Question Number: 22578

Kicks From The Penalty mark 11/24/2009

RE: Competitive Under 19

Stuart Dunk of London, England asks...

On Saturday, my team went to a penalty shoot out. One of the opposing players took a penalty which hit the post and rebounded out and hit the goalkeeper before crossing the line. The penalty was allowed to stand, however am I right in my belief that as it would have counted as an own goal in normal time, it shouldn't have counted in a penalty shoot out? I have searched FA rules but have been unable to shed any light on the issue.

Many thanks,

Stuart

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Stuart
The correct decision was made and it should always be allowed to stand.
In 1986 a French player did just this in a penalty shoot out in a WC game between Brazil and France. The ball hit the crossbar and the ball came back out and hit the Brazilian goalkeeper and went into the goal. The Referee allowed the goal to count and France went on to win 4-3 on penalties.
There was a lot of controversy about the French penalty kick at the time due to an ambiguity in the law on when a penalty was completed. Much like the Thierry Henry incident at present. The Scottish Football Association sought clarification and it was agreed at the time that these should be allowed and the wording changed to reflect that.
In the great rewrite of the Laws of the Game in 97/98 all that was all expunged and the current wording which continues to reflects that original 1986 decision is

' 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
The referee decides when a penalty kick has been completed'

So you will note that the goalkeeper is mentioned in Law 14 for this very reason. If it came back out towards the player then obviously he cannot play it again nor if the penalty was completed and the goalkeeper kicked the ball into the net would that be a goal.

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

In addition to the part of Law 14 that Ref McHugh quoted, the procedure on kicks from the penalty mark to determine a winner has this bullet point:
'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'

That means 'a goal is awarded' from Law 14 is still in effect. The ball is still live until it is no longer possible for it to go into the goal - it left the field of play, it rebounded away from the goal with no possibility of heading back toward the goal, or it came to a complete stop (including when the keeper holds the ball). The kick attempt is also over if the kicker or any other player except the keeper touches the ball after the kick.

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

It would count in extended time or during kicks from the mark. When deciding whether the kick has been completed, the referee will look to see when the momentum of the ball from the kick has been spent. The direction of the ball is not a factor.