Question Number: 19773

Kicks From The Penalty mark 8/19/2008

RE: Rec

Gil Acedo of Upland, CA USA asks...

This question is a follow up to question 19755

A fellow referee related this story to me. His 16-year old daughter was in goal during shots-from-the-mark that would decide which team was moving on in the playoffs and which was moving out. The kicker kicked the ball before being given the go-ahead signal by the referee and the shot was prevented from entering the goal by the GK. The confused referee consulted with both of his AR's for a few minutes before allowing the kicker to have one more go at it. Of course the kicker buried the ball in the back of the net with the second chance.

My friend asked me for my opinion. I told him that the proper action according to the LOTG would be to allow the kicker to retake the kick if in fact the referee didn't give a signal to the kicker. I then asked him if he thought it was fair that the kicker got a second chance after having cheated on the first one. He of course answered 'No'.

I agreed with him and told him that I was positive that the referee had given a proper signal, perhaps just a nod, invisible to everyone but the kicker, the shot was properly taken and it was unsuccessful, 'Next kicker.'

He then asked me, 'What if she had made it the first time?' I winked at him and told him that a proper signal from the referee is required and the kick must be retaken. We can't have players cheating, can we?

Regards,

Gil Acedo

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

If there is a retake of a missed pk because the player DID NOT WAIT for my signal that player WILL BE cautioned and shown a yellow card every time unless I, as you so eloquently indicated, must have err koff koff indicated it was OK to do so. NEXT!
The deal is for me I make it ABUNDANTLY clear and there is NO WAY a player could misinterpret my signal to begin as I explain it with eye contact and a yes I understand player response before we even position the ball. If the kick is taken early and enters the goal a retake and a caution may seem harsh but again I go back to what instructions did the kicker receive?
I have done thousands of matches never had an early PK taker or PKFTM only encroachment and keeper off the line issues.
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

The correct answer is retake the kick. We know that from reading Law 14 because it says the referee will signal after all players have taken up positions in accordance with the Law.

In the Spirit of the Game the referee is going to make sure a player does not benefit from cheating. In Law 14 he is empowered to decide when the penalty kick has been completed. SO, if it were me, I signaled, you missed, next shooter please.

Regards,