Re: Premier League Combined Goals & Assists Table
Do you count winning a penalty as an assist statto?
Yes, the player who wins a penalty is usually credited with an assist, unless he's the same one who scores it.
In the FIFA Technical Study Group's report on the 1986 World Cup, the authors calculated for the first time unofficial statistics for assists, developing the following criteria:
An assist was awarded to the player who had given the last pass to the goalscorer.
In addition, also the last but two holder of the ball could get an assist provided that his action had decisive importance for the goal.
After goals from rebounds those players were awarded an assist who had shot on target.
After goals scored on penalty or by a directly converted free-kick the fouled player received a point.
In case that the goalscorer had laid on the goal for himself (dribble, solo run), no assists were awarded.
No assists were awarded, either, if the goalscorer took advantage of a missed pass by an opponent.
The 1990 World Cup technical report adopted similar criteria, but changed the free-kick/penalty criterion:
Where goals resulting from penalties are concerned, the player who is fouled in the area receives an assist point (unless, that is, the player who is fouled subsequently executes the penalty himself).
In Britain, all game statistics, including assists, for the Premier League, the Scottish Premier League and the Football League are provided by PA Sport under the Actim brand.
Since the 2006–07 season, assists have been factored into the Actim Index of Premier League player performance.