Question Number: 34053

Law 14 - The Penalty kick 11/13/2020

RE: Rec Adult

Brian Lutke of Whistler, BC Canada asks...

Very simply, during a penalty kick, can the goalkeeper move laterally along his goal line prior to the kick being taken (i.e. in an attempt to distract the penalty taker)?

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Brian,
yes as long as one foot is on on or hovering above the 5 inch goal line under the crossbar and between the posts he can move laterally.
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Brian
Yes lateral movement along the line is allowed and with the change in the Law only one foot is required to be touching the line.
The only acts of distraction that are not allowed are verbal distraction and the goalkeeper may not touch the goalposts, crossbar or goal net, until the ball has been kicked.
Watching game at all levels that is not uniformly enforced by match officials in probably the same way as minor encroachment.
For what its worth my approach was to only punish obvious breaches of Law 14 and to see minor breaches as trifling and doubtful.

Answer provided by Referee Peter Grove

Hi Brian,
Very simply, yes. It doesn't matter if this is an attempt to distract the penalty taker or an attempt to move towards the side of the goal they guess the kick will go, it is permitted regardless.