Question Number: 26338

Kicks From The Penalty mark 5/15/2012

RE: Under 14

Filippo of Palermo, Italy asks...

It is stated that a player must be sent off if he receives a second caution during the same match (Law 12). And it is true that a player may be cautioned or sent off even during the taking of kicks from the penalty mark ('Procedure to determine the winner of a match or home-and-away').

But the same passage also states that 'The kicks from the penalty mark are not part of the match'.

And a player must be sent off if he receives a second caution during the same 'MATCH': so if a player is cautioned during the match, and when the kicks from the penalty mark are taken after extra-time he is guilty of unsporting behaviour, will he get cautioned but still not sent off? That is not the match anymore, after all: so this would mean that a player may be sent off during the taking of the kicks only if he is guilty of a serious offence that results in a direct red card.

Is this interpretation correct? Should it be the correct thing not to send the player off in such a situation?

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

The referee's power to caution or sendoff a player extends throughout the kicks from the mark phase.

The notion that the match ends at the end of time means that the records will reflect that the match ended in a tie. Kicks from the penalty mark are used to determine who advances or who is the champion.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Filippo
The referee has the authority to take disciplinary sanctions from the moment he enters the field of play until he leaves the field of play after the final whistle.
In the case of kicks from the penalty mark the referee continues to take disciplinary action against players with the use of cards etc.
A player receiving a 2nd caution during kicks from the penalty mark must be dismissed.

Answer provided by Referee Jason Wright

Interesting approach, but I concur with my colleagues on this one.

However, there is one thing I would like to point out.

The laws of the game also state that if one team has more players than the other by the time the kicks are to take place, they should reduce their numbers so both teams start kicks from the mark with the same number of players.

What's interesting is that this only applies before the kicks. If a player is sent off during the kicks, then the opposing team, at this point, does not have to lose a player to equate.