Bad Sportsmanship or Brilliant Penalty Taking? The Paradinha

We’ve spoken a lot about penalty misses and the statistical (in)significance of star players, time and time again, failing to convert from 12 yards. It still baffles me that top flight players miss 30% of their chances, and these articles have been some of our most forwarded and most read posts – so today we encounter a new pseudo-debate in the world of professional penalty taking:

The Stutter Step.

As you can see above, Brazilian Neymar scores using the “paradinha” style (stutter step) in a recent match – and compatriot Kaka responded by writing on his Twitter that the style is “bad sportsmanship.”

But is it? And is it against the rules?

At no point in the FIFA Referee Handbook does it say that the penalty kick-taker cannot stop, though many other sources suggest that a player may slow down but not stop. So – I ask you, fellow footie fanatics, do you like the paradinha as part of the game or should it be wiped out as a technique in penalty taking?

Should the Stutter Step “Paradinha” Penalty be Outlawed by FIFA?(survey)

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James says:

February 16, 2010 at 12:32 pm

As a goalkeeper, it's hard enough already to stop a penalty shot without the penalty-taker pulling this bullshit. (and especially after a questionable foul in the first place by stepping directly in front of the defender and slowing down – easily being 80% of the cause of the collision)

verbal97 says:

February 16, 2010 at 12:41 pm

utter bullshit. Be a man and shoot like one.

I will not be taking this style of penalty ever.

Stepovers Anonymous says:

February 16, 2010 at 5:56 pm

Agree with James, foul going the other way.

As to the kick, its a dirty little tactic, especially to the extreme as shown in this video. I really hope someone put that tiny man on his ass next time down the pitch.

Ban it. Look like a fool all you want, starting and stopping as you approach the ball, but the fake kick needs to go.

TD Ocho says:

February 16, 2010 at 10:39 pm

That was some bullshit

wilhelmsson says:

February 17, 2010 at 12:51 pm

How easy was his actual shot to stop? No power, no accuracy. Just as it can be an advantage, such a style can be a disadvantage. Watch Ronaldo in the 2008 CL final. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z8svXbTqO2k

Still, a good debate.

Anonymous says:

February 20, 2010 at 1:59 pm

brilliant penalty… but keepers can make this benefit them by just staying in the middle and then the taker wont be able to get any power in his shot

Griggers says:

March 4, 2010 at 2:11 pm

By stopping, it also has the potential to screw up the kicker. If the goalie stands still when the player stops, the player is now frozen, and it is tough on him, however how often does the goalie wait until the ball is struck. I say Outlaw it.