I’m curious why they don’t enforce it on injury actors as well? And do fans like this aspect of the game?
It is only enforced when players need treatment. For every simulation there are many more genuine knocks and strains that don’t require treatment but the player does need to stop for a few seconds. Fans don’t like it (until it benefits their side, and even then can be embarrassed) but then they don’t like it when their player is fouled when the ball isn’t in play either.
LOL, no, I wasn’t slighting hockey. I’d forgotten to mention them in my prior comment, so I wanted to fix it. 
Tx for the response.
I can see the TV argument. That certainly matters in all sports. But, if we’re talking a World Cup championship, or some other league championship, for such a popular sport, wouldn’t that be a good thing for the broadcasters if the game went on a bit?
I’ll defer to those who know soccer better, but isn’t the PK battle, essentially, a coin flip? I’ve had some of my soccer friends tell me that as, as I understand it, the goalie more-or-less has to guess where the shot will go… Do statistics show that certain players or teams are much better at this aspect then others?
If I’m wrong, please correct me.
I do not know of any leagues where a game is decided by penalties, the game is 90 minutes playing time and if it is a draw/tie the teams receive equal points. The shootout is reserved for tournaments, including the World Cup, where there is no opportunity for a replay in the schedule. Domestic cup tournaments might allow for replays but then you get fixture congestion which ultimately leads to virtually second string teams playing the earliest rounds.
While there is skill in taking a penalty kick (and plenty of players do fail to either score or even hit the target) it is a bit of a lottery, and that can lead to weaker teams playing with less attacking intent in the hope that they will get lucky in the shootout. Keepers are at a disadvantage, they might be heroes but fans wouldn’t give them a hard time if they failed to save, the pressure is on the outfield players who would be expected to score.
As I said it is not an ideal solution but it is one that is better than others that have been tried.
Yes. The teams that practice more generally win it (most teams have one or two regular penalty takers, the others do not regularly take penalties).
Yes it would be for broadcasters in the two team’s countries, but these games are shown worldwide to millions of viewers who will not want the schedules disrupted too much.
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