Question Number: 29589

Kicks From The Penalty mark 8/8/2015

RE: Competive Adult

teevor of Dundalk, Louth Ireland asks...

Can a goal keeper score an own goal in a penalty shoot out?

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi
Yes that is entirely possible. The ball can rebound from the frame of the goal, hit the goalkeeper and then enter the goal. The goal keeper can also play the ball into the goal. Under the definition of an own goal those would qualify.

Interestingly there is a myth associated with Kicks from the Penalty Mark that is totally false. Some think that once the ball comes backward off the frame of the goal that a goal cannot be scored. Totally false. If it happens in a game where it hits say the goalpost and rebounds off the goalkeeper it is a goal and the same applies in Kicks from the Penalty Mark.
Here is the penalty kick in 1986 that clarified this in the Laws
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_nhvqIjgQ04&t=3m48s
Note the protests by two Brazilian players and well done to the referee who was 100% correct.
The Scottish FA asked IFAB to clarify the wording and the wording was firmed up to confirm that the referee was indeed correct. It is the basis for the current law wording

This video second was provided in question # 29482
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xsG0yV0wam4
The referee decided it was a goal and that is all that matters. It would be considered an own goal in my opinion.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

HI Teevor,
yes the keeper could score an own goal in the sense the PK kicker shot is deflected off the crossbar or post. The second video is interesting in the keeper believes he has saved it but it does look as if the ball NEVER completely stopped moving. In the spirit of PKs the ball s momentum must be completely spent thus controlled by the keeper. The 1st video was a much easier and clearer decision to be sure but there are other videos that show the keeper defecting the ball up or away from goal, keeper goes running out to celebrate only to have the ball drop back to ground and backspins into goal for a legitimate goal. sigh
Keepers should now know better, 1986 was a long time ago!
Cheers