# Football penalty shootout: Why did the ref change the goal in the middle of this shootout?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/football-penalty-shootout-why-did-the-ref-change-the-goal-in-the-middle-of-this-shootout/811493>\
**Category:** The Game Room\
**Created:** [March 30, 2018, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/football-penalty-shootout-why-did-the-ref-change-the-goal-in-the-middle-of-this-shootout/811493 "2018-03-30T21:42:16Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\
**Post date:** [March 30, 2018, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/football-penalty-shootout-why-did-the-ref-change-the-goal-in-the-middle-of-this-shootout/811493/1 "2018-03-30T21:42:16Z")

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Watching an old [video of the 2004 AFC Asian Cup penalty shootout between Japan and Jordan](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-dyuWq0-KTw), the two teams have gone 3 kicks into the shootout until the referee abruptly changes goals in the middle of the shootout (with some consultation with the Japanese coach). Does anyone know why this was done, or would be done, according to the rules?

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**Author:** ![Intelligently\_Designed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/intelligently_designed/32/20957_2.png) [@Intelligently\_Designed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Intelligently_Designed)\
**Post date:** [March 30, 2018, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/football-penalty-shootout-why-did-the-ref-change-the-goal-in-the-middle-of-this-shootout/811493/2 "2018-03-30T22:38:27Z")

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After his team missed its first two shots, a Japanese player seems to complain to the referee that the kicking spot is not in good condition. Nevertheless, the ref’s decision to switch goals at Japan’s request was pretty controversial at the time.

[Here’s the story.](http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/internationals/3942667.stm)

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**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\
**Post date:** [March 31, 2018, 7:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/football-penalty-shootout-why-did-the-ref-change-the-goal-in-the-middle-of-this-shootout/811493/3 "2018-03-31T07:02:57Z")

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Ah thanks!!