Question Number: 23197

Law 14 - Penalty kick 4/27/2010

RE: Competitive Under 15

Dave Kumlin of Lunenburg, MA USA asks...

Penalty kick is kicked. Keeper dives across and makes a nice save. The ball bounces forward of the keeper. The kicker gathers up the rebound and one times it for a goal. A bang bang play. After the action, the CR makes eye contact with the AR. The AR has indicated that the keeper came forward and off the goal line before the ball was kicked. Is the penalty kick to be retaken? Or, is advantage applied and the goal allowed. What is the AR's correct signal. Is it a raised flag for all to see? Or, is it more discreet such as stepping across the goal line so the AR can be seen by the CR as straddling the goal line? By simply straddling the line and no flag, the issue would only be known to the CR and the AR probably eliminating any ensuing outcry from the CR's decision.

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

The USSF introduced a new signal for the AR for infringment by the keeper. The AR holds the flag across the hips, parallel to the ground. (Note: the same signal is used to indicate that the location of a foul inside the penalty area.)

In the US, advantage does not apply to a violation of Law 14 by the keeper. But, this does not prevent the referee and assistant referee from determining that any infringement by the keeper was doubful, minor or trifiling. One could determine that the action by the keeper had no effect on play.

The advantage of the new signal is that it is subtle (for now), and gives the referee information without forcing a public response. Penalty kicks should always be a topic of the pregame, and the assistant referees' responsiblities identified (with consideration for the experience of the referee team).

If the referee decides that the infringement was such that it cannot be ignored as doubful or trifling, then a rekick would be required. Law 14 provides for a retake if after the whistle a member of the defending team infringes the law and a goal is not scored directly.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Referee Kumlin
My advice would be to allow the goal. The attacking team has not been disadvantaged by the actions of the goalkeeper.
It is a retake if the GK saves the penalty.

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