Question Number: 23877

Law 14 - Penalty kick 9/5/2010

RE: Under 12

john grzywacz of Simi Valley, CA USA asks...

A penalty kick is awarded. The ball is kicked and the goalie punches it forward to the penalty kicker. The penalty kicker kicks the ball from the spot into the goal. Does the goal count?

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi John
Yes the goal is allowed. When the ball touches another player, which includes the goalkeeper, after the PK is taken, the penalty taker is allowed to play the ball again. If say it hits a post or crossbar and rebounds back to the penalty taker or he mis-kicks it forward then he may not touch the ball again until it is played by another player. If he does it is an indirect free kick from where the penalty taker touched the ball.
In this case the scenario is perfectly legal as the punch of the ball by the goalkeeper is a touch by another player.
I think Law 14 could be amended to make it simpler by allowing the taker to play rebounds off the frame of the goal and then the question does not arise. The reason it exists is to be consistent with the double touch violation and to prevent the player playing the ball to himself. However penalty takers don't play the ball off the frame of the goal to themselves but until it changes, if ever. we have to enforce it.

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

Yes.

Like all other free kicks, the kicker at a penalty kick cannot touch the ball a second time until the ball touches another player. In this case, the kicker was eligible to touch the ball after it touched the keeper.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

The keeper is another player although for some strange reason no one but referees recognize this. Once the ball touches another player, the kicker is free to play the ball again

The following questions were asked as a follow up to the above question...

See Question: 23900

See Question: 23935