Skip to content
— CH. 1 · INTRODUCTION —

Penalty shoot-out (association football)

1 min listen

Common questions

When was the first recorded penalty shoot-out in professional football?

The first recorded penalty shoot-out in professional football occurred at Boothferry Park in Hull on the 30th of September 1970. Manchester United defeated Hull City in that Watney Cup semi-final match.

Who proposed the concept of a penalty shoot-out before IFAB adopted it?

Israeli Yosef Dagan proposed the concept following a 1968 Olympic quarter-final loss to Bulgaria decided by a coin toss. Michael Almog later described Dagan's proposal in a letter published in FIFA News in August 1969.

What are the specific rules for players participating in a penalty shoot-out?

Only players who were on the pitch at the end of normal play or temporarily absent due to injury can participate in the procedure. When one side has more players than the opponent because of red cards or injuries, they must reduce their numbers to match the weaker team under the rule known as reduce to equate introduced by IFAB in February 2000.

Which match holds the world record for the highest score in a penalty shoot-out?

F.C. Dimona defeated Shimshon Tel Aviv twenty-three-twenty requiring fifty-six penalties during Israel's Liga Alef promotion playoffs 2023-24 establishing world record highest score first-class match.

How does the ABBA sequence differ from traditional alternating order in penalty shoot-outs?

IFAB tested an ABBA sequence starting March 2017 mirroring tennis tiebreaks where Team A kicks first followed by B then A again. Trials ended November 2018 due to complexity concerns leaving traditional alternating order intact.

All sources

134 references cited across the entry

  1. 2The BASES Expert Statement on the Psychological Preparation for Football Penalty ShootoutsWilson, M et al. — British Association of Sports and Exercise Sciences
  2. 3JournalPressure versus ability: Evidence from penalty shoot-outs between teams from different divisionsAlex Krumer — December 2020
  3. 4JournalAlmost a lottery: the influence of team strength on success in penalty shootoutsFabian Wunderlich et al. — 2 September 2020
  4. 5JournalTeam strength and penalty shootouts in soccer: Market value predicts the winnerRob van Hemert et al. — 3 February 2026
  5. 9European Women U-19 Championship 2002–03Sébastien Duret et al. — 14 February 2004
  6. 10BookFIFA World Cup Italia'90: Official ReportFIFA Technical Study Group — FIFA — 1990
  7. 11European U-16 Championship 1994Erik Garin et al. — 7 December 2003
  8. 12BookThe Sports Business in The Pacific RimHirata, T. et al. — Sports Economics, Management and Policy
  9. 14The Corsham Referee NewsletterJulian Carosi — July 2006
  10. 16Football Law Changes 2016/17Will Hinch — 8 June 2016
  11. 18NewsEuropean Cup Final: Home truths from RomeSimon Hart — 18 May 2012
  12. 20JournalAttention towards the goalkeeper and distraction during penalty shootouts in association football: a retrospective analysis of penalty shootouts from 1984 to 2012Philip Furley et al. — 3 May 2017
  13. 21JournalTemporal links to performing under pressure in international soccer penalty shootoutsGeir Jordet et al. — November 2009
  14. 22JournalEn Passant2 April 1923
  15. 23Laws of the Game (1923)
  16. 24European Championship 1968Karel Stokkermans et al. — RSSSF — 7 February 2007
  17. 25Cup of Yugoslavia 1952Dinant Abbink — RSSSF — 6 June 2008
  18. 26Coppa Italia 1958/59Erik Garin — RSSSF — 28 March 2007
  19. 27Switzerland – Youth Cup 1959/60Dinant Abbink — RSSSF — 8 June 2000
  20. 28Coupe Horlogère – Uhren Cup (Switzerland) 1962–2009: 1962Erik Garin — RSSSF — 6 November 2009
  21. 29Der Beweis für die deutsche FrechheitMarco Sansoni — 13 July 2011
  22. 30Trofeo Ramón de Carranza (Cádiz-Spain) 1955–2007: 1962Raúl Torre — RSSSF — 16 May 2008
  23. 31A don Rafael Ballester, innovadorAlfredo Relaño — AS.com — 18 August 2006
  24. 32Bolivarian Games: Soccer TournamentsJosé Luis Pierrend et al. — RSSSF — 3 September 2005
  25. 35Penzberg: Der Erfinder des ElfmeterschießensKonstantin Kaip — 2020-02-02
  26. 38Minutes of the Working PartySoccer South Bay Referee Association — 20 February 1970
  27. 39Minutes of the AGMSoccer South Bay Referee Association — 27 June 1970
  28. 40NewsKarl Wald: Der Vater des ElfmeterschießensChristian Hollmann — 30 June 2006
  29. 42JournalDrawing of lots – that's how teams will be parted26 May 1970
  30. 43BookWorld Championship – Jules Rimet Cup 1970 Final Competition: Technical StudyFIFA Technical Study Group — Fédération Internationale de Football Association — 1970
  31. 46European Cup 1970–71linguasport.com
  32. 48NewsUEFA annul Cup result9 October 1972
  33. 49NewsDerby could silence their criticsAlbert Barham — 25 October 1972
  34. 50Decisão do Campeonato Paulista de 1973Reportagem CV — cartaovermelho.com.br — 26 August 2003
  35. 51BookPelé: the autobiographyPelé — Simon & Schuster — 2006
  36. 52NewsSide Lines: Thomas the send-offAlan Road — 20 June 1976
  37. 53NewsCzechs owe championship to ViktorDavid Lacey — 21 June 1976
  38. 54History of the FIFA World Cup Preliminary Competition (by year)Communications Division — FIFA — 27 July 2007
  39. 55NewsWorld Cup facts and figures6 June 1982
  40. 56NewsSoccer purists blast penalty shoootoutsNorman Chad — 25 June 1986
  41. 571994 FIFA World Cup USA (TM) Brazil - ItalyFédération Internationale de Football Association
  42. 58Italy - FranceFédération Internationale de Football Association
  43. 66NewsEngland lose shootout in Euro 2020 finalPhil McNulty — 11 July 2021
  44. 68BookEncyclopedia of British footballJohn Coyle — Routledge — 3 September 2002
  45. 72Wells' shoot-out recordThe FA — 2 September 2005
  46. 73Latest newsTunbridge Wells FC
  47. 75NewsSteaua's storyBritish Broadcasting Corporation — 5 August 2009
  48. 80NewsU21s: Blackpool 1-1 Aston Villa (17-18 pens)Aston Villa FC — 18 December 2024
  49. 85The Matildas' moment: Each penalty had its own story to tellMarissa Lordanic — ESPN — 13 August 2023
  50. 90The FIFA/Coca-Cola World RankingFIFA — 27 May 2007
  51. 91Journal2016 and 2017 NCAA Men's and Women's Soccer RulesKen Andres — The National Collegiate Athletic Association — June 2016
  52. 92Journal2001 NCAA Men's and Women's Soccer RulesC. Cliff McCrath — The National Collegiate Athletic Association — June 2001
  53. 94Journal2002 NCAA Men's and Women's Soccer RulesC. Cliff McCrath — The National Collegiate Athletic Association — July 2002
  54. 95Journal2003 NCAA Men's and Women's Soccer RulesC. Cliff McCrath — The National Collegiate Athletic Association — August 2003
  55. 98NewsA match worthy of championsPaul Doyle — 21 May 2008
  56. 99NewsDown with the shoot-out and let the 'games won' column decideRichard Williams — 24 October 2006
  57. 100NewsPlayers will not blame Rooney, says GerrardJamie Jackson — 2 July 2006
  58. 104NewsIn praise of the nine-day drawStephen Moss — 15 March 2007
  59. 105NewsSerbia & Montenegro's new dawnNada Grkinic — 31 May 2003
  60. 106NewsMade in Britain – but successful abroad?Dan Rookwood et al. — 19 June 2003
  61. 107NewsThe joy of six: inspired tactical switchesRob Smyth — 10 July 2007
  62. 108NewsBig debate: should FA Cup replays be scrapped?Glenn Roeder — 27 February 2007
  63. 109NewsMental approach holds key to penalty successMitch Phillips — 25 June 2008
  64. 110NewsFootball Penalties: The Lucky 12 YardsThe Economist
  65. 111Winning shootouts on the first kickScience Nordic — 3 December 2012
  66. 112JournalTournaments, fairness and the prouhet-thue-morse sequenceIgnacio Palacios-Huerta — July 2012
  67. 114JournalPsychological Pressure in Competitive Environments: New Evidence from Randomized Natural ExperimentsMartin G. Kocher et al. — August 2012
  68. 115JournalPenalty shoot-outs are tough, but the alternating order is fairSilvan Vollmer et al. — 9 December 2024
  69. 120NewsArsenal 1–1 Chelsea (Arsenal won 4–1 on pens)Tom Rostance — 6 August 2017
  70. 122Scoring through the agesNigel Trueman
  71. 125FA Cup FactfileFA — 16 May 2003
  72. 127Penalty Shoot-outs: alternativesJon Billsberry et al.
  73. 128NewsFIFA ponder end to shoot-out woeBill Bradshaw — 4 February 2008
  74. 129Theadgalternative.com5 August 2010
  75. 131JournalLa ligne des 35 yardsPascal François et al. — 2026
  76. 132NASL Soccer Bowl '81thecelebratedmisterk — 13 April 2010
  77. 133NewsM.L.S. is Making ChangesAlex Yannis — 18 November 1999