Question Number: 30100

Kicks From The Penalty mark 2/12/2016

RE: Other

douglas calvert of barrow-in-furness, Cumbria United Kingdom asks...

In a cup match if one side has a man sent off and the game subsequently goes to penalties , what happens if they are level after ten penalties each?

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Douglas
What should happen is that before Kicks from the Penalty Mark begin the team with 11 should be asked by the referee to reduce its number by one. The team can pick its weakest kicker or a player who does not want to take a kick which is called the reduce to equate procedure. So your circumstance does not arise. Both teams will have 10 kickers before kicks begin
Now one of the anomalies that exist in the Laws at the moment is that once kicks begin the reduce to equate procedure does not then subsequently apply should a player be dismissed during the kicks. So in that unusual one off situation where the kicks gave begun either an equal number the team with 11 will have to have its eleventh player take a penalty whereas the team with the player sent off during the kicks start again with a choice from the 10 as to who takes the 11th kick. That is unfair and it is suggested that this anomaly will be sorted in the next rewrite of the Laws in March with both teams having an equal number of kickers at all times during KFTPM not just at the start.
Obviously the original law makers did not envisage a situation where a player might be sent off during the kicks only during the game hence the quirk. Thankfully it rarely if ever arises.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

HI Douglas,
if the match is over then KFTPM are used to determine the winner. If there was a team playing a man down from a send off that occurred during the match the reduce to equate principle is in effect at this time and a single player to not participate is chosen from the team at full strength to reduce their numbers to EQUAL the team already reduced via the send off . Thus the KFTPM begin with each team at 10 players apiece. This reduce to equate principle is no longer in effect ONCE the KFTPM have begun. So if there were send offs play continues with who is remaining. Apparently the LOTG are under review and this could be addressed in the upcoming season


I know the reasoning was to ensure the worst PK taker is nor having to go against the other teams best but personally I dislike the idea it is a mandatory process. I think it should be voluntary. As a player, who wants to be told you are simply not good enough to compete? If you are hurt or feel too nervous then fine but to have the captain or coach yank you, as the guy NOT to participate to me sucks. Any competitor worth their salt wants the ball. It takes a such a lowbrow mentality to deliberately get sent off to put better PK kickers on the spot that is likely why there have been few issues.
Cheers

The following questions were asked as a follow up to the above question...

See Question: 30103