Question Number: 31958

Law 14 - The Penalty kick 10/29/2017

RE: Adult

Muhammad Rizwan of Abbottabad, Abbottabad Pakistan asks...

Sir,

During a Penalty Kick as we all know that goalkeeper should be on the goal line but here in our match during penalty kick the goal always remains behind the goal line and inside the goal posts? what you say can he stand behind the goal or touch line?

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

HI Muhammed.
it is unusual for keeper to remain inside the netted area to face a PK. Usually they are moving outside too quickly off the line. lol
The LOTG do state
the defending goalkeeper must remain on the goal line, facing the kicker,
between the goalposts until the ball has been kicked.
Now if only a bit of toe crosses into the 5 inch line that is technically ok but then the back edge of his heel on the outer edge of the goal line closer to the Penalty spot also is legal.
If the keeper is deep inside the netted area I think the referee should tell him to stand on the goal line to START the PK process.
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Muhammad
Momentum is important for goalkeepers to try to save a penalty kick. To create that momentum a goalkeeper has to try to move. Law 14 states that a goalkeeper has to remain on the line until the ball is kicked. Now we know that does not happen all the time and referees allow a degree of latitude in movement.
I suspect that the new change to Law 14 where a goalkeeper has to be cautioned for encroachment at a Penalty kick which results in a retake has perhaps caused goalkeepers to think about this. I saw a goalkeeper in the Premier League recently do the exact same action by starting slightly behind the line with a movement backwards and then forward. That gives momentum yet it can be more difficult to determine the GK location at the moment of the kick unlike if a GK starts on the line.
Personally I believe that a well taken penalty kick will score every time and the ones that are saved are poorly taken. Blatant encroachment is rare and referees give GKs a sporting chance of a save by allowing a limited degree of movement off the line which is seen as doubtful or trifling.