Question Number: 19070

Law 14 - Penalty kick 5/12/2008

RE: Rec Under 16

Drew of Lexington, SC USA asks...

We were in penalty kicks after extra time, and I was standing in for the last penalty. The shot came and I deflected it, it hit the left post and bounced away (never touched a line) but suddenly without anyone else touching it, it spun back in. Goal or no goal?

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Goal. The kick isn't over until the ball has gone out of play or completely stopped all movement.

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Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

I assume you were the goalkeeper. If the ball deflected off any other player, the attempt would be over with no goal scored. But the Laws tell us that the ball may bounce off goalkeeper, goalpost and/or crossbar before entering the goal, and it is valid.

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Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

The keeper must absorb all the energy present in the ball. Not doing so will often surprise you as it did this time. FIFA have seen this one coming and have written this, from Law 14 - The Penalty Kick:

When a penalty kick is taken during the normal course of play, or time has been extended at half-time or full time to allow a penalty kick to be taken or retaken, a goal is awarded if, before passing between the goalposts and under the crossbar:

the ball touches either or both of the goalposts and/or the crossbar, and/or the goalkeeper.

Regards,

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