Question Number: 24581

Kicks From The Penalty mark 2/14/2011

RE: Premier Under 16

Hans of Bellevue, WA USA asks...

Hi,

During a penalty shootout, our team was up 3-1 when the opposing team took their 3rd shot. The third shot was taken my the opposing goalie, and he missed, so score is still 3-1 and each team has shot 3 times.

The opposing goalie got angry after he missed the shot and got a red card. After this, the referee called the game with a win to our team. The explanation was that the opposing team could not substitute for the goalie and still have two players left to take the two remaining kicks.

What are the exact rules in this situation?

Thanks!

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

The Kicks From The Penalty Mark (the proper name for a 'shootout') should have continued on. With two attempts left apiece, the KFTPM could have gotten to 3-3, necessitating further kicks before one team was the winner.

The referee was correct that the dismissed goalkeeper could not be substituted for. One of the other players on the team would have to become the goalkeeper and put on the funny jersey. Good luck to him or her! Because the next shot your team takes, it's do-or-die for the keeper. A score by your team would make the tally 4-1, making it impossible for the other team to win with their two remaining chances.

By ending the KFTPM early, this referee has misapplied the Laws of the Game. If the other team protested, it could result in the game having to be replayed.

This also puts your team in an interesting ethical dilemma. This referee should be reported so he can be corrected on what he did wrong. But if your team reports it, it could cause the win to be striken from the league standings. A true test of doing the right thing.

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

Oh, my.

During kicks from the penalty mark, it is true that a substitute may replace a goalkeeper only if the goalkeeper is injured and that a substitute may not be used when the goalkeeper is shown the red card. But, the kicks phase is not terminated when a goalkeeper is sent off and shown the red card.

Any of the remaining players (normally, all players on the field at the end of regulation time) can be used as goalkeeper. This includes both players who have already taken a kick, and those who have not yet kicked. Thus, after the first kick has been taken, the kicks phase will continue as long as a team has at least one player left.

The referee might abandon the kicks phase for other reasons, but not for the one indicated.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Hans
A grave error in law here by the referee. When the goalkeeper was sent off, his team should have been asked to nominate an outfield player to take over the goalkeeping duties for the remaining kicks from the penalty mark. Kicks from the penalty mark must continue until it is not possible for a team to score more goals that its opponents or all of a team's players are dismissed (highly unlikely).
In this situation the 'losing' team can argue that had kicks continued it is possible that your team could have missed its remaining two penalties and your opponents scoring its last two making it 3-3. Then sudden death would apply to the remaining penalties.
What should have happened here is that your team should have been asked to take its fourth penalty with an outfield player acting as goalkeeper and if it was scored the result would have been 4-1 with no further penalties required.
I also don't fully understand the explanation given as the replacement of the goalkeeper is not a substitution and players continue to take penalties in rotation for as long as necessary. Even if a team has one player left he can continue to take penalties and also act as goalkeeper until there is a result.
I might add that if the sending off happened before KFTPM commenced both teams must have the same number of players on the field of play so your team would reduce in number by one. When the kicks commence there is no need to equate player numbers on the field of play.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Wow! What a terrible mistake by the referee!!! Yes, the keeper may not be substituted for but any of the players participating in the Kicks phase may take the place of the keeper and the Kicks should continue. At 3-1 there is no winner yet.