Question Number: 1972

Law 14 - Penalty kick

RE: Champions League Adult

Al Patrash of Livonia, MI USA asks...

I just finished watching the Champions League final this morning (I taped it yesterday) and during the penalty kick portion following overtime I again noticed that the goalkeepers were allowed to come off their line before the ball was struck. The most well known previous example of this was the final of the Womans World Cup where Law 14 was again infringed and not called. ..Law 14 states: "The defending goalkeeper: remains on his goal line, facing the kicker, between the goal posts until the ball has been kicked...This is pretty straight forward yet top level referee's do not enforce this law. Why? What is the PRACTICAL application of this law?..Please comment on this and suggest how we at lower levels should handle this situation when it arises in our Saturday youth matches...Thanks, Al

Answer provided by Referee Lamb

Al,.Great question. Yes, that is what the law states so as an instructor I will tell you what the rule book states, however, I realize that you are aware that top level officials are more liberal with this. Truth is that if we called every movement by the goalkeeper (forward) on PKs, we would be there all day. A good (personal opinion) rule of thumb is that if they are making a mockery of the rule, in other words, if they make a fool out of you, and if you don't call a goalie OBVIOUSLY moving on "this PK", the next PK the goalkeeper (either team for that matter)will be on top of the goal area or practically "shaking hands" with the kicker, then you need to call. There is no substitute answer for the rule book on this one (i.e. 6 inches off the line is okay but 7 inches call it...). I hope this helps.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Each referee has to decide how much is triflimg