Question Number: 24127

Law 14 - Penalty kick 10/11/2010

RE: rec Under 13

Ron of New York, New York USA asks...

On a penalty kick, the offensive player shot the ball before I whistled the ball in play and scored. I disallowed the goal, and made him kick again. He missed the second shot. The coach told me I was wrong to not allow the first goal since the ball is in play when I place it on the penalty mark, not when I blow the whistle. Was I incorrect in not allowing the goal?

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

Listening to a coach's version of how the Laws work can be problematical, as in this case. If one bothers to read Law 14 Penalty Kicks, the coach would have found (and so would you) that the ball is in play when it is kicked and moves forward - and never before that.

If the ball is kicked before the whistle - and the whistle is required before the kicker can go - it doesn't matter what the result is, we retake the kick. And if the kicker is foolish enough to repeat this exercise, please check him for color blindness (caution).

You got it exactly right.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Ron
Coaches make up rules to suit the answer they want.
The penalty kick cannot be taken until the referee signals for that to happen when everything is in place and ready. When the signal is given the ball is in play when it is kicked by the penalty taker.
So you were absolutely correct.
When the referee knows the Law in detail he can talk with authority to coaches and set them right on any misconceptions.

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

I'll bet that coach would have changed his tune had he been the coach of the goalkeeper and not the kicker.

A few years back, IFAB added a section to of the Laws of the Game called 'Interpretation of the Laws of the Game and Guidelines for Referees' (I&G). The USSF does not print this section of the Laws, as most of it is redundant with Advice to Referees.

One of the items in I&G is 'Use of whistle'. A whistle is mandatory for a penalty kick. (This information is also in Advice to Referees section 5.4.)