Question Number: 25196

Law 14 - Penalty kick 7/11/2011

Rhonda of Succasunna, NJ USA asks...

When taking a PK an infringement has occured by the opposing team the kick is retaken. Can the team taking the PK change to a different kicker ?

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

Yes, a different player may take the penalty kick if it must be retaken. The same applies in Kicks From The Penalty Mark. In either case, it's as if the first kick had never happened. So all that is required is that a player be identified to take the kick (and in the case of KFTPM, that the kicker has not already taken a kick unless all eligible players have kicked).

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Yes they can. This is exactly what happened in the USA/Brazil game last weekend. Hope Solo made a beautiful save of a penalty kick but for some strange reason the referee decided to enforce something that is virtually never enforced at that level of play: a USA teammate was inside the penalty area a few feet before the kick was taken. The retake was by Marta who nailed it for a goal.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Rhonda
There is no restriction on a team changing the penalty taker on a retaken penalty kick. This happened in the recent USA versus Brazil game when the referee asked for the penalty kick to be retaken after the USA team infringed Law 14 and a goal was not scored on the original kick. A team mate of the 1st penalty taker took the 2nd kick was was correct in law.

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

See Question: 25203