‘Stutter’ penalty back in the spotlight after Barco miss costs Chelsea
Chelsea went out of the Carabao Cup after Valentin Barco hit the post with a stuttering penalty in their shootout defeat by Liverpool. The miss has renewed debate about whether the stop-start technique helps takers unsettle goalkeepers or adds needless risk.
Barco’s was the fourth penalty for Chelsea; after Wesley Fofana missed in sudden death, Liverpool advanced. Arsenal’s Bruno Guimaraes had also missed with a similar run-up against League Two Fleetwood Town. The technique is permitted under Fifa rules, provided the taker does not feint immediately before kicking, but 11 of 26 stuttered penalties at the summer’s World Cup were missed. Liverpool’s Joe Gomez, who has never scored in 319 senior appearances, converted with a straightforward run-up.
In short
- Barco’s stuttering penalty hit the post as Chelsea lost to Liverpool.
- Guimaraes also missed after using the technique against Fleetwood.
- The approach can unsettle keepers, but may increase the risk of a miss.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
A stuttering run-up can make a goalkeeper commit early, giving the taker a chance to place the ball the other way. Since the technique is permitted when it avoids a final feint, players may reasonably use it as one option among several, and a miss alone does not show that the approach caused the failure.
The case against
The pauses can disrupt a taker’s rhythm and make a well-practised strike harder to execute under pressure. With 11 of 26 stuttered penalties at the World Cup missed, critics can argue that any possible advantage is uncertain and may not justify adding complexity to a kick where composure and reliable technique matter.
Explained simply
The Carabao Cup is a domestic knockout competition in English football, with teams eliminated when they lose. If a match is level after extra time, a penalty shootout decides who advances: players take turns shooting from the penalty spot, and if the scores remain level after five kicks each, the contest continues one kick at a time.
Valentin Barco is a Chelsea player, while Bruno Guimaraes plays for Arsenal; both have used a stop-start run-up, often called a stutter, before taking penalties. Under football’s rules, a taker may pause or slow their approach, but cannot feint to kick once they have completed the run-up.
The technique is debated because a change of pace may affect how a goalkeeper responds, while a pause can also disrupt the taker’s timing. Penalties are a regular way to settle knockout matches, so how players approach them can draw attention beyond a single game.