Question Number: 31560

Law 14 - The Penalty kick 5/24/2017

RE: Youth Premiere Under 19

Matt of Salt Lake City, UT United States of America asks...

During a penalty kick procedure, but prior to the kick being taken, defender B1 pushes attacker A2 into the penalty area. The kick is taken while A2 is still in the penalty area. The penalty kick is missed.

I've been involved with soccer for almost 35 years, and this was a first for me. I ruled the kick be retaken, penalizing the defender for entering the penalty area illegally even though he didn't actually enter the area. I realize that I could/should have cautioned the defender, but I decided that the retaking of a missed penalty kick was punishment enough for doing something that colossally ridiculous. Was my interpretation correct?

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Matt
As the defending team has infringed the Laws of the Game at a penalty kick (the push) the correct decision is a retake of the penalty kick if missed. So your decision was correct. The key is the whistle to allow the kick to be taken. What happens between the whistle and the kick can be allowed to happen and it is dealt with after the kick. In this case if the whistle was sounded and on the run up the offence happened then the kick is allowed to proceed and then whatever is the appropriate action taken afterwards. Had the goal been scored then perhaps no action needed to be taken if no card was required.
Personally I would have cautioned the defender for his action which also helps *sell* the decision. There can be doubt at a penalty kick as to what has been given and why. Sanctioning the player with a caution can help identify the offender and what the decision was for.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

HI Matt,
Yes!
If the defending team at a PK is at fault and the PK is missed the kick is retaken. The caution as a must card is still at your discretion but I think you considered the necessity and as long a you are receiving no real dissent from the decision you may have sold the restart effectively.
Cheers