Question Number: 14524

Law 14 - Penalty kick 11/29/2006

RE: Under 15

JC Montenegro of Pacifica, California USA asks...

The Penalty Mark. How much can the player, if at all, move the ball to either side of the mark already in the field? Does the ref places the ball or gives it to the player to place?

Thanks

Answer provided by Referee Ben Mueller

Ball must be placed on the penalty mark. The referee must supervise the placement of the ball.

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

The ball is placed ON the penalty mark. This is just the same as the ball in the corner area. The ball must be sitting on the mark, not over it like a field boundary or other marking on the field.

Regards,

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

The ball must be placed ON the penalty mark. If there's not one, the referee decides where it is. He hands the ball to the kicker and shows him where to put it. FIFA has been firm in this. In one of their Q&A they state that even if the field is muddy at the penalty mark, the ball still must be played from there.