Question Number: 31820

Law 3 - The Players 9/24/2017

Iftikhar of Sialkot, Punjab Pakistan asks...

During a match attacking team get penalty . Defending team replace the goal keeper with playing player to stop penalty. After the penalty that player again change his position from goal keeper to playing . Is it possible

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi
Yes that is possible and allowed for in the Laws. Any player can become the goalkeeper as long as the referee is informed and it is done at a stoppage. The new new GK must put on the funny jersey
A penalty kick is a stoppage so it can be done at that time.
I have seen it happen at Underage as perhaps a better shot stopping goalkeeper may be playing outfield. It rarely happens in open age due to the specialist role of goalkeepers. I have seen it in open age where a GK has got injured and as the team has used all it substitutes an outfield player has to go into goal.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Yes the switch is permissible under FIFA LOTG. Often in younger ages their best overall player, larger, quicker reactions, plays out but fills in as keeper on occasion. This is not a substitution merely an exchange of position. The CR MUST be notified prior to it occurring.
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Peter Grove

Hi Iftikhar,
This is permissible under the Laws of the Game, so long as the referee is informed and there is a break in play. So before the penalty is taken, no issues. Afterwards could be a different story - if the penalty is scored, is missed or otherwise goes out of play immediately after the penalty kick, the players could switch straight back again. However if the penalty was saved and play were to continue, the players could not immediately switch back - they would have to wait for the ball to go out of play again.