Question Number: 25441

Kicks From The Penalty mark 9/17/2011

RE: Rec Under 15

Mark STafford of Perth, W A Australia asks...

In a penalty shootout, the shot is taken, goalkeeper saves the ball. the ball moves forward but backspin on the ball brings it back into the net.
Is this a goal or is the ball dead the moment it moves forward ?

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Mark
There is no debate about this. A goal is awarded.
The panel has received quite a number of questions about this topic recently. The Laws of the Game states and I quote '' 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.''
As you can see there is no mention of direction of the ball just that it can hit any combination of the frame of the goal and goalkeeper indeed several times if there is enough momentum on the ball from the kick to carry it over the line.
Some suggest that this does not apply to Kicks from the Penalty Mark which is incorrect. The Laws state and I again quote '' Unless otherwise stated, the relevant Laws of the Game and International F.A. Board Decisions apply when kicks from the penalty mark are being taken''
Clearly what cannot happen is that the kicker cannot touch the ball twice in KFTPM or where play has been extended at the end of the game to allow the kick to be taken.

Answer provided by Referee Jason Wright

Sometimes I hear referees talk about 'when the forward momentum of the ball has ceased'. This is incorrect.

Take out the word 'forward' and it's closer to a useful application of the laws.

It's even possible for a keeper to dive forwards off his line (after the ball has been kicked, of course!), and have the ball bounce off the crossbar, forwards onto his back and then into the goal, and have the goal correctly awarded.