Question Number: 30581

Law 14 - Penalty kick 7/7/2016

RE: Intermediate Under 13

Phil of Tarzana, CA United States asks...

This question is a follow up to question 30578

As a follow-up to 30578:
Referee Sowa said that stopping during a penalty kick is not permitted.

In reading Law 14.4, it says: 'feinting to kick the ball once the kicker has completed the run-up (feinting in the run-up is permitted);...'.

I always thought that this meant the kicker could stop, slow down, hesitate, etc., as long as it was done far enough back from the ball that the ball couldn't be kicked without an additional step (plus the step up to kick the ball)...i.e sort of 2 steps away. Is this not correct?

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Phil
Tacit knowledge tells us that the kicker cannot stop on his run up. Perhaps far enough back and away from the ball the referee can deem it not part of the run up. However once it gets to be part of the run up then stopping is not permitted. Some players hestiate to the point of stopping yet if one looks closely they never actually stop going forward which is a legal feint.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OivBaku1q2s
Have a look at this video. It is clearly illegal and a caution. Under the new laws the penalty is not retaken and it is an IDFK from the penalty mark