Question Number: 29779

Law 14 - Penalty kick 10/5/2015

RE: Competitive Travel Under 11

Robert of South Plainfield, NJ USA asks...

My player was awarded a penalty kick. After the referee signaled to proceed with the kick (by using his whistle), the wind caused the ball to roll off the penalty mark to the side. I'm not sure how far but at least one roll of the ball as it was visible by me from our bench. My player approached and kicked the ball and a save was made. Is their any recourse in a situation where the ball moves from the spot, after the signal but prior to the kick? Could my player have stopped his motion, and asked to replace the ball?

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Robert,
yes I hold the opinion, your kicker could have stopped and asked to have the ball replaced as the LOTG state the ball must be on the PK spot at the taking of a PK. Given he proceeded and the keeper saved, the referee likely did not consider it necessary to retake because he had not re-whistled to stop the PK from occurring. I hold the opinion the ball should be on the PK spot but understand how a windy day might rock that boat and some wobble might be trifling . I have stopped the odd PK with an early whistle and had the ball replaced on the spot at least twice that I remember. Once I had my AR hold it on the spot as the wind gusts made a mockery of a ball sitting still. This made for an interesting talk if the PK was legal but he stayed on the ball until after the run up started and bailed just prior to the kicker who kicked the ball over the crossbar.
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Robert
I suspect that as the player continued with his run up and kicks the ball that the referee saw nothing untoward particularly if the ball was still on the penalty mark or close to it and stationary Had the ball move away appreciably from the mark say forwards the referee may have required that the kick was taken again. Also had the player saw the ball move significantly he could have asked the referee for the ball to be replaced and that request would be acceded to.