Demand to overhaul penalty shootouts after Lionesses given 'distinct advantage'

 TV presenter Richard Keys has spearheaded calls for a shake-up of football's penalty shootouts following the England Lionesses' triumph over Spain.

The two sides were deadlocked after 120 minutes, with extra time concluding at 1-1 after Alessia Russo's header levelled Mariona Caldentey's initial goal. Chloe Kelly, who set up Russo's equaliser after being subbed in during the first half, confidently slotted home the decisive penalty to the delight of the England fans.

The newly crowned champions clinched a 3-1 victory in the shootout, but it wasn't without controversy. Beth Mead, who kicked off England's penalties, was allowed a re-take.

Her first attempt saw her send Cata Coll the wrong way, but replays revealed she had double-touched the ball due to a slip, making her initial shot invalid. The 'double-touch' rule was revised last month following a contentious incident involving Julian Alvarez against Real Madrid in the men's Champions League.

Instances where a double touch is 'clearly accidental' can be re-taken, but only if the penalty was successful.

Mead's second attempt was blocked, but her disappointment quickly turned to elation as goalie Hannah Hampton saved two penalties and Salma Paralluelo missed the mark before Kelly blasted the winner, sparking wild celebrations among the England faithful, reports the Express.

Keys has suggested a change in the rules for penalty shootouts in football, as he believes it is unfair for one team to have the advantage of taking their penalties in front of their own fans.

The disgraced ex-Sky Sports host tweeted: "Pens in front of your own fans is a distinct advantage. We should take them at both ends but for now - Come on England."

Keys' concern is that having a supportive crowd behind one team can put pressure on the opposing team, affecting their performance in the shootout. He proposes taking penalties at both ends of the pitch as a solution.

However, many on social media argued that implementing this change could be impractical, particularly in stadiums where away fans are seated at the side rather than directly behind the goal, as pointed out by @SulliMick: "Some grounds like Tottenham Stadium, Villa Park & Selhurst Park just to name a few have away fans at the side not directly behind the goal so how would that work?".

Others also highlighted that at women's football matches, crowds are often not separated by allegiance. Additionally, setting up penalty shoots at both ends of the stadium could lead to further delays, potentially increasing the pressure on players.

The current practice for penalty shootouts involves a coin toss to determine which end of the stadium the kicks are taken, followed by another toss to decide which team goes first