Question Number: 15243

Law 14 - Penalty kick 4/22/2007

RE: Under 17

Fernando of Spain, Spain Spain asks...

hi

Situation:

Player '9'Team 'A' will take a penalty.
-Player run, when he is 1 meter to shoot ball, He stop run.
-The GP, move to left...
-Then, when GP move to left, he shoot to right and

1. ...Goal
2. ...ball bounce to pitch
3. ...ball bounce goal to out

decisions?

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

The player taking the penalty kick is allowed to feint. The only time FIFA has dealt with this specifically is to say the taker cannot run past the ball and then come back to take the kick. It's up to the referee at the game to decide if the action you describe was legal or not

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

I concur with Ref Contarino, at least as much as he has described. FIFA has specifically decided that running past the ball and backing up is not legal. FIFA has said that feinting is legal. The referee must decide just what is a feint and what is not. Stutter-steps, changing speed while running toward the ball, or changing direction without taking an excessive amount of time are generally considered to be fair feints. Coming to a complete stop, waiting for the goalkeeper to move in one direction, and then restarting is generally not considered to be a fair feint.

If the referee decides that the kicker's actions are not legal, the restart depends on where the ball ends up. If it goes in the net, the penalty kick is retaken. Anywhere else, it's in indirect free kick for the defending team, taken at the spot the kicker infringed the Laws - in this case, very near to the penalty mark.

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

Notice both panelists have stated their opinions! Law 5 affords the referee this: the opinion of the referee regarding facts connected with play is final. [Las decisiones del ?rbitro sobre hechos en relaci?n con el juego son definitivas.]

The referee, in order to have an opinion, must see the facts and judge for himself. Bottom line, I would have to be there and see for myself in order to form an opinion. FIFA have stated feinting is permitted on a penalty. FIFA have offered nothing that defines a feint so it is sufficiently nebulous, in their eyes, to give the match referee latitude in determining the legality of what he sees in front of him.

It is a fact that the penalty taker feinted. The referee had an opinion. The referee acted, in some way, regarding that opinion. Case closed...

Regards,