By Robbie Butler
Chapter 6 of Kuper and Syzmanski’s wonderful Soccernomics provides a great insight into the penalty kick. Entitled The Economist’s Fear of the Penalty Kick, the authors' relay a wonderful story from Argentina called the “Longest Penalty Kick Ever”.
A game in Argentina was abandoned with moments to go when a player, upset that his team had conceded a penalty, decided to punch the referee. The league’s governing body ordered that the remaining time in the game (less than half a minute) be played the following weekend. The kicker and goalkeeper therefore had nearly a week to think about an upcoming penalty kick. In the days prior to the penalty, Kuper and Syzmanski’s write that the goalkeeper facing the kick had the following conversation with the club president and a third party:
Goalkeeper: “Constante kicks to the right.”
President: “Always”.
Goalkeeper: “But he’s knows that I know.”
President: “Then were f****d”.
Goalkeeper: “Yeah, but I know that he knows.”
Third Party: “Then dive to the left and be ready”.
Goalkeeper: “No. He knows that I know that he knows.”
Last week, German referee Marija Kurtes provided us with an almost identical example. During a European Under-19 Championship game between England and Norway, Kurtes disallowed England defender Leah Williamson's goal from the penalty spot due to encroachment by England players. Instead of allowing the penalty to be retaken (the correct decision), the referee awarded a free-kick to Norway.
The Football Association (of England) appealed the result and the UEFA Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body ordered the remaining three minutes of injury time should be replayed with both teams as they were before the penalty was taken. Interestingly, to overcome the problems mentioned in the story from Argentina, England were permitted to change their kicker if they so wished.
So a penalty that was taken on a Saturday would be retaken five days later on Thursday night.
Chapter 6 of Kuper and Syzmanski’s wonderful Soccernomics provides a great insight into the penalty kick. Entitled The Economist’s Fear of the Penalty Kick, the authors' relay a wonderful story from Argentina called the “Longest Penalty Kick Ever”.
A game in Argentina was abandoned with moments to go when a player, upset that his team had conceded a penalty, decided to punch the referee. The league’s governing body ordered that the remaining time in the game (less than half a minute) be played the following weekend. The kicker and goalkeeper therefore had nearly a week to think about an upcoming penalty kick. In the days prior to the penalty, Kuper and Syzmanski’s write that the goalkeeper facing the kick had the following conversation with the club president and a third party:
Goalkeeper: “Constante kicks to the right.”
President: “Always”.
Goalkeeper: “But he’s knows that I know.”
President: “Then were f****d”.
Goalkeeper: “Yeah, but I know that he knows.”
Third Party: “Then dive to the left and be ready”.
Goalkeeper: “No. He knows that I know that he knows.”
Last week, German referee Marija Kurtes provided us with an almost identical example. During a European Under-19 Championship game between England and Norway, Kurtes disallowed England defender Leah Williamson's goal from the penalty spot due to encroachment by England players. Instead of allowing the penalty to be retaken (the correct decision), the referee awarded a free-kick to Norway.
The Football Association (of England) appealed the result and the UEFA Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body ordered the remaining three minutes of injury time should be replayed with both teams as they were before the penalty was taken. Interestingly, to overcome the problems mentioned in the story from Argentina, England were permitted to change their kicker if they so wished.
So a penalty that was taken on a Saturday would be retaken five days later on Thursday night.
Arsenal and England's Leah Williamson Penalty Kick - Take Two
To be fair to Williamson, she stood up again. Same side, same result. The England international told BBC Sport afterward "I went for a sleep. There was nothing else to do. I was pacing around last night, so I didn't want to do that again".
Nerves of steel.
Nerves of steel.
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