Question Number: 20402

Mechanics 10/29/2008

RE: Competitive Other

Scott of St. Louis Park, MN USA asks...

Observing a game the other day, a ref allowed the GK to place the ball rather than the kicker. Is that allowed or should it be placed by the ref or kicker? I had never seen the opposing GK place the ball.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Scott,
are you talking about a penalty kick?
I have seen opposing players on a midfield free kick grab the ball and throw it to the kicker who is ok with where it wound up and put the ball in play from where it wound up and the referee ok to where and allows play to continue but on a PK the referee awards the ball to the who kicker places the ball on the spot as the referee confirms it is ok. Then the referee ensures all participants are where they need to be before signalling with the whistle the PK can begin. The goal keeper has no business at the 12 yard spot, except in the movie VICTORY when SLY goes eyeball to eyeball with the PK kicker to unnerve him. ;o)
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

I agree the opposing goalkeeper has no business being anywhere near the penalty mark. The usual procedure is the referee hands the ball to the kicker or, sometimes, the referee will place it. That said, all the official Guide to Procedures says is that the referee will supervise the placement of the ball so I suppose there is no official ban on the keeper placing the ball but it just seems to me to easy for a confrontation to occur if the opposing keeper is hanging around the penalty mark