WITH cup competitions nearing their final stages, there is a possibility of some ‘penalty shoot outs,’ more properly called ‘kicks from the penalty mark’.

These have been subject to some changes in this year’s re-write of the Laws of the Game.

For a start, the referee alone previously chose at which goal to take the kicks, although on occasions referees at high profile games were seen to toss a coin.

This is due to supporter segregation. Can you image having to decide whether the kicks are taken at the Chelsea or Arsenal supporters’ end?

The toss of the coin is now required, except the referee retains a ‘veto’ for ground conditions or safety.

Recently at a cup semi-final, I chose which end as I thought the low sun shining in the goalkeeper’s eyes, constituted ground conditions.

There is a slight change in the number of players allowed to take part. Previously, if one team was a player (or more) short before the kicks were taken, the other team had to reduce their number accordingly.

This now also applies if a team loses a player during the kicks. Also, in these circumstances, if their goalkeeper gets injured, he can now be replaced by a team mate who had to stand down.

There has never been a need for the teams to inform the referee of the order of their kickers as some referees seemed to think, and this is now confirmed.

Viewers of football activities on Youtube may well have seen at least two incidents where after the kick, the ball has struck the crossbar and bounced down into play, only for it to spin back into the goal while the goalkeeper celebrates.

Many felt the kick was completed when it stopped going forward but this has not been the case and the law now clarifies this by saying, ‘The kick is completed when it stops moving, goes out of play or the referee stops play for any infringement of the Laws.’