Question Number: 28418

Law 14 - Penalty kick 5/12/2014

RE: rec Under 11

Brian of cape coral, fl usa asks...

This question is a follow up to question 25000

what if the ref verbally tells the kicker it is okay to take the PK but never blows his whistle? The ball goes in, after this the coach of the team who was in goal said he never heard the whistle and the kick should be retaken. The coach of the kicking team says the ref verbally told my player he could kick.
Should the kick have been retaken or allowed since the ref verbally told the player to shoot but never blew the whistle?

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Brian
The Laws of the Game are clear on this The whistle must be used to signal that a penalty kick can be taken. When that happens there is no debate about who heard what. The question simply does not arise.
Correct decision for a penalty kick taken with without the whistle is a retake no matter if the goal was scored or not. Had the goal been missed I suspect the coach would not have complained

Answer provided by Referee Jason Wright

For a normal free kick during the game the referee can verbally manage this (unless he's had to intervene - say, by setting up the wall).

As Ref McHugh states, the laws at a Penalty Kick specifically require a whistle to allow the restart.