Question Number: 26515

Kicks From The Penalty mark 6/29/2012

RE: Adult

Ian Compton of Skelmersdale, Lancashire England asks...

This question is a follow up to question 999

Do teams have to name who will take the penalties in a penalty shoot out and state in which order they will take them?
If so can they change the order of takers during the shoot out?

Answer provided by Referee Jason Wright

It's funny - there seems to be a convention in football that teams do supply a list of the first five kickers to the referee and the teams stick to the list.

However, this actually is not required under the laws of the game. Naturally it is a requirement that no player can kick twice before everybody has kicked once, so keeping a record of the kickers is important - but there's no requirement to provide a list.

However, it's just something that seems to happen, and everybody seems to accept it - I suppose it does make the organisation of the kicks a bit easier.

To answer your last question, the referee should permit the players to change the order if they wish.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Ian
No doubt the Alves scenario in the Kicks from the Penalty Mark between Spain and Portugal prompted your question
In the Laws of the Game there is no requirement for a list or order to be provided to the referee of the penalty takers. It has become common practise through which most referees insist on which then speed up the kicks and it bring some order to the process.
It is possible that it could be a competition rule as UEFA for the Euro Championship made a rule that the goal to be chosen would be decide by a coin toss which is not part of the Laws and most of the organisation of the games has been tightly managed.
It would be interesting though if a player cramped or got injured / sick after being chosen to take a penalty as to what would happen. Certainly the Laws allow for an injured player to be excused.
I recall Deco of Chelsea being not allowed to take the 4th penalty in the Charity Shield a number of seasons ago by Referee Chris Foy. That decision was not pressed by Chelsea and the penalty was taken by Kalou who scored.
I also recall in an U21 International game between England and Holland where Stephen Taylor was forced to take a penalty while injured as Holland complained that he did not declare the injury before KFTPM which would have allowed them to reduce by one. Again that was not pressed and Taylor did score.
So it is not part of the Laws but most referees use a list and order which teams seem to accept.