Question Number: 33678

Law 3 - The Players 9/26/2019

RE: travel Under 16

nikkko of long branch, nj usa asks...

Penalty Kick:

After a PK is called, coach of team taking PK asks for substitute. Can that substitute take the PK?

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Nikko
Under the Laws of the Game the answer is yes. A substitute can occur at a stoppage in play, which a penalty kick is, and the referee is informed. Once the substitution is complete the substitute is a player who can take any restart.
To not allow the substitution could be unfair such as in the case of an injury resulting in the penalty kick. For instance the goalkeeper could have hurt himself and cannot continue.
Now there might be Rules of Competition in Underage that put restrictions on when substitution can occur such as during the last few minutes of a game to prevent say return substitution procedures being abused. ROCs though generally should not be contrary to the LotG so while an understanding might be in place locally without official sanction I feel that common sense should prevail. IFAB tells us us that the Laws cannot deal with every possible situation and where there is no direct provision in the Laws, IFAB expects the referee to make a decision within the ‘spirit’of the game – this often involves asking the question, ‘what would football want/expect?’ That should also apply to ROCs
As an aside the Laws have been updated with the addition of the following
** Exceptions to the requirement to leave the field of play are only when: .......A penalty kick has been awarded and the injured player will be the kicker**
That espouses the thinking of fair play in decision making as it was unfair for a player to be injured and then asked to leave for treatment when he is the designated penalty taker.

Answer provided by Referee Peter Grove

Hi Nikko,
In a game played under the IFAB's Laws of the Game, this would be allowed. The law says the substitute comes on:

''during a stoppage in play

at the halfway line

after the player being replaced has left

after receiving a signal from the referee''

It then goes on to say that once this procedure is followed:

''the substitute becomes a player and can take any restart.''

Given that at a penalty, there is a stoppage in play, a substitution can take place and since the penalty kick is a restart, the substitute who has now become a player, can take it.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Nikko.
unless there are specific substitution bylaws that do not permit the substitution then yes the the sub who comes on to replace the player who leaves, our sub becomes a player on the FOP and is legally permitted to take any restart including the the PK.

For a substitution to occur, often the requirements are the Substitute must be at the mid line ready to go BEFORE any stoppage! Generally the exception is an injury.

If however a referee allows a substitution at the taking of a PK, the new player is not prohibited under the FIFA LOTG from being the PK kicker . I will point out if the PK is an extended time PK or KFTPM no substitutions would be permitted with the possible exception of an injury situation.
Cheers