Question Number: 27354

Law 14 - Penalty kick 4/24/2013

RE: Adult

Diteboho of Maseru, Lesotho asks...

This question is a follow up to question 32

How many times can a penalty kick be re-taken?

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

There is no limit. As a practical matter, however, the players will adjust and stop infringing law 14.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Diteboho
It can be taken many times when the referee decides that the defending team has infringed the Laws of the game and no goal has been scored. Those infringements of Law 14 include the goalkeeper coming off his line before the kick is taken or encroachment by the defending team closer than 10 yards to the ball. If no goal is scored the kick is retaken. If a goal is scored any infringement by the defending team is ignored.
If a goal has been scored and the attacking team infringe the Laws the kick is retaken.

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

Eventually the infringements of Law 14 will become persistent infringement, and the cautions will start to accumulate. Then second cautions become red cards, and the team has to play with fewer players. Once a team gets below the minimum number of players, the game is ended.

But long before that happened, I'm sure the referee would recognize a pattern of behavior and strongly insist that they stop. If the behavior continues, the ref would be justified in abandoning the game then.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

There's a hilarious video on youtube where a referee has a penalty kick retaken something like 8 times with no cards shown.