Question Number: 32577

Kicks From The Penalty mark 7/7/2018

RE: recreational Adult

joseph of westiminster, CA USA asks...

I have seen some penalty footage on Youtube where the goalie had already stopped/blocked the ball then ran away from the goal to celebrate. However, the ball then rolled into the goal. What is the world cup official rule on this? The penalty kick is officially over once blocked/stopped or what? please explain. Thanks. BTW, the youtube videos are titled celebrate too early. Thanks, again.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Joseph
Thanks for your question .
This is what the Laws of the Game states
** The penalty kick is completed when the ball stops moving, goes out of play or the referee stops play for any offence.**
So once the ball continues to move on its own momentum after the penalty kick it is still live and in play no matter what combination of goalkeeer, frame of the goal and ground that it touches. So if the ball crosses the goal line under its own momentum a goal is awarded
Here are some examples of legal goals in Kicks from the Penalty Mark
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=qsYl0v8jJlM
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=r_2hZhHPAHc
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=7sknkVtImE8
There has been some myths developed in the game about rebounds, blocked shots, ball hitting the post rebounding off the goalkeeper as not counting as scores. That is totally incorrect. Clearly a kicker cannot touch the ball for a second time yet a goalkeeper can make a double save as required.