Question Number: 19167

Kicks From The Penalty mark 5/22/2008

RE: Rec Adult

Liam Byrne of Limerick, Ireland asks...

This question is a follow up to question 18776

Ronaldo did this in the Champions League final v Chelsea too.....thankfully his shot was saved, but none of the commentators highlighted his attempted cheat.

Isn't it a rule that you can do pretty much anything as long as you do not come to a COMPLETE stop ? ... which Ronaldo did.

Shouldn't he have been cautioned anyway, or did the ref last night just take pity on him and reckon that the save was enough of a punishment ?

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Actually coming to a hesitation stop in a stutter step is fine as it is permissible to feint at a PK. Nothing Ronaldo did was worthy of a caution or incorrect in law. The method of taking a PK could be seen as USB only if the staggered stops were carried on for too long and or the player backed up to run again or carried his body/kick past the ball as in a step over or fake kick. You might have noticed how the keeper adapted his own style because he knew what Ronaldo wanted was a tell by the keeper to indicate which side of the goal he was going to. Commentators rarely seem to understand the law but if they did not comment perhaps they got it right by accident? ;o)
Cheers