Question Number: 32117

Law 14 - The Penalty kick 12/19/2017

RE: Competitive Adult

Peter Babbage of Hjorring, Denmark asks...

Regarding a penalty kick. Am I correct in saying if the keeper makes a save and the ball bounces out any of the attacking team can score from the rebound? The ball strikes directly onto the woodwork, the kicker can't score from the rebound.If the keeper dives and doesn't actually make a save, the ball brushes his head or his fingertips, who can score when it rebounds from the woodwork?

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

HI Peter,
Merry Christmas
on a PK kick IF the ball is NOT touched by the keeper and rebounds only off the woodwork then the PK kicker cannot play the ball a second time although ANY other player except the PK kicker can score. If the keeper does get a touch EVEN if accidental or after it hits the woodwork then ANY player INCUDING The PK kicker can shoot the rebound.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Peter
The only restriction on who can score / play the ball when the ball rebounds off the frame of the goal ONLY is the kicker. He is restricted from playing the ball for a second time until it has been touched / played by another player including the goalkeeper.
So if the goalkeeper touches the ball onto the frame of the goal anyone can score / play the ball including the kicker. If it rebounds off the frame with no touch by the GK then anyone other then the kicker can play the ball.

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

You're thinking of who can score, when you should be thinking of who can play the ball.

At a penalty kick, just like other free kicks, the kicker cannot touch/play the ball a second time until it touches another player (from either team). The goalkeeper is a player, the goalpost is not.

Anyone else at a free kick or penalty kick can play the ball. The so-called 'second touch' infringement applies only to the kicker.

So now that we know who can play the ball, deciding if it's a goal or not is easy.

Answer provided by Referee Peter Grove

Hi Peter,
On the first two points you are correct. When it comes to your third scenario, the keeper has touched the ball so any attacker can play the ball subsequent to that touch. It doesn't matter that the ball also touched the frame of the goal, any touch by the keeper however slight, removes the restriction on the penalty kick taker touching the ball again.