Question Number: 30610

Kicks From The Penalty mark 7/15/2016

RE: Any Other

former youth ref of Hordaland, Norway asks...

A question regarding the obvious hole in the new reduce to equate procedure for penalty shootouts:
After the 11th kick by team A the 11th player for team B spits at an opponent.
The player is sent off. How to proceed if the 11th kick of team A was
a) scored, and the player stated that the red card offence was committed in order to allow a better kicker a second kick
b) missed, same scenario as above
c) scored, and the red card offence was committed in the heat of the moment
d) missed, as above?

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi
What happened in KFTPM is over when a penalty is deemed completed so if a penalty is scored or missed makes no difference to the referee. If the 11th kicker on Team B decides to get sent off then so be it and Team A gets to reduce by one.
It might be unfair that Team B gets to put forward its best kicker to start again yet there is no remedy other than to report the situation. I might add that as it currently stands it can still happen with no reduce to equate option which is why the law was changed. The competition organisers can decide to take action afterwards based on a protest and the referees report.
I recall an incident where Real Madrid players got cautioned deliberately to miss the teams next Champions League game ( to clear outstanding cautions). The next game had no impact on the group yet the cautions still carried forward to the knock out stage. With a caution still in place a player could get suspended for a caution in the first leg of the knock out game. UEFA took retrospective action to fine the players, manager and club heavily for manipulating the rule in its favour.

Answer provided by Referee Peter Grove

Whether the 11th penalty for team A was scored or missed and whatever the reason the team B player decided to spit at an opponent, it makes no difference to the outcome, in terms of the KFTPM. The player is dismissed, team A reduces to equate and the kicks continue.

As Ref McHugh states, the referee would include details of what happened in his report and it would be up to the competition organisers to pursue it further.

Also, I do think that the idea of a 'best kicker' necessarily being the decisive factor might be somewhat over-stated and a team that pins their hopes on one particular player could end up being sorely disappointed. The recent Euro 2016 and Copa America Centenario competitions have provided additional evidence (if any were needed) that the supposed best kickers (e.g. Ronaldo, Messi etc) are just as capable of failing to convert a penalty as anyone else.