News

Raul Jimenez has scored all 14 of the penalties he has taken in the Premier League.

And his latest followed a well-rehearsed routine to round off the scoring in Fulham’s 3-1 victory over relegation-threatened Burnley as he extended his own record for the best 100% conversion rate in the competition’s history.

It also provided the Mexico international with a poignant moment as he dropped to his knees and pointed to the sky with both hands to celebrate his first goal since the death of his father, which was announced by his country’s football federation on 13 March.

But while an emotional Jimenez was warmly embraced by his teammates, several Clarets players were directing their focus and ire towards referee Chris Kavanagh over the validity of his stuttering technique.

Speaking to BBC Match of the Day, Burnley boss Scott Parker said: “Initially I was questioning the actual penalty decision.

“But then someone said you can’t step back[wards] on a penalty so I was questioning that – that you can’t step back[wards] on the run-up. The fourth [official] told me that’s not the case and that you can do that.”

Placing the ball on the penalty spot, Jimenez takes around 10 paces backwards and stands with his hands on his hips.

After taking two or three steps to his left, he begins his run-up, stuttering on the way to the spot before stroking his effort into the back of the net.

It is a familiar method and since overtaking Yaya Toure, who scored 11 from 11 penalties – it is one that means he can lay a claim to being the best penalty taker in Premier League history.

“He knows how to do it and he’s top. He’s so cool, so precise and that is the reason why he has the record,” Fulham manager Marco Silva told BBC Match of the Day.

“We are confident that when we get these moments he will score. He never stops completely, the last move when he decides to go, he goes and doesn’t stop.”

In truth it is not anything that we have not seen before.

John Aldridge, for example, scored 17 and missed one for Liverpool and a considerable number of the 52 out of 55 penalties (94.5%) he scored over his club and international career with the Republic of Ireland, were from a staggered run-up.

Mexico legend Hugo Sanchez has previously suggested that he deserves some credit for inventing the technique which forces the goalkeeper to make the first move and often hands the taker the advantage in their one-to-one duel.

Although the technique has no English name, Portuguese‑speaking nations call it the ‘Paradinha’. This translates as ‘little stop’ and Brazil forward Neymar has even attempted to use it from a free-kick.

It also cleverly bypasses Fifa rules that prevent a full stop at the end of a run-up.

This style is a legal variation because his faints and stutters occur during the run-up rather than the point of contact.

BBC Sport’s Football issues correspondent, Dale Johnson, said: “The act of feinting in the run-up on a penalty was made famous during Pele’s time as a player.

“Football’s lawmakers banned it for a short while, but in the mid 1980s it was reversed and we’re at where we are today.

“A player is allowed to stop or feint during the run-up as they wish – as long as they do not do it directly before they kick the ball.

“It’s controversial because it gives the striker another advantage, but it’s completely legal in law

“The only time VAR has ordered a retake for feinting was February 2018, when Tottenham defeated Rochdale in a fifth-round FA Cup replay and Son Heung-min was also booked.”

In 2010, Fifa called the paradinha penalty ‘unsporting’ and changed the laws around it but it still appears that many are not sure of what is allowed or not in this situation.

“That’s for the referees to talk about. I don’t want to say it’s allowed or not allowed,” Silva added.

“When it’s the last moment that he goes to the ball he doesn’t stop and until there he is allowed to do what he does.

List provided by data analysts Opta, external from players to have taken 10 plus Premier League penalties.

Raul Jimenez – 100% scored (14/14)

Yaya Toure – 100% scored (11/11)

Matt le Tissier – 96.2% scored (25/26)

Danny Murphy – 94.7% scored (18/19)

Callum Wilson – 94.1% scored (16/17)

James Beattie – 94.1% scored (16/17)

Julian Dicks – 93.8% scored (15/16)

Cole Palmer – 92.9% scored (13/14)

Bukayo Saka – 92.3% scored (12/13)

Hearts head coach Derek McInnes believes his side “will get stronger” for the Scottish Premiership run-in after victory over Dundee ensured the leaders will go into the international break still top of the pile.

Oisin McEntee’s header secured victory and a fourth consecutive 1-0 home league win for McInnes’ side, while welcoming back captain Lawrence Shankland and key midfielder Cammy Devlin for the first time since January.

Celtic had moved four points closer to Hearts with those two players absent, with Rangers also narrowing the gap.

But having done enough to ensure they move into April leading the way McInnes believes returning players strengthen his hand for the final seven games.

“I actually think the belief that I’ve got in the team is even more than it’s ever been, because I know what’s coming behind it,” McInnes said.

“I know what’s coming back for Livingston.

“I’ve got [Tomas] Magnusson, [Harry] Milne and [Craig] Halkett back, and I should have [Stuart] Findlay and [Stephen] Kingsley back.

“I’ve got my captain back now for another couple of weeks training, I’ve got Cammy Devlin back, I’ve got Beni Baningime back. We will get stronger, and we’re going to need that strength.

“We’ve been tested of late but despite all that, we’re going to be top of the league in April.

Before McEntee’s winner the biggest cheer of the day at Tynecastle was for Shankland coming on as a substitute in the 54th minute for Pierre Landry Kabore.

Despite missing six weeks, he is Hearts’ second-top scorer in the league this season with 11 and though he did not add to that against Dundee, his influence was clear.

He had more shots on goal than Kabore, and found the target more than Claudio Braga despite fewer minutes on the pitch.

He completed all seven of his passes into the final third and brought more composure to Hearts’ attack, allowing them to sustain pressure which eventually paid off.

Former Dundee striker Rory Loy pointed out on BBC Radio Scotland’s Sportsound Shankland’s return also brought more from Alexandros Kyziridis in the short time they were on together, with the Greek winger struggling a bit in his captain’s absence.

“In the 10-15 minutes they were on the park together, Kyziridis’ starting position was 10-15 yards higher up the pitch,” Loy said.

“He knows Shankland is going to win something. He set up the chance for Shankland when he turned and had the shot that was saved.

Managers often like to play down the influence of individuals, preferring to focus on the team as a whole.

But after the game McInnes did the complete opposite when asked about Shankland.

“Part of it is the lift he gives everybody,” the Hearts head coach said.

“We all feel the same about Lawrence. Every Hearts supporter, all his team-mates, all the staff, we feel so much better when he’s there.

“He’s a huge influence on our team. He’s been a huge influence on things even when he’s been out, he’s been a proper captain.

What was also refreshing for the Hearts manager was the nature of their winning goal, with McEntee’s towering header coming from a lovely Marc Leonard free-kick.

Hearts and Rangers have led the way for set-piece goals in the Premiership this season.

However, the league leaders have been less effective in that area in the past six weeks or so, despite getting plenty of corners and free-kicks.

The recent absence of Findlay, who tops the charts for headed goals in the league, may be a factor, as well as Shankland.

McEntee has also been struggling with a shoulder injury, but at over 6ft tall, made a timely return to potency in the box, as he showed in the win away at Celtic December.

With most of his squad due back in time for the Livingston game on 5 April, McInnes is demanding a return to their old standards.

“We spoke yesterday at the team meeting about – can we be the best team at set-plays between now and the end of the season?

“We’re off to a good start. Delighted for Ross [Grant], my set-piece coach, because it’s not been easy when the finger is being pointed.

Josh Kerr said his post-injury return to the top of a global podium was a “family win” after he reclaimed his 3,000m title in thrilling fashion to secure Britain’s first medal at the World Athletics Indoor Championships in Poland.

Kerr, who won gold in the event on home soil in Glasgow two years ago, had his world 1500m title defence ruined by injury in Tokyo in September.

But, six months after sustaining a calf tear during that final, Kerr demonstrated his return to full fitness by overpowering world-class opposition as the complete line-up of Olympic 1500m medallists went head to head.

The 28-year-old, now a three-time world champion, made his move on the final lap and would not be denied as he distanced his rivals before crossing the line in seven minutes 35.56 seconds.

Kerr’s comeback from crutches to re-establishing himself at the top of the sport was aided significantly by his mum, who doubles as his physiotherapist.

“From where we were in Tokyo to right now, having another world gold medal, that’s all down to coaching, it’s all down to my physio and my mum,” Kerr told BBC Sport.

American Cole Hocker, who denied Kerr Olympic 1500m gold in 2024 and won the world 5,000m title last year, had out-kicked the Briton in their only previous meeting this season over two miles at the Millrose Games.

But Hocker had no response to Kerr’s dash for gold and had to settle for silver, with Frenchman Yann Schrub taking bronze.

However, Kerr was still not entirely pleased with how he managed the race.

“I think I created the problems myself tonight. For people watching, that is not how you win a gold medal!” said Kerr.

“I knew that I had to get that close right or else I would be having a pretty tough conversation with my coach tonight.

“I got in my own head about trying to not waste energy and there were some moves in there that made me have to show my hand a little bit.

Kerr’s rehab for his devastating Tokyo setback began immediately, with much of the initial guidance he received on that front coming from his mum, who was in the crowd on Saturday to witness the culmination of their hard work.

The grade-two calf tear he sustained originated from a “freak accident” when he overstretched at the end of his semi-final, straining the muscle which eventually gave out in the medal race.

Kerr has since admitted his decision to hobble to the finish line likely caused more damage yet his comeback has been much quicker than expected for someone who not long ago “couldn’t even walk to breakfast”.

The two-time Olympic medallist’s self-belief remained unshaken as he set his sights on beginning a new season by achieving a fifth global podium in five years – and he once again demonstrated his propensity to thrive on the sport’s biggest stages.

Kerr remained patient as he gradually moved through the field, with Ethiopia’s Addisu Yihune setting the pace at the front with medal contenders Hocker and Olympic bronze medallist Yared Nuguse following closely behind.

Positioning himself further forward heading into the penultimate lap, Kerr hit the front at the bell and proved too strong as Hocker attempted to close the gap in the closing stages.

“I was extremely fit coming into this,” Kerr added.

“I had a couple of problems coming through the British Championships, but this was always the main goal.

Dina Asher-Smith placed seventh in her first world indoor 60m final in 7.07 seconds, having equalled her British record time of 7.03 to qualify.

The 30-year-old former world 200m champion has begun a new coaching partnership with Michael Ford in Texas after a “challenging” 2025 in which she left her training set-up under Edrick Floreal midway through the season.

“It wasn’t the most fabulous final. I’m a bit disappointed but overall happy with my indoor season and how things are going with my new coach,” Asher-Smith told BBC Sport.

“I was ultimately just having fun. I haven’t been having the most fun for the past few years.

“I feel so much more stable and happy in terms of going out there and putting out these performances.

“If you’re not in an environment where you’re happy then the results aren’t going to come.”

World 200m silver medallist Amy Hunt did not progress from her semi-final after finishing fourth in her race.

Meanwhile, Sweden’s pole vault star Armand Duplantis captured his ninth global title – and a record-equalling fourth world indoor gold.