The English Football Association has confirmed new penalty shootout rule to be adopted for the Sundays Community Shield encounter between Chelsea and Arsenal. The new rule which is known as the "ABBA" rule will also become a standard rule for spot kicks throughout the season. According to the rule, if the match ends barren or in a draw after 90 minutes, both clubs will head straight to the penalty to decide the winner of the game.

Contrary to the previous system, the new penalty kick rule is patterned after the rulke used in tennis tie breaker. This requires the team taking the first kick in each pair of kicks in an alternate fashion. For instance, if Team A takes the first kick and B follows, the third kick would be taken by B.


In a statement issued by the FA, the football body confirmed the report saying “the FA has today announced that a different order of kicks for Kicks from the Penalty Mark (KFPM) will be tried at Sunday’s FA Community Shield supported by McDonald’s – the first time the new format will be used competitively in the country”