Question Number: 25642

Law 14 - Penalty kick 10/22/2011

RE: Rec Under 13

Parent of Middle, TN US asks...

This question is a follow up to question 25635

I have a couple of wording questions on Law 14. Perhaps this is one of those 'everybody knows' things, but not sure how the wording supports it. First, the law says 'during the normal course of play ...' before the 'if it touches' statement. Ref Mchugh uses the 'if' statement to explain why the kicker can't play it again at the end of the match. But it seems the 'normal course of play' statement would imply only the keeper could play the ball after any PK.

The second part of the question refers to the 'if' statement itself. Since it only says a 'a goal is awarded if' that would seem to imply that a kick that touched nothing wouldn't count in contrast to the the PK being a direct kick.

Anyway, it seems the wording of the law doesn't match the intent. Thanks for the answers you give on this site.

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

You have to expand your reading to all the Laws of the Game.

First on page 53 we read, '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.' So the other provisions at a penalty kick apply to Kicks From The Penalty Mark to determine a winner.

Second, the 'if' statement about the ball first bouncing doesn't limit a goal being scored to only those conditions. Law 10 says, 'A goal is scored when the whole of the ball passes over the goal line, between the goalposts and under the crossbar, provided that no infringement of the Laws of the Game has been committed previously by the team scoring the goal.'

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi
The penalty kick is a very unique restart covered by Law 14. The Law attempts to cover all eventualities that can happen at a penalty kick during normal play, as the last kick of a game and at Kicks from the Penalty Mark.
There are a few fundamentals that are part of Law 14
1. Every player with the exception of the goalkeeper and the taker must be outside the penalty area until the ball is kicked. After that any player may touch the ball with the exception of the taker who must wait for it to be played again.
2. The ball is in play when it is kicked forward.
3. The kicker may not touch the ball again until it has touched another player.
4. A goal is awarded when it crosses the goal line no matter what combination of goalkeeper, frame of the goal that it touches or does not touch anything for that matter.
Also it is not a good idea to read the Laws of the Game as a legal document. It is not written like that and there is an element of implicit knowledge required. The 'if' statements are there to deal with those that suggest no goal when it is the last kick of the game or a penalty in KFTPM and the ball bounces say off the post and the hits the goalkeeper before entering the goal. It is a goal

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

If play has been extended or if at kicks from the penalty mark, only the keeper may play the ball after it has been kicked. This does not mean that is true during the normal portion of the game.

The if statement itself was included so everyone would understand that the ball did NOT have to enter the goal untouched in order for a goal to be awarded.