Penalty Shootout: English topflight to adopt “ABBA” format for upcoming season

The 2017/18 season will see the “ABBA” format of penalty shootouts trialed in the English game.

All English Football League (EFL) competitions will be using the “ABBA’ format of penalty shootouts for the upcoming 2017/2018 season.

The system has a format slightly different from the normal pattern of penalty shootouts as known previously.

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The previous format meant Team will take the first penalty, Team B takes the second, then Team A retakes, hence the “ABAB” format.

However, the current “ABBA” format is meant to ease the pressure on the team that takes the second kick, with each team now having equal pressure on their shoulders.

The adopted format will see Team A take the first kick, then Team B follows with two successive kicks, before Team A again takes another kick – hence “ABBA”.

A statement from EFL chief executive Shaun Harvey confirmed that its competitions will adopt the new “ABBA” format: "We welcome innovation at the EFL and I am pleased to see that the EFL is able to play its part in an important development for football.

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"IFAB have identified a theory that the current arrangements for penalty kicks potentially provide an unfair advantage to the team taking the first kick so we are keen to see if the new system has an impact on one of the most discussed issues in football.”

The decision means that the “ABBA” format of penalty shootouts will be trialed in all EFL competitions for the 2017/18 season, including the EFL Cup, FA Cup, playoffs, the Carabao Cup and the Checkatrade Trophy

The 2017/18 season will see the “ABBA” format of penalty shootouts trialed in the English game. Read Full Story