The Referee Corner: Managing the Penalty Kick…
The Laws of the Game state that a Penalty Kick is awarded if a player commits a Direct Free Kick offense insider their Penalty Area or off the field as a part of play as outlined in Laws 12 and 13. The Law also states that a goal may be scored directly from a Penalty Kick.
Let’s spend some time going over this restart.
The reason for awarding the Penalty Kick is to punish “cheating” by the defensive team. The Direct Free Kick fouls enumerated in Law 12 are the result of contact (the exception is deliberately handling the ball – the subject of last month’s article) which means the defensive team was doing actions outside the Laws to try to prevent a goal. In the spirit of fairness, the Laws of the Game prescribe the solution for the offense as restoring the goal scoring opportunity by restarting with a kick from 12 yards out without any defenders. It is the goalkeeper against the Penalty Kick taker.
The procedure is well defined in Law 14:
1. The ball must be stationary on the Penalty Mark and the goal posts, cross and goal net must not be moving.
2. The player taking the Penalty Kick must be clearly identified (specifically to the goalkeeper)
3. The defending goalkeeper must remain on the goal line, facing the kicker, between the goal posts without touching the goal posts, crossbar or goal net until the ball has been kicked.
4. The players other than the kicker and goalkeeper must be:
a. At least 10 yards from the Penalty Mark
b. Behind the Penalty Mark
c. Inside the field of play
d. Outside the Penalty Area
5. After the players have taken positions in accordance with this Law, the Referee signals for the Penalty Kick to be taken (blowing the whistle).
6. The player taking the Penalty Kick must kick the ball forward; backheeling is permitted providing the ball moves forward.
7. When the ball is kicked, the defending goalkeeper must have at least part of one foot touching, in line with, or behind the goal line.
8. The ball is in play when it is kicked and clearly moves.
9. The kicker must not play the ball again until it has touched another player.
10. The Penalty Kick is completed when the ball stops moving, goes out of play or the Referee stops play for any offense.
What are the offenses that could occur during a Penalty Kick. Once again, we look at the Laws of the Game (Law 14) for the answers:
If before the ball is in play, one of the following occurs:
1. The player taking the Penalty Kick, or a teammate offends:
a. If the ball enters the goal, the kick is retaken
b. If the ball does not enter the goal, the Referee stops play and restarts with an Indirect Free Kick
c. Except for the following when play will be stopped and restarted with an Indirect Free Kick, regardless of whether or not a goal is scored
i. A Penalty Kick is kicked backwards
ii. A teammate of the identified kicker takes the kick. The Referee cautions the player
who took the kick
iii. Feinting to kick the ball once the kicker has completed the run-up (feinting in the
run-up is permitted). The Referee cautions the kicker
d. If the goalkeeper offends:
i. If the ball enters the goal, a goal is awarded
ii. If the ball misses the goal or rebounds from the crossbar or goalpost(s), the kick is
only retaken if the goalkeeper’s offense clearly impacted on the kicker
iii. If the ball is prevented from entering the goal by the goalkeeper, the kick is
retaken
iv. If a goalkeeper’s offense results in the kick being retaken, the goalkeeper is warned
for the first offense in the game and cautioned for any subsequent offense(s) in the
game
e. If a teammate of the goalkeeper offends:
i. If the ball enters the goal, a goal is awarded
ii. If the ball does not enter the goal, the kick is retaken
f. If a player of both teams offends, the kick is retaken unless a player commits a more serious offense (e.g., illegal feinting)
g. If both the goalkeeper and the kicker commit an offense at the same time, the kicker and cautioned and play restarts with an Indirect Free Kick to the defending team
The bottom line with the Penalty Kick (and this is true in all the Laws) if you cheat you will not be rewarded with a goal. FIFA has put together a summary chart in the Laws to help everyone understand what FAIR and LEGAL is:
