Question Number: 31316

Kicks From The Penalty mark 3/6/2017

RE: Competitive Adult

Matt of Salt Lake City, UT USA asks...

Situation: DURING kicks from the mark, the visiting goalkeeper is injured. The goalkeeper is legally replaced by a substitute from the bench.
Question: May the new goalkeeper attempt a kick from the mark?
IF NOT, is the home team required to 'reduce to equate' since now the visiting team has only nine eligible kickers?

Answer provided by Referee Peter Grove

Hi Matt,
If the goalkeeper being replaced has not already taken a kick, the new goalkeeper can take a kick in the current round of kicks. If the outgoing keeper has taken a kick, the replacement keeper would have to wait until any subsequent round(s) of kicks (if applicable).

A team only has to reduce to equate if they have ''a greater number of players than its opponents'' which is not the case here, since the keeper has been replaced.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Matt
Referee Grove is spot on. As both teams have the same number of players on the field of play there is no requirement to reduce to equate. That only happens in the case of a greater number such as if the GK could not be replaced
Second point is that the GK can only be replaced if there is a substitution still available to the team. If the substitution takes place the GK only has to take a kick when all other team mates have done so.