Question Number: 23478

Law 14 - Penalty kick 6/15/2010

RE: All level up to college Other

Scott of Watertown, NY USA asks...

My son and I got into a conversation and wanted to make sure I was correct in my thinking. My son is being coached by a coach stating that this is an acceptable way of taking a PK. The true question we were discussing is what will the restart be?

Situation:

I haven given a PK. I blow the whistle to begin the PK action. The kick taker starts to move towards the ball and acts as if he wants to move the ball to a different spot. As he bends over and prior to touching the ball he toe pokes the ball into the goal.

IMO - I whistle for play to stop show a Yellow card to the kick taker for UB. The restart is to retake the PK. Card for the kick taker because bending over to place a ball is NOT in a normal run of play. Restart is PK still because ball was never correctly put into play.

Situation 2 - same as above however kick taker actually does touch the ball.

My original opinion was to blow whistle stopping play and award the defending team a DFK out of the area for intentional handling of the ball. (which brought on the conversation) I am now of the opinion that I would do the same as situation 1 for all the same reasons.

I hope I was clear with my question and scenarios. I appreciate this site and I ensure I read it prior to every game that I ref. Keep up the good work

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

FIFA has recently modified the general acceptance for feints at the taking of a penalty kick. While the kicker is free to use a feint during the run up to the kick, the kicker may not longer use a feint once the kicker arrives at the ball. The kick is allowed to proceed, like other infringements of Law 14 that occur after the whistle, but is cautioned as unsporting behavior and is an infringement of law 14. The restart is an IFK to the opponent (if a goal was not scored) and a retake (if scored).


The videos that caused IFAB to act involved players running toward the ball, stopping, then faking a kick to one side, and kicking the ball to the other. Both of your examples appear to meet IFAB's concerns. Your son's coach may need to return to the training ground; that tactic is no longer viable.


Note: handling the ball in situation 2 would not be a viable option for the referee since the ball was not yet in play.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

I believe Ref Wickham is referring to kicks that have been allowed to proceed.

Situation 1. I agree that the bending over is an illegal movement, and an infringement of Law 14. But Law 14 tells us that the referee is to allow the kick to proceed, which you did. The ball was put into play as it was kicked forwards. Here's what Law 14 says:

Infringements and sanctions
If the referee gives the signal for a penalty kick to be taken
and, before the ball is in play, one of the following occurs:
the player taking the penalty kick infringes the Laws of the Game:
• the referee allows the kick to be taken
• if the ball enters the goal, the kick is retaken

This is what happened so retake the kick

Situation 2. You stopped the kick from proceeding and since the ball was never put into play there can't be a handling foul by the kicker. You should caution the kicker and proceed with the penalty kick.