Change the penalty shootout rules

A new rule is being tested, aimed at creating more fairness when penalty shootouts determine the winner.

The current penalty shootout rules are that each team takes one kick in a row for the first five rounds. For example, team A kicks first, then team B, then team A again.

UEFA is testing a new rule, called "ABBA". For example, under the new rule, team A kicks first, then team B kicks twice in a row, then team A kicks twice in a row. So the order of the penalty shootout would be ABBAABBAAB.

UEFA wants to create fairness in penalty shootouts with changes they have started testing.

The first team to kick is determined by a coin toss.

This new rule is similar to the way a tie-break is played in tennis. The reason UEFA is considering changing the rule is to create fairness in penalty shootouts.

According to statistics, 60% of the time the team that kicks first usually wins. "The team that kicks later always has more mental pressure," said UEFA. With the new rule, teams have the opportunity to kick first and second.

UEFA tested the new rule at the Women's Under-17 European Championship in the Czech Republic and the Men's Under-17 European Championship in Croatia, both of which started this week.

According to VNE