To investigate incorrect procedure being used in penalty shootout

0 Livingston’s Scott Pittman missed the crucial penalty. The Scottish Professional Football League is to launch an investigation into the penalty shootout at the end of the Irn-bru Cup tie between The New Saints and Livingston.

But it will not affect the Welsh side’s progress.

TNS triumphed 6-5 on penalties after the match at their Park Hall Stadium finished in a 1-1 draw after extra time. However, Republic of Ireland referee Robert Harvey used the trial ABBA method in the shootout, whereby Livingston took the first penalty and then The New Saints took two consecutive spot-kicks before Livingston’s second attempt – and so on.

The traditional method of one team following another should have been employed – and was in fact used in the tie between Ayr United and Montrose which went to penalties last Tuesday.

The ABBA method, which was first used in youth competitions during the summer, wasapprovedbyfootball’slawmaking body, the International Football Association Board, after research showed that the team going second faced a disadvantage.

The English Football League has adopted its use for their Carabao Cup, Checkatrade Trophy and EFL play-offs this season on a trial basis.

However, it is not in the SPFL rules and was used in error on Sunday.

Both the New Saints and Livingston went along with the ABBA approach until the outcome was decided when Livingston’s Scott Pittman hit the 16th kick of the shootout over the bar.

A SPFL spokesperson said: “It is not in our rules and we will be looking into how it happened as the rules were issued to everyone involved.

“It looks like there was some confusion between the referee who came from Ireland and his assistants who were from Wales.”

“We do not see it affecting the result of the tie. However, we need to ensure that it does not happen again.”