Question Number: 28786

Kicks From The Penalty mark 9/26/2014

RE: rec Adult

Robert Mannion of Malvern, Worcs Worcs asks...

A PLAYER HAS BEEN SENT OFF FOR THE RED TEAM. THE MATCH GOES TO PENALTIES. AFTER 10 PENALTIES THE SCORES ARE LEVEL. BLUE SCORE THEIR 11 TH PENALTY. HAVE THEY WON AS THE REDS ONLY HAVE TEN PLAYERS OR DOES THEIR BEST PLAYER TAKE THE NEXT PENALTY? OR ONE OF THE SUBS?

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

The 11th blue kicker should never have taken part in the kicks from the penalty mark to determine a winner. Several years ago the Laws were changed to implement 'reduce to equate'. If a team ends the game (including any overtime periods) with fewer players than the opponents, the opponents reduce their numbers to match. Presumably, their worst PK kickers would be excused. Only an equal number of players remain on the field when the kicks begin.

If a player gets sent off after kicks begin, there is no reduction. (This is because in some strange scenarios, there would not be a way to resolve the situation.) In that case, once all 10 Reds have taken a kick, they begin the rotation again. Any of the 10 may take a kick; they do not have to follow the same order as the first 10 kicks.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Robert
When a player has been sent off or cannot continue because of injury and the game goes to Kicks from the Penalty Mark the referee asks the team with the extra player to reduce to equate numbers. The team will pick the player least likely to make a kick.
So in your scenario both teams could only have 10 penalty takers on the field and then the kicks begin.
Now if the reduce to equate was not done the kicks should continue until there is a clear winner. In this case the Red team would continue with the rotation so on the eleventh kick any player could take a second kick and so on. Clearly that would be somewhat unfair on the 11th penalty if Blue had missed with its weakest last kicker and Red gets to use it's first and best kicker again.
Interesting that when kicks begin and a players gets sent off or injured there is no requirement to equate.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Robert,
If the player was sent off or injured and could not be replaced BEFORE THE KFTM began then the opposing team of 11 was required in law to reduce to equate an equal number of players within the centre circle to take the PKS. The captain tells the referee who out of the 11 is going to sit out the festivities. So if it gets down to it being equal after ten shooters, all have had a go, then someone must go a second time.

NO extra player or additional sub is permitted to enter UNLESS there is an injury to the keeper where if the available number of subs was not exceeded during the match could now be allowed, but the numbers do not change. Interestingly though as the new keeper has not kicked he would be required to take his turn and if the replaced keeper had already shot before being replaced he could in effect be the 11th shooter lol/

If the player was sent off or injured AFTER THE KFTPM began then it would create an imbalance as the opposing team of 11 is NOT required to reduce to equate. Sadly it has a hint of a hmmm tactically if we were to get our weakest shooter sent off we could have our strongest to take the next kick in rotation. Far fetched but weird things do happen lol

Cheers