Question Number: 19734

Kicks From The Penalty mark 8/12/2008

RE: Under 16

Alexander of Kursk, Russia asks...

I've got a few questions concerning penalty kicks:
1. The kicker makes a fake-shot, so the keeper dives, and then the kicker hits the open net. Is this an 'unsporting feinting'? If yes, will be the kickers cautioned and what's the proper restart (IDFK or PK retaking)?
2. What happens if the above arises on the kicks from the penalty mark?
3. Is it permissible for kicker to heel the ball on goal?

Thank you for your help.

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

1) If the referee feels it is unsporting, then it is cautioned. Simple feints are allowed; unsporting behavior is not. The referee makes that determination. Since it happened after the referee's signal, and the ball did not go into the net, the restart is an IFK for the goalkeeper's team, at the spot where the unsporting behavior occurred - most likely at or very near to the penalty mark.

2) It counts as a miss.

3) I can't think of any reason why heeling the ball toward the goal would be disallowed. Law 14 says the keeper has to be facing the kicker; it doesn't say what direction the kicker has to be looking. If it was done to deceive the goalkeeper, it would be unsporting behavior. I wouldn't think there would be much velocity on a heeled ball, so the keeper would most likely cover it easily.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

The kicker may not heel the ball backwards to a teammate at the taking of a penalty kick. If he does, an IFK is awarded to the opponents. This is a strange abberation in the LOTG as the ball has to be kicked forwards to be in play so even though the ball is not put in play the restart is changed! That said, I see no reason why the kicker should not be allowed to heel the ball towards the goal although I can't imagine why he would want to.