Question Number: 19613

Kicks From The Penalty mark 7/16/2008

RE: Competive Adult

Jesse Kathuo of Mombasa, Coast Province Kenya asks...

Hi,
After regular time 90min plus 30min extra time, both teams are awarded 5 penalty kicks. If the penalt kick is taken and the ball hits the bar and comes back hitting the goalkeeper at the back and the ball goes into the net. Is it a gaol?

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

Yes, that should count as a goal. The portion of the Laws covering Kicks from the Penalty Mark says, 'Unless otherwise stated, the relevant Laws of the Game and International F.A. Board Decisions apply when kicks from the penalty mark are being taken.'

Law 14 says, 'When a penalty kick is taken during the normal course of play, or time has been extended at half-time or full time to allow a penalty kick to be taken or retaken, a goal is awarded if, before passing between the goalposts and under the crossbar the ball touches either or both of the goalposts and/or the crossbar and/or the goalkeeper.'

Since KFTPM occur after the game is over, not during the normal course of play, players are not allowed to try to mount an attack after a rebound. Therefore only the sentence above regarding rebounds from the goal or keeper applies. The kick remains 'active' as long as there is a chance it will go into the goal due to the energy imparted from the initial kick. If there is backspin that causes the ball to roll into the goal even after a rebound, the goal counts.

Some referees will incorrectly interpret a KFTPM to be over once the ball reverses direction.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Yes. The kick is not over until all the energy imparted to the ball by the kick has dissipated. In simple terms, if the ball is still moving, it's in play.

Answer provided by Referee Gene Nagy

Jesse, there are many pinball bounces and deflections one can dream up from a penalty kick involving the goalie and the goal post or goal bar. Your example is fairly common but they all count as long the motion of the ball is from the energy created by the kicker's original kick.

Answer provided by Referee Ben Mueller

Yes it is a goal. Kick does not end tell all initial energy placed on ball is done.

The following questions were asked as a follow up to the above question...

See Question: 19974