Introduction
On a warm August evening in 1970, football history was made in an unlikely setting. Hull City, a second-tier side, and the mighty Manchester United, featuring the iconic George Best, played out a 1-1 draw in the pre-season Watney Cup. They then embarked on an experiment that would change the game forever: the world's first official penalty shootout. No one knew it then, but this new method would go on to create some of the most dramatic and heartbreaking moments in football.
The 'Cruel' System: Coin Tosses and Drawing of Lots
Before penalty shootouts, tied knockout matches were often decided by methods that had little to do with footballing skill. The most infamous examples came in major tournaments. At the 1968 European Championship, Italy advanced to the final after a coin toss win over the Soviet Union following a 0-0 semifinal draw. The Azzurri went on to win the title after a replay in the final, but the randomness left a bitter taste.
Even more bizarre was the 1968 Olympic quarter-final. Israel and Bulgaria drew 1-1, and the outcome was determined by drawing lots. Israel's captain pulled a piece of paper from a sombrero that read 'no', eliminating his team. This was the final straw for Israeli FA official Yosef Dagan, who called the system "immoral and even cruel".
"To stop this way of deciding the winner by drawing lots, an immoral and even cruel system for the losing team and not honourable for the winner," Michael Almog wrote to FIFA in 1969.
The Birth of the Penalty Shootout
Dagan and Almog's proposal was simple: each team takes five penalties apiece, and if still level, sudden death until a winner emerges. Despite some debate, football's lawmakers at the International Football Association Board (IFAB) adopted the idea on 27 June 1970. The change would take effect almost immediately.
The First Official Shootout: Hull City vs Manchester United
The Watney Cup, a pre-season tournament featuring high-scoring teams from each division, provided the stage. On 5 August 1970, Hull City and Manchester United were tied 1-1 after extra time at Boothferry Park. Referee Vince James signalled for the first-ever competitive penalty shootout.
11-year-old Martyn Kelly, a Hull fan, craned his neck for a view. "Blimey, it's George Best, one of the greatest players ever. He's going to take the first penalty in the world's first penalty shootout," he thought. Best coolly converted, but it was Hull who triumphed 4-3 on spot-kicks, with goalkeeper Ian McKechnie saving from Denis Law and Maurice Setters.
The drama was immediate, and a new era of footballing tension had begun.
Legacy of the Shootout
It took time for the shootout to spread. The FA Cup did not adopt penalties until the 1990-91 season, and some competitions clung to replays for decades. But as the method took hold, it produced moments etched in collective memory: Italy's Roberto Baggio skying his kick in the 1994 World Cup final, England's repeated heartbreak, and the ecstasy of underdogs.
The shootout has been called a lottery, but Almog's vision was to replace blind luck with skill under pressure. Whether it's less cruel is up for debate—ask any player who has missed.
Key Takeaways
- The first official penalty shootout occurred on 5 August 1970 in the Watney Cup between Hull City and Manchester United.
- Before shootouts, ties were often decided by coin tosses or drawing lots, which were widely seen as unfair.
- The idea was championed by Israeli FA officials after a controversial lot-drawing defeat at the 1968 Olympics.
- George Best took the first spot-kick and scored, but Hull won the historic shootout 4-3.
- Penalty shootouts have since become a defining, nerve-shredding part of knockout football worldwide.
Quick Facts
Date: 5 August 1970
Venue: Boothferry Park, Hull
Competition: Watney Cup (pre-season)
Participants: Hull City vs Manchester United
Score after extra time: 1-1
Shootout result: Hull City won 4-3
First penalty taker: George Best (scored)
Proposal adopted by IFAB: 27 June 1970