drawn.

Away goals
Competition rules may provide that where teams play each other home and away, if the aggregate score is equal after the second match, any goals scored at the ground of the opposing team will count double.

Extra time
Competition rules may provide for two further equal periods, not exceeding 15 minutes each, to be played. The conditions of Law 8 will apply.
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The reason a game must have a winner is if it is part of a playoff of some type, for example, the knock-out stages of the World Cup. Some leagues may also provide that regular matches have a winner; they don't like ties.

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

All matches end in a tie. But, tournaments need a way to decide who advances or is the champion when a match is tied at the end of regulation time. (The official record of the match, however, still reflects that the match ended in a tie.)

IFAB has authorized three ways to decide this. The tournament may provide for teams to play both home and away matches and aggregate the total scores, and if still tied, doubling the value of 'away goals.' The may provide for two equal additional periods of play (the laws no longer permit a sudden death or 'golden goal'). They may use kicks from the penalty mark. Some use all three.

In the past, replaying the match in its entirety and/or using a coin toss were commonly used to decide who advances. Tournaments need a winner, and television now affects the schedules for all major events. Kicks are not the ideal way to pick a winner, but may be best alternative.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Rusty
In the sixties tied games in the CL were decided by the toss of a coin. Most felt that was unfair. In the CL semi final between Glasgow Celtic and Benfica in 1969 the team were tied 3-3 after both legs and after extra time in the 2nd leg in Portugal. Celtic won the toss and progressed to the semi final. However Celtic appealled the decision to award games on the toss of a coin even after benefitting from that on the basis that it was patently unfair.
The idea of penalty kicks had been around for some time in minor tournaments and the concept was applied to drawn games in the 1970 season.
FIFA had attempted to change the method with the introduction of the Golden Goal, Silver goal but both were discontinued in favour of kicks from the penalty mark.