Questions and Answers to the Laws of the Game

XIV. PENALTY-KICK

If a player intentionally goes beyond the boundary of the field of play when a penalty-kick is being taken, should the referee caution him and if he repeats the offence, send him off?
Yes
If a penalty-kick is retaken because the goalkeeper moved his feet, must the same player take the kick again or could another player do so?
Another player could also retake the penalty-kick.
If a player taking a penalty-kick back-heels the ball to a colleague, who scores, should the goal be allowed?
No. The ball must he played forward. The penalty-kick shall be retaken.
Can a player taking a penalty-kick push the ball forward for a colleague to run to it and score?
Yes, provided:
(a) all of the players, with the exception of the player taking the penalty-kick and the opposing goalkeeper, are outside the penalty-area and not within 9.15m (10 yards) of the penalty-mark and behind the penalty mark at the time the kick is taken.
(b) The colleague to whom the ball is passed is not in an off-side position when it is kicked, Nd> (c) the penalty-kick is taken in normal time and the requirements of the Law are satisfied.
If a defender, whilst standing in his own penalty-area, strikes an opponent while the ball is in play in the opponents penalty-area, should the referee award a penalty-kick?
Yes.
Is a player taking a penalty-kick allowed to place the ball elsewhere than on the penalty-mark owing to the waterlogged state of the pitch?
No.
What action does the referee take if when a penalty-kick is being taken, the ball strikes the goal-post and/or cross-bar and bursts?
(a) He stops the game, asks for another ball and restarts the game by dropping the ball,
(b) If the penalty-kick is being taken in extended time (see Law XIV, Decision 7) and the ball strikes the goal-post ann/or cross-bar and bursts, the game ends.
What are the decisions of the referee if, the signal having been given, but before the ball is kicked, a colleague of the player taking the kick encroaches into the penalty-area and the referee notices the offence but allows the kick to be taken and the ball rebounds from the goalkeeper, cross-bar or goal-posts to the player who has encroached and this player sends the ball into goal?
The referee shall disallow the goal, caution the player who encroached for ungentlemanly conduct and restart the game with an indirect free-kick.
When is a penalty-kick considered completed in the event of a match being extended at half-time or full-time to allow it to be taken, or in the event of kicks being taken from the penalty-mark to determine the winner of a match?
Here one must refer to Law XIV - Penalty-kick, Decision N^o 6 of the International F.A. Board. There are three possible situations:
1. The player taking the penalty-kicks the ball which then:
  1. passes entirely over the goal-line, between the goal-posts and beneath the cross-bar.
    Decison: Goal, the penalty-kick (or kicks from the penalty-mark) is over and therefore the extended time also, if applicable.
  2. Goes over the boundary line of the field of play, either passing the goal-line or over the top of the cross-bar.
    Decision: The penalty-kick (or kick from the penalty-mark) is over and therefore the extended time also, if applicable.
2. The player taking the penalty-kicks the ball which, having rebounded from either goal-post or the cross-bar,
  1. passes entirely over the goal-line, between the goal-posts and beneath the cross-bar.
    Decision: Goal, the penalty-kick (or kicks from the penalty-mark) is over and therefore the extended time also, if applicable.
  2. passes beyond the field of play over the goal-line or over the cross-bar.
    Decision: The penalty-kick (or kicks from the penalty-mark is over and therefore the extended time also, if applicable.
  3. rebounds back into play.
    Decision: The penalty-kick (or kicks from the penalty-mark is over and therefore the extended time also, if applicable.
  4. rebounds back into play, hits the goalkeeper and passes entirely over the goal-line, between the goal-posts and beneath the cross-bar.
    Decision: Goal, the penalty-kick (or kicks from the penalty-mark is over and therefore the extended time also, if applicable.
  5. rebounds into the field of play, hits the goalkeeper and passes beyond the goal-line or over the cross-bar.
    Decision: The penalty-kick (or kicks from the penalty-mark) is over and therefore the extended time also, if applicable.
  6. rebounds back into the field of play, strikes the goalkeeper and remains in the field of play.
    Decision: The penalty-kick (or kicks from the penalty-mark) is over and therefore the extended time also, if applicable.
  7. bounces onto the goal-Iine, between the goal-posts and beneath the cross-bar.
    Decision: The referee must wait until the ball's flight is finished and, if it passes entirely over the-goal-line, between the goal-posts and beneath the cross-bar, he shall allow the goal and terminate the extended time, if applicable,
3. The player who is taking the penalty-kicks the ball, which is touched or played by the goalkeeper
  1. who holds it firmly.
    Decision: The penalty-kick (or kicks from the penalty-mark) is over and therefore the extended time also, if applicable,
  2. who fails to prevent the ball from entirely passing over the goal-line, between the goal-posts and beneath the cross-bar.
    Decision: Goal, the penalty-kick (or kicks from the penalty-mark) is over and therefore the extended time also, if applicable.
  3. who deflects it back into the field of play.
    Decision: The penalty-kick (or kicks from the penalty-mark) is over and therefore the extended time also, if applicable.
  4. making the ball rebound from one of the goal-posts or the cross-bar, hit the goalkeeper and pass entirely over the goal-line, between the goal-posts and beneath the cross-bar.
    Decision: Goal, the penalty-kick (or kicks from the penalty-mark) is over and therefore the extended time also, if applicable.
  5. who allows it to roll under him and pass entirely over the goal-line, between the goal-posts and beneath the cross-bar.
    Decision: Goal, the penalty-kick (or kicks from the penalty-mark) is over and therefore the extended time also, if applicable.
If a match is extended to allow a penalty-kick to be taken, may a goalkeeper be replaced before the kick is taken?
Yes, he may be replaced by another eligible player on the field or by a substitute provided the number of substitutions is not exceeded.
During the extension of normal time for the taking of a penalty-kick, the referee signals for the kick to be taken but before the ball is played a player encroaches into the penalty-area and the ball enters the goal. Should the penalty-kick be retaken?
(a) If the infringing player belongs to the attacking team, the referee shall disallow the goal, caution the guilty player and have the penalty-kick retaken,
(b) If the infringing player belongs to the defending team, the referee shall allow the goal, caution the player and terminate the match.
When a penalty-kick is being taken the goalkeeper advances before the ball is kicked and intercepts it in front of the goal-line. Should he be cautioned in the same way as a defending player who enters the penalty-area before the kick is taken?
No. The goalkeeper shall only be cautioned if he persists in doing this, but the penalty-kick must be retaken.
A team-mate of a player taking a penalty-kick enters the penalty-area before the ball is in play and the ball is deflected by the goalkeeper and crosses the goal-line over the top of the cross-bar. What action should the referee take?
He shall caution the player who encroached and award a corner-kick.
If a player taking a penalty-kick feints, what action should the referee take?
The referee should allow play to continue, unless he deems the action to be ungentlemanly conduct, in which case the player shall be cautioned and the kick, if already taken, shall be retaken if a goal is scored.
If a penalty-kick is awarded in extended time, does the referee have to indicate that normal time has been completed?
No, but he may choose to advise the captains that the normal time has been completed.
If a player takes a penalty-kick before the referee has signalled, what action should the referee take?
The kick must be retaken. The player shall be cautioned only if he takes the penalty-kick again without awaiting the referee's signal.
When a penalty-kick is being taken and after the referee has given the necessary signal, a team-mate of the player who is taking the penalty-kick suddenly rushes forward and takes it instead. What action should the referee take if the ball:
(a) leaves the field of play
(b) is pushed out of play by the goalkeeper
(c) is deflected by the goalkeeper, rebounds into play and the player who took the kick scores a goal?
In each of these cases, the referee shall caution the team-mate for ungentlemanly conduct. The penalty-kick shall be retaken.
A penalty-kick is being taken and all the players are in correct positions. The referee gives the signal but an attacking player punches a defender whom he encounters outside the penalty area. The referee notices the incident. What action should he take?
The referee has enough time to delay having the penalty-kick taken to send off the offending player. Only after the offending player has left the field shall the penalty-kick be taken.

KICKS FROM THE PENALTY-MARK TO DETERMINE THE WINNER OF A MATCH

Does taking kicks from the penalty-mark to determine the winner of a match form part of the match?
Such kicks from the penalty-mark never form part of a match.
The captains of both teams mutually agree not to take kicks from the penalty-mark to determine the winner of a match, despite the fact that this is stipulated in the regulations of the competition. What action should the referee take?
In this event, the referee must make a report to the appropriate competition authorities explaining what happened.
Who is responsible for selecting the players to take the kicks from the penalty-mark to determine the winner of a match?
Each team is responsible for selecting the players to take part in taking kicks from the penalty-mark to determine the winner of a match. The referee's only duty here is to ensure compliance with point 5 of the FIFA instructions to National Associations and Confederations regarding taking kicks from the penalty-mark.
If a situation arises where the winner of a match must be determined by tossing a coin or by drawing lots, must this procedure be conducted immediately after the match by the referee?
Yes, but if for some reason this is not done, it may be carried out later by the competition organiser.
If, when taking kicks from the penalty-mark to winner of a match, the ball bursts on hitting one of the goal-posts or the cross-bar, should this kick count as one of the five to which the team in question is entitled?
Yes, this kick must be counted as one of the five of the team in question.
May an injured player be excused from taking part in the kicks from the penalty-mark to decide the result of a match?
An injured player may be excused from taking kicks, but not a player who is not injured.
At the end of a match, some players leave the field of play and fail to return while kicks are being taken from the penalty-mark. What action can the referee take?
All players who are not injured must participate in taking kicks from the penalty-mark. If they do not return to the field of play, the kicks will not be taken and the referee shall report the incident to the appropriate authorities.
Who may replace the goalkeeper if he is injured in the course of kicks being taken from the penalty-mark?
A substitute, if the number permitted has not been exhausted, or another eligible player on the field of play.
Must a player who has already been cautioned and commits a second cautionable offence during the taking of kicks from the penalty-mark be sent off?
Yes.
Kicks from the penalty-mark are about to be taken to decide the winner of a tournament. May one of the teams which has not used a substitute replace one or more of its players with the substitute prior to the kicks being taken?
No. Only those players who are on the field of play at the end of the match may take part.
If the lights fail in the stadium after extra time but before taking kicks from the penalty-mark, what action should the referee take?
The referee should allow reasonable time for the lights to be repaired. if this is impossible, the result should be decided by tossing a coin or by drawing lots.
If kicks from the penalty-mark cannot be retaken because of riots or similar reasons, what action should the referee take?
The referee shall wait a reasonable time but if matters do not improve, the result shall be decided by tossing a coin or by drawing lots.
While kicks from the penalty-mark are being taken to decide the result of the match, a player is sent off. After each team has taken 10 kicks from the penalty- mark, can the team who lost the player use another who has already taken a kick?
Yes.