Question Number: 10241

Law 14 - Penalty kick 10/28/2005

RE: ALL Other

Greg of Lewisville, TX USA asks...

In our recertification meeting this past week, we discussed Infringements/Sanctions applied to a player taking a penalty kick if the ball doesn't go into the goal if the player taking the PK violates a law. The example given was if the player taking the PK hesitates or stops his motion before kicking the ball. There were plenty of attendees that said it violated the law, but none could state what law it violated...So, is it a violation to hesitate or stop your motion before taking a PK? What law does it violate?..Thanks!

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino 10/28/2005

As at any other free kick, it's ok to feint. Stopping your motion and starting over may be considered unsporting behavior. restart with penalty kick

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer 10/28/2005

Greg we must look in FIFA's Questions & Answers 2005 and see if anything is mentioned there. ..Law 14 ..13. A player taking a penalty kick feints before kicking the ball. Is this permitted? ..Yes. ..At this point the instructor must give US Soccer policy and that is found in the US Soccer publication: Advice to Referees on the Laws of the Game. (From 2004 Version)..Chapter 14 ..NOTE: A penalty kick being the punishment for an infringement which would otherwise be given a direct free kick restart, the kicker is allowed that same latitude in performing this kick as he would be given in performing a free kick restart. Based on new guidance from the International Board, referees should not consider various deceptive maneuvers to be a violation of Law 14. They should ensure that the run to the ball is initiated from behind the ball and the kicker is not using deception to delay unnecessarily the taking of the kick. ..Once it is known by the students both FIFA and US Soccer mention this, say that deception in taking a penalty kick should be treated in near the same manner as any other free kick he should explain some differences. For example: the kicker runs over the ball and does not kick it or another kicker kicks the ball. ..Here we see an instructor in need of instruction himself because referees left thinking this was a violation of Law, it is not. ..Regards,

The following questions were asked as a follow up to the above question...

See Question: 12223