Question Number: 26510

Kicks From The Penalty mark 6/28/2012

RE: Adult

Olayinka Ipadeola of Victoria Island, Lagos Nigeria asks...

I will like to find out if the order in which the 5 players play penalty kicks is decided before the Penalty shoutout starts, or players are allowed to play in any order.

I am trying to understand if players can swap just the way Nani stepped forward to replace another portuguese player during the penalty shoot-out against spain yesterday.

Regards
Olayinka

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Olayinka
There is nothing in the Laws of the Game that requires a team to provide the order of penalty takers at kicks from the penalty mark. All that is required is that a player may not take a second penalty until every team mate has taken one. However in tournament play the competition rules can dictate that a list is provided to the referee of the penalty takers and the order that kicks will be taken.
It is also become accepted practise in other games for the referee to look for the names of 1st five penalty takers and their order. That helps to bring order to the kicks and to its smooth running. Without the list each kick could become a committee meeting as to deciding the taker which would be unhelpful.
In the European Championship it is uncertain whether Alves forgot his position, was involved in mind games or a last minute change of mind prompted the decision to replace Alves with Nani. I suspect that as the AR allowed Alves to go forward from the center circle there was no restriction as one might think as to the order.
Having said that I recall a number of season ago in kicks from the penalty mark in a Cup Final game between Manchester United and Chelsea the referee Chris Foy appeared to not allow Deco to take a penalty for Chelsea and he appeared to ask for Kalou who was nominated to take the 4th penalty to come forward. Whether Deco was to take the 5th penalty and as the 4th one could win the game Chelsea decided to change the order it was unclear. Deco was sent back to the center circle which suggested to me that the referee did not allow it.

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

Some announcers erroneously said there was a list given to the referee. There isn't. The kicks are taken in any order the team chooses. The referees simply note the number when someone walks up to take the next kick.

But, reports are that the Portuguese coach had told the team the order he wanted the kicks taken. That is common.

No one can kick a second time until every eligible kicker (including goal keeper) has already completed a kick.