Question Number: 17474

Law 14 - Penalty kick 10/23/2007

RE: All levels Other

Michael Zalewski of DeWitt, MI United States asks...

This question is a follow up to question 17009

LAW 14 - THE PENALTY KICK
The goalkeeper infringes the Laws of the Game:
the referee allows the kick to proceed
if the ball enters the goal, a goal is awarded
if the ball does not enter the goal, the kick is retaken.

At a local high school game a penalty kick was awarded. The signal to take the kick was given, the kick was taken and the goalkeeper deflected the ball into the penalty area enabling the kicker to kick the ball into the net for a score. However, the assistant referee indicated that the GK had stepped off the goal line before the kick was taken. The center referee then signaled "no goal" and directed that the PK be retaken. The second PK was blocked and there was no score.
Tecnically, the referee's call seems correct. Was it?

Thank you.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

I beg to differ was not a goal scored? Once the keeper infringed and the rebound became available if there was no whistle immediately stopping play it was in the Pk kicker's best interest to swallow the whistle for a moment. Upon the goal the AR comes over and says the keeper was off the goal line. I talk to the keeper, I say bad keeper but the goal stands as NO stoppage occured prior to the goal. I ask where is the justice in this situation? The team scoring did not infringe the laws and the ball did not go out of play. The referee needs a lesson on the true understanding of trivial and doubtful.
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

Hmm. So was the keeper's transgression a trifling one for the attacking team? Would they rather have the goal or the retake? Duh. Technically, as you note, we could award the retake and go home feeling warm and fuzzy inside because we followed the Law to the final period at the end of the sentence. But did we follow the spirit of the Law at all? If you get this question on a recert test, the answer is retake. If you see this out on the field, you must make a (good) decision based on the conditions on the field at that time, with those teams, that game. Methinks referee in the situation you detail perhaps didn't make the best decision under the spirit and within the Law as allowed?