Should football introduce "penalty goals" like in Rugby?

[ArtVandelayLFC]

This issue was brought up on another football website, and I think it's an interesting question. In the Merseyside derby this past weekend Phil Neville was sent off for clearly and purposefully using his arm to keep out a shot right on the goal line, a shot that was 100% likely to go in if Neville hadn't done what he did. Dirk Kuyt successfully converted the penalty (just barely) so all was well in the end, but if he had missed the penalty, Liverpool would have been denied a goal that was 100% certain to be scored if not for Phil Neville cheating as blatantly as you can possibly cheat. Shouldn't we be looking for ways to eliminate teams benefiting from cheating like Everton would have if Kuyt had missed from the spot? I mean, you have so many non-Liverpool fans whining about Gerrard supposedly diving to earn a penalty (Clattenberg made the right call) and convincing the ref to produce a red card (if Clattenberg didn't send Hibbert off it would have been a horrendous decision), yet Phil Neville's actions get nary a mention even though there's no denying he blatantly cheated.

Now I'm not a Rugby fan and I don't feel like looking up the exact wording of the rule, but from what I understand the referees in Rugby have the authority to award a try if, in the opinion of the referee, a try would definitely have been scored if not for a penalty by the defending team. Would you like to see a similar rule introduced in football?

[BlackburnRover]

I thought you meant hoofing the ball over the bar.:o

In instances like Saturday where it would have definitely been a goal if he hadn't saved it on the line, he should have been sent off (which he obviosuly was) and the goal awarded.

Fair play to Neville he walked with no complaints, not that he really had an option. But there was a chance that the penalty would be saved. If all that was going to happen was he got sent off and the goal was awarded there'd have been no point in him doing it.

[Tony Dellbird]

It is an interesting question, but it depends if the fans would have any disagreement to waiting for the decision to be made. etc.

It's like when you play pro evo with your mate and you're through on goal but they just bring you down outside the box, and take the red card, then you miss from the resulting free kcik! :D

[ArtVandelayLFC]

One thing's for sure, if Kuyt had missed that penalty (which he very nearly did) and we ended up splitting the points, a whole lot more Liverpool supporters would be asking this question right about now.

[Tony Dellbird]

Well that's nothing new is it.