Originally posted by BlueJ1
All the answers I wanted, thankyou very much. One last question, how does the penalty system work ?
Around the goal mouth, there is a 6 yard area (goal keeper's area). The outer box around the goal mouth is the 18 yard area, also known as the "penalty box". Normally when the game is being played in midfield, if a foul is committed, play is stopped and a free kick is given to the other team. However, if a foul is committed by the defending team in their own 18 yard "penalty box", a penalty kick is awarded to the other team. The ball is positioned on the penalty spot, midway between 18 yard line and 6 yard line, ie. 12 yards from the goal mouth. The only people allowed in the 18 yard area while the kick is taken are the goal keeper, the person taking the kick, and the referee.
In extreme cases - serious fouls, for example a player makes a deliberate attempt to stop the ball with his hand, or where the offensive player had a shot at goal but was fouled, the offending player will be shown the Red Card, and will be dismissed from the game (sent off). I'll leave someone else to describe what happened in the Argentina v England World Cup game in 1986 - the "Hand of God" goal.
Penalty kicks are usually successful (unless taken by Chris Waddle of Sheffield Wednesday
) but the goalie does save a few. I once saw a save made from a penalty kick, but the ball bounced back to the player taking the kick, and he had a second crack at it - the ball went in, and the goal was allowed.
In some competition games, if no definite result has been achieved after extra time, the game will be decided by a "penalty shoot-out" (Lazs, don't get excited!) Each team takes 5 penalty kicks against the opposing team, and the result decided from that.
In fact IIRC, the FINAL of the World Cup 1994 (hosted by USA) was decided that way. (Italy v Brazil?) -can't remember.
