Question Number: 25081

Kicks From The Penalty mark 6/10/2011

RE: Rec/Select Other

Brian Ronan of Halifax, NS Canada asks...

I have a question around an article I read today concerning a shootout to determine placement in an Italian legaue (Italian seventh division playoff between Dro and Termeno).

The situation was this - kicker shoots the ball at the net, hits the crossbar and the ball bounces UP and BACK towards the kicker. The keeper seeing the hit on the crossbar thinks no goal and runs around celebrating. The ball meanwhile has some spin on it, lands on the turf within the penalty area and after a few bounces back towards the goal, wholly crosses the goal line and a goal is awarded.

That team went on to win, however it turns out an appeal was filed and they ruled that the ball would be considered dead after it hit the bar and touched the turf - 'a ball that hits the bar and lands back onto the pitch is to be ruled dead' (the quote from the article).

My question is this - wouldn't this still be a goal? I understand that kicks from the mark are not considered part of the match (as per the LOTG) but to me that meant (and I was taught) that there is no chance of getting a rebound or second chance - you shoot and it's in or not. That being said I was also taught that the ball is 'live' and 'in play' as long as it still has momentum. So if I kick and it hits the left post, hits the turf and then hits the keeper and goes in - GOAL. Also any situation where backspin might cause the ball to bounce and then change direction back to the goal is still good.

If the direction of the ball is moving AWAY from the goal with momentum we can (as a referee) say the kick is complete as it's not going to turn around but in this case (I'll try and find a link for the video) the ball is kicked and it loses it's momentum IN the goal. Is the appeal decision wrong - should this goal stand (I feel it should and the keeper has learned a valuable lesson about early celebration).

If I'm wrong - I'll eat some humble pie but that's how we learn =) Still love the site - great work.

Video Link - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MJJ2RZEtztE

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Brian
This situation has been highlighted a number of times on the site recently. As you know Law 14 covers the taking of a penalty kick which includes Kicks from the Penalty Mark.
The relevant quote 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.''
In this case the ball hit the crossbar and the momentum of the kick carried the ball over the goal line. The referee decided that the penalty kick was completed when the ball crossed the goal line.
It is understood that an appeal has been lodged and that no decision has been made as yet by the competition authority. If a competition authority decided to disallow the goal then that is not supported in Law but any competition body can make any decision it wishes. It is clear that the referee awarded the goal from the reactions in the video and that as suggested it was protested. A competition authority's decision is of no concern to the referee where it is not an error in Law.
I believe that the result will stand.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

This idiotic and incorrect decision was based on an erroneous statement that the ball went off the pitch and then returned. Anyone watching the video clearly sees the ball NEVER leaves the pitch. Of course had the ball crossed over the goal line, the kick would have ended but it didn't. the crossbar is part of the field and bouncing off the crossbar keeps the ball in play. this was a valid goal and anyone with half a brain and is not blind should rule that way

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