Question Number: 32405

Law 14 - The Penalty kick 4/28/2018

RE: Adult

Scott McDowell of Portland, OR United States asks...

In KFTPM, should the kicker be cautioned if they touch the ball a second time or kick the ball backwards? Not so in a normal penalty kick, but I'm trying to parse the wording in law 10 where it says:
'The kick is completed when the ball stops moving, goes out of play or the referee stops play for any offence; the kicker may not play the ball a second time'

and then...

'If the kicker is penalised for an offence committed after the referee has signalled for the kick to be taken, that kick is recorded as missed and the kicker is cautioned'

It seems the answer would be yes for the caution, but seems harsh in KFTPM if it rebounds from the crossbar and they, say, trap it at their feet?

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Scott
Another wording issue for IFAB that does not properly outline what is required.
The caution here is for an act of unsporting behaviour such as the illegal feinting of stopping at the ball at the moment of the kick with a goal scored.
It is not intended for penalty kicks that have been missed and say where the kicker in frustration kicks the rebound. Perhaps if the player booted the ball away with the sole intention of delaying the next kick a caution might be considered but not compulsory.
In regular play the player is not cautioned either for a double touch and an IDFK is the sanction.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Scott,
given the PK kicker has squandered the opportunity to have a CHANCE to score I agree the caution concept here could be harsh. When you have to reach for an excuse generally cautions are not required.
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Peter Grove

Hi Scott,
A player committing the actions you mention should not be cautioned. The wording may be slightly awkward but just because the law says a player may not do something, does not make it a cautionable offence.

For instance, in the case of a penalty kick during normal time, if the kicker touches the ball again before it has touched another player, that is not allowed but it only leads to an indirect free kick, not a caution.