Question Number: 19055

Law 14 - Penalty kick 5/11/2008

RE: select Under 13

chris of center moriches, NY USA asks...

the referee awarded a PK. The field was very patchy and there was a hole at the PK spot. When the referee placed the ball down, she told our player she couldn't reset the ball. I always thought that as long as the ball stays a the correct distance and is at the spot the player has the ability to "respot" the ball. Am I correct?

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

The ball must be on the pk spot and even if that spot is flawed it is the spot. That said as a referee I personally would not spot the ball. I allow the kicker that duty I only proceed with the pk though when satisfied the ball is properly positioned. It is why early arrivial by the officiating crew for a pitch inspection in the pregame check these things need be not a concern if groundskeepers are in attendance.
Cheers

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Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

Interesting Chris. Usually the referee will hand the ball to the penalty taker and let him put the ball on the penalty mark. Law 14 requires the ball to be on the penalty mark and this is so stringent that if the ball will not remain on the mark the match is abandoned. As the proliferation of artificial fields increases look for more problems with penalty kicks than just holes where the mark should be.

Regards,

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Answer provided by Referee Ben Mueller

Since the restart of a PK could not occur...the match should be abandoned. The ball should be placed on the penalty mark by the kicker.

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