Penalties can be pivotal in a game of football. It can dictate in what way the match goes. If it's scored, the team who scored it might win the game based on the euphoria of the event. Miss it and the mood will be sour and all feelings of a potential win will go down the drain.
On most occassions, a penalty is taken and nothing else happens. However, there are times when it has to be retaken. It's rare for a penalty to be retaken multiple times. Yet, that is exactly what happened in a European game between Italian side, Roma and French side, Lille.
The laws on encroachment from penalty kicks comes from Law 14 of the International Football Association Board's (IFAB) Laws of the Game. It states that the goalkeeper facing a penalty must "remain on the goal line, facing the kicker, between the goalposts, until the ball is kicked."
The goalkeeper must have at least one part of one foot touching, in line with, or behind, the goalline. IFAB also states the goalkeeper must not 'unfairly distract the kicker'. This includes delaying the taking of the kick, touching the goalposts, crossbar or goal net.
Other players, excluding the penalty taker and the goalkeeper, must also remain outside of the penalty area, inside the field of play and 10 yards away from the penalty spot until the kick has been taken.
If a goalkeeper or a team-mate is deemed to have encroached and the shot has not entered the goal, the kick is retaken. If the goalkeeper or their team-mates have encroached and the shot is scored, a goal is awarded.
If the attacking team encroaches and is deemed to have affected the goalkeeper, the kick is retaken if the ball enters the goal. If it does not, an indirect free-kick is awarded to the defending team.
In the event that a player from both teams is found guilty of encroachment, the penalty is retaken. If the encroachment was not deemed to have affected the goalkeeper, play continues.
Roma missed an astonishing three penalties in succession against Lille in a humiliating three-minute sequence of their 1-0 Europa League defeat. In unprecedented scenes, the Italian side spurned a hat-trick of spot kicks in rapid succession after there were two retakes.
Artem Dovbyk stepped up to take the first but the powerful striker sent a tame shot to the goalkeeper's left. It was easily saved by the hero of the night, Berke Ozer but just a minute later, the referee was re-spotting the ball after Lille players had gone into the box too early.
Again, it was Dovbyk entrusted with the responsibility but the result was exactly the same. The Ukrainian went the same way with the same lack of conviction and Ozer made easy work of it.
It wos believed that after the calamitous encroachment on the first penalty that Lille would learn their lesson. This time it was the keeper at fault, moving off his line and giving Roma a third lifeline in the 80th minute with the score still 1-0 to the visitors.
Dovbyk was hauled off penalty duty and Matias Soule stepped up to take it. The Argentine suffered the same fate, going the opposite way to his team-mate but still seeing his penalty saved.
It was a passage of play Turkish stopper Ozer will never forget and Roma boss, Giano Piero Gasperini, will not have been able to believe the capitulation.
Afterwards, he reflected: "It had never happened to me before to miss three penalties in the same situation. We went behind early, which gave them the best conditions. Roma, despite some technical errors, played with desire and rhythm until the end. Maybe we weren’t strong in taking advantage of the chances but from these games you come out with something more."
On the bizarre penalty incident, he added: "It was almost unique and accidental. But it happened and undoubtedly compromised the result. The team, in terms of spirit, gave a lot. We are sportsmen. Mistakes happen, but there is no such thing as getting discouraged. Luckily we play every three days, so we move on quickly."
On Roma's overall performance in the game, Gasperini added: "In the second half, we had continuity in attack. They are fast and technical, it wasn’t easy but we had spirit and intensity. Of course we must make fewer mistakes but I have to look at the good things too. This is a competition where there are eight games, not a direct elimination and the team stayed focused until the end. We are sportsmen. Mistakes happen, but there is no such thing as getting discouraged. Luckily we play every three days, so we move on quickly."
Roma keeper, Mile Svilar, reflected: "The missed penalties? Those who take them are always brave, it’s a shame. The next ones will definitely go better."
Francesco Totti’s comment after seeing Roma miss three penalty kicks against Lille has gone viral in Italy: "This has never happened in football’s history," said the Giallorossi (Roma) legend.
As reported by several media, including Corriere dello Sport and Gazzetta, Totti sent his comment to a group of friends via WhatsApp, but his voice message quickly became public.
"Come on, it’s a joke, don’t kid around," Totti said, according to reports. "They used to give me a hard time, saying I only scored on penalties and that it was easy to take penalties. This has never happened in football’s history. Three in a row! Only Roma pull off stuff like this, unbelievable."
Hákon Arnar Haraldsson had put Lille ahead in the sixth minute at Stadio Olimpico, which was enough for the French club to earn a second win in two games.
All I can say is tough luck. Roma had the opportunities to learn from their mistake and change the way they took it. It wasn't their night. Better days and nights will happen for them. Roma is a brilliant and tough team and their manager, Giano Piero Gasperini, is a great manager.
Lille, I must say, were foolish. They should've known better. They can thank their lucky stars that Berke Ozer was able to save all of the attempts. They won't be as lucky as that night. I'm sorry to say this but their luck will eventually run out.