Richard Keys believes there should be a major change in the rules over penalty shootouts – arguing the Lionesses had a ‘distinct advantage’ in their Euro 2025 shootout win.
The former Sky Sports presenter, who now works for beIN, thinks there is an unfair advantage given to the side who are taking spot kicks in front of their own fans.
The Lionesses won the toss after extra time against Spain in the final of Euro 2025 on Sunday, selecting the penalties to take place at the end in front of England supporters.
Keys wrote on X: ‘Pens in front of your own fans is a distinct advantage. We should take them at both ends but for now – Come on England.’
The current rules are that there are two coin tosses before penalties, one to decide which end they are taken and another to see which side will go first.
If Keys’ idea to have penalties taken at both ends came to fruition, it may even the balance but alter the spectacle, with attention split between two halves and those on the halfway line turning to watch each time.
Richard Keys has put forward a change he believes should be made for penalties
England were able to take their spot kicks in front of their fans after winning the toss
The Lionesses held off Spain in extra time to reach the lottery of the shootout having cancelled out Mariona Caldentey’s opener with Alessia Russo’s second-half header.
Beth Mead thought she had scored the first goal of the penalties for England but double-kicked the ball as she slipped.
She had to retake it and saw her effort saved to give Spain the advantage but it mattered little in the end.
Hannah Hampton saved twice and Salma Paralluelo dragged wide of the post before Chloe Kelly stepped up to smash the winner and confirm England as back-to-back European champions.
It seems unlikely that Keys’ penalty idea will be adopted and he is no stranger to a controversial opinion on X.
The broadcaster, earlier this year claimed Man United boss Ruben Amorim was ‘trying’ to get sacked.
He also hinted that Kelly Cates and Gabby Logan both owe their successful careers to him in astonishing rant after they were lined up as part of the trio, along with Mark Chapman, to present Match of the Day.
Writing in his blog, he posted: ‘Congrats to Kelly Cates on her new job. I’m proud of her but not surprised. Success has many fathers and I’m sure there’ll be a few people lining up to take credit for her career, but Kelly, Kenny and me know the truth.
‘Kenny and I once fell out about her getting a job at Sky. “It meant she didn’t finish Uni” he said to me. “No” I replied. “But you asked me to get her a job”. Her dad is a man of many contradictions – but that one was a belter. I’m not holding my breath expecting he’ll call now to apologise.
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‘Kelly is good. Very good. But I’m still surprised she’s making the move. There’s nothing like presenting live football. I would never have made that decision. Highlights shows are deadly dull.
‘MotD desperately needs fresh blood, but I’m not sure it will survive for very much longer. Eventually Grandstand died for similar reasons – the march of time.’
Keys and former colleague Andy Gray left their roles with Sky after a series of sexist conversations were picked up and leaked in January 2011 when they thought their microphones were off.
Both Keys and Gray left the UK and are the face of Premier League coverage across the Middle East and North Africa with beIN Sports.
