Lessons from the past: Introducing penalties in soccer to create a better game

Penalties are a crucial element in the history of soccer. In fact, many would agree that it’s the rule that brings out the most emotion in fans and players (frustration for some, elation for others)! A penalty is defined as a free-kick at the goal from a point (about 11m from the goal) within the penalty area, with only the goalkeeper allowed to defend it. The kick is awarded to the attacking team after a foul within the penalty area by a member of the defending team.

A penalty is a particularly dramatic moment in the game, as it can turn the tide of the match in a matter of seconds. We all have our favorite penalties (my one being Zidane’s daring panenka against Italy in the 2006 World Cup final). But few of us know how the penalty rule actually came into existence (spoiler — it arrived in 1891), or how much it impacted the game back then.

At a time when most stadiums are empty, and fans are following the games in their own homes due to COVID-19, some are wondering whether the introduction of new rules could compensate for this and make matches even more exciting. To know the answer, we’ll have to go back 130 years and find out how the introduction of penalties transformed the game of soccer as people knew it.

A surprising and controversial idea…

Who would believe that penalties were actually invented by a goalkeeper? It is indeed surprising when we know that nowadays about 70% of penalties hit the back of the net. However, back in 1891, the goalkeeper of Milford Everton FC and member of the Irish Football Association, William McCrum believed that free kicks — which were the main rule back then — were not a severe enough punishment for infringements near the goal. Therefore, he suggested replacing free kicks with penalty kicks, as a one-on-one duel for a foul in the 18-yard box.

William McCrum, second from the left in the mid range, the goalkeeper from Northern Ireland who invented the penalty kick.

McCrum’s suggestion was initially ridiculed, as his critics believed that he wanted to put more spotlight on the goalkeepers. Similar to recent intense debates linked with the introduction of VAR (Video Assistant Referee), the introduction of penalty kicks created much debate at the International Football Association Board (who were in charge of the rules of soccer since its beginnings in 1886).

They eventually held a vote in June 1891, and the penalty rule was put in place. However, the penalty spot was only added to the pitches in 1902. Before that time, players could take the penalty from anywhere within an 11-meter radius of the goal.

The Scottish Referee explains the new rule of penalties on Monday 03 August 1891.

The growing popularity of penalties…

In the late 19th century, capitalism became increasingly popular in Britain, and capitalist principles were also transferred to soccer. The game was commercialized, with the goal of creating a profit. Multiple soccer tournaments were created to boost the number of games — and line the investors’ pockets in the process. Penalty kicks added to the excitement of the game, which attracted more spectators, which in turn generated more revenue.

One of the first penalty kick in the Football League was awarded to Wolverhampton Wanderers in their match against Accrington at Molineux Stadium on 14 September 1891 (photo of an unknown game).

Several soccer events particularly influenced the introduction of the penalty kick, and the public’s receptiveness to it. For instance, during the Scottish Cup quarter final in 1890, a player named Jimmy Adams punched (yes, punched!) the ball away from the goal, whilst he was under the bar. He was the Luiz Suarez of the 1890s! He stopped a potential goal, and he didn’t receive any real sanctions.

The introduction of penalties happened at a time when soccer became increasingly popular within the emerging working class from 1885, as explained by David Golblatt in The ball is round: A Global History of Soccer. This increased interest in soccer arose due to increased salaries, more free time (on Saturday afternoons when games happened), better transport systems, and the workforce being able to read the sports newspapers.

These factors really encouraged the spread of soccer, and it became increasingly popular. Therefore, incidents like the “Jimmy Adams punch” were known by everyone, and the public agreed that a penalty kick should be given in the event of foul play.

In his book Fair Play, Sigmund Loland speaks of a professional foul if a player “violates the rules intentionally and openly and accepts the penalty with the rationale of a long-term advantage for him or her, or for the team.” Luiz Suárez’s handball in the 2010 World Cup quarter-final against Ghana is a great example of this, leading to a missed penalty and Uruguay’s qualification during the shoot-out.

Conclusion

Since its introduction in 1891, the penalty kick has been one of the most iconic rules of soccer. Even though it was criticized at first, and some people find the rule unfair because the offensive player is highly likely to score, the penalty kick remains a fair sanction for fouls at present. At a time where people are thinking of introducing new rules due to COVID-19, and to modernize the game, the spectacular aspect of penalties reveals that bringing excitement to a rule, and not only fairness, could be a way for a rule to be globally accepted.

I wonder whether new rules could make soccer more intense and force players to be more offensive; both of which could increase the number of goals. For example, a player might be banned from the pitch for 10 minutes in the event of a yellow card, similar to rugby. This could create more attacking opportunities and quick turnarounds, and make the game even more exciting than it already is.

About me:

Hi! My name is Nathan Bouton, and I am a 23-year-old business student from Paris. I am enrolled on the GETT programme, a triple degree programme with UC Berkeley (United States), EDHEC Business School (France) and Sungkyunkwan University (South Korea). I am passionate about social business, tech, trips … and sport! You can connect with me on LinkedIn here.