Question Number: 26679

Law 14 - Penalty kick 8/24/2012

RE: Intermediate Under 12

Phil of Tarzana, CA United States asks...

This question is a follow up to question 26665

If time is extended to complete a penalty kick, how quickly after the kick does it end. i.e.
1) Suppose the ball hits the goal post or is blocked by the keeper, but another player rushes in to complete the goal, does it count?
2) What if you felt there was enough spin that the ball might go back into the goal on it's own (I know that is part of the penalty kick & would be a goal) & were waiting to see if it would happen & another attacker kicks it in? Would that start another phase of play which would not count because time had run out?

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Phil
When time has been extended to allow a penalty kick to be taken, once the ball rebounds off the frame of the goal or the goalkeeper back into play with no hope of a goal the game is over.
As regards the spin one, as long as the ball ends up in the goal from the momentum of the original kick the referee would be entitled to allow the goal to stand. An example would be one where the goalkeeper pushes the ball onto the crossbar, ball rebounds off the crossbar and hits the goalkeeper before spinning over the goal line. That would be a legal goal as it would be in Kicks from the Penalty Mark. Any follow up by the attacker with a 2nd touch though would not be allowed and the referee should whistle for the end of play before any 2nd touch by the attacker. It would be advisable to tell the kicker that the kick is the final action of the game and perhaps even move the attackers & defenders away from the penalty area informing them that a follow up is not possible.

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

A penalty kick in extended time is just like kicks from the penalty mark to determine a winner.

In short, a PK is over when the ref decides it's over. To make that decision the ref determines that the momentum imparted to the ball by the kicker is entirely spent, or that there is no way the ball is going into the goal. The kicker gets one crack at the ball, the goalkeeper can touch it as many times as needed, and no other player can touch it. That's why it's a good idea to encourage the players to move away from the penalty area.

Law 14 says, '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.'

There have been cases where the ball rebounded off the goal or goalkeeper with so much backspin that the ball ends up in the net. This is a good goal. You will probably be able to find several videos posted where the goalkeeper makes the save and begins celebrating, only to see the ref award the goal when the ball dribbles past him.