Question Number: 24620

Law 14 - Penalty kick 2/27/2011

RE: Youth Under 14

Mike Welch of Vienna, Austria asks...

In a match the ref correctly awarded a penalty. After the infringement, but before the penalty kick was taken, the team which had been awarded the penalty made a substitution. The substitute then took and scored the penalty. However, was it legal for this player to take the penalty?

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

Under the laws of the game, a substitute may take the penalty kick.

Answer provided by Referee Gene Nagy

Mike, the new player is allowed to take the PK. As soon as the substitution is completed he has all the rights as the other players. USA high schools do not play under the same rules as set by IFAB but that should not bother you in Austria.
On any penalty kick, even if it is a retake of that PK, all the team has to do is identify, who takes the ensuing kick and that could be any player, on each kick, even the goalie.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Mike
Nothing wrong here and the substitute is allowed to particpate fully in the game after the substitution is made. That includes taking a penalty, free kick etc.

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

Substitutions may be made at any stoppage (assuming there are not local rules regarding unlimited substitution rules in youth games) under the Laws of the Game.

Once the substitute has entered the field of play he is a player and as such has all the rights of a player which include being able to be nominated to take a penalty kick for his team or even to take a retake of a PK.

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

See Question: 24813