# Law 14: The Penalty Kick (IFAB Laws of the Game)

Football · Law 14: The Penalty Kick · Insporta Book (https://book.insporta.app/football/laws/law-14-the-penalty-kick/)

Law 14 covers the penalty kick, awarded when a defender commits a direct-free-kick offence inside their own penalty area or off the field as part of play; that award itself is Law 12, and Law 14 governs how the kick is then taken and judged. A goal may be scored directly from a penalty kick. The ball must be stationary with part of it touching or overhanging the centre of the penalty mark, and the goal frame must not be moving. The penalty taker must be clearly identified. Every other player stays on the field of play, outside the penalty area, behind the penalty mark and at least 9.15 m from it until the ball is in play. The defending goalkeeper stays on the goal line between the posts, facing the kicker, until the ball is kicked, and at the moment of the kick must have at least part of one foot touching, in line with, or behind the goal line. The ball must be kicked forward, a backheel is allowed if the ball goes forward, the ball is in play once it is kicked and clearly moves, and the kicker must not play it again until another player has touched it. If the goalkeeper or another defender infringes and the kick is missed or saved it is retaken, with the goalkeeper warned for a first offence and cautioned for further ones; if a goal is scored despite a defending infringement the goal stands. An attacking infringement brings a retake if a goal was scored and an indirect free kick to the defenders if it was not. The kicker feinting after completing the run-up, kicking the ball backwards or being replaced by a different taker are all indirect-free-kick offences, with a caution for the feint and for the wrong taker. At the end of a half time is extended for the kick, which is complete once the ball stops, leaves play, is played by any player other than the defending goalkeeper, or the referee stops play, so there is no rebound to follow up.

## 14.141 Award and procedure

How a penalty kick is set up and taken, stated as positive rules with the sanctions left to sub-level 14.142. A goal may be scored directly from a penalty kick. The ball is stationary with part of it touching or overhanging the centre of the penalty mark, and the goalposts, crossbar and net must not be moving. The player taking the kick is clearly identified. Every other player is on the field of play, outside the penalty area, behind the penalty mark and at least 9.15 m from it until the ball is in play. The defending goalkeeper stays on the goal line, between the posts, facing the kicker until the ball is kicked, and at the moment of the kick has at least part of one foot touching, in line with, or behind the goal line; the goalkeeper must not unfairly distract the kicker. The ball must be kicked forward and a backheel is permitted so long as the ball moves forward; the ball is in play once it is kicked and clearly moves. The kicker must not play the ball again until it has touched another player, so a rebound from the goalposts or crossbar cannot be followed up by the kicker, while a rebound from the goalkeeper can be, because the goalkeeper is another player. The kick is completed when the ball stops moving, goes out of play, or the referee stops play for an offence.

![A view of the penalty area from above, goal at the top. The ball rests on the penalty mark, 11 m from the goal line, with the kicker beside it. The goalkeeper stands on the goal line between the posts, facing the kicker. Every other player is outside the penalty area, behind the penalty mark and at least 9.15 m from it, which is why the arc on the edge of the area is drawn.](https://book.insporta.app/diagrams/law-14-penalty-kick-positions.svg)
*The penalty kick: ball on the mark, goalkeeper on the line, everyone else outside.*

### Test 1: Setting the ball, the kicker and the outfield players

- The ball is placed stationary with part of it touching or overhanging the centre of the penalty mark; only then may the kick be taken. (Source: IFAB Laws of the Game 2026/27, Law 14)
- A goal may be scored directly from a penalty kick, exactly as from a direct free kick. (Source: IFAB Laws of the Game 2026/27, Law 14)
- All other players must be on the field of play, outside the penalty area, behind the penalty mark and at least 9.15 m from it until the ball is in play. (Source: IFAB Laws of the Game 2026/27, Law 14)
- The ball is in play the instant it is kicked and clearly moves; a slight wobble on the spot is not the kick being taken. (Source: IFAB Laws of the Game 2026/27, Law 14)
- The ball must be kicked forward; a backheel is allowed provided the ball moves forward. (Source: IFAB Laws of the Game 2026/27, Law 14)
- The kicker may not play the ball again until another player has touched it; the goalkeeper is another player, so a rebound off the keeper can be followed up. (Source: IFAB Laws of the Game 2026/27, Law 14)
- The post is not another player, so the taker who plays the rebound has touched the ball twice; the defenders get an indirect free kick. (Source: IFAB Laws of the Game 2026/27, Law 14)
- Before the kick the goalkeeper must be on the goal line, between the goalposts and facing the kicker. (Source: IFAB Laws of the Game 2026/27, Law 14)
- The goalkeeper must not behave in a way that unfairly distracts the kicker, such as delaying the kick or touching the goal frame. (Source: IFAB Laws of the Game 2026/27, Law 14)
- The player taking the penalty kick must be clearly identified; it need not be the fouled player. (Source: IFAB Laws of the Game 2026/27, Law 14)

### Test 2: The goalkeeper's line and completing the kick

- When the ball is kicked the goalkeeper must have at least part of one foot touching, in line with, or behind the goal line. (Source: IFAB Laws of the Game 2026/27, Law 14)
- The requirement is that part of one foot is on, level with, or behind the line; a raised trailing foot does not breach it. (Source: IFAB Laws of the Game 2026/27, Law 14)
- The goalkeeper may be on, level with, or behind the line, but not stationed in front of it. (Source: IFAB Laws of the Game 2026/27, Law 14)
- The kick is completed when the ball stops moving, goes out of play, or the referee stops play for an offence. (Source: IFAB Laws of the Game 2026/27, Law 14)
- The ball leaving play completes the kick; a penalty put behind untouched by any defender is a goal kick, not a corner. (Source: IFAB Laws of the Game 2026/27, Law 14)
- The goalkeeper met the foot requirement, so the save is legitimate and there is no retake. (Source: IFAB Laws of the Game 2026/27, Law 14)
- A penalty may be scored if the ball, before entering the goal, touches the goalposts, the crossbar, the goalkeeper, or any combination of these. (Source: IFAB Laws of the Game 2026/27, Law 14)
- A backheel is permitted at a penalty provided the ball is played forward and it is the taker's first touch. (Source: IFAB Laws of the Game 2026/27, Law 14)
- In normal play a saved or rebounding penalty stays live and any player may play it, the taker included once the keeper has touched it. (Source: IFAB Laws of the Game 2026/27, Law 14)
- The goalposts, crossbar and net must not be moving when the penalty is taken. (Source: IFAB Laws of the Game 2026/27, Law 14)

## 14.142 Infringements and sanctions

What the referee gives when a penalty-kick rule is broken. If the kicker feints after completing the run-up, an indirect free kick is awarded to the defending team and the kicker is cautioned; feinting during the run-up is allowed. Kicking the ball backwards, or an illegal second touch by the kicker before another player plays the ball, is an indirect free kick to the defenders. If a player other than the identified kicker takes the kick, an indirect free kick is awarded to the defending team whatever the outcome and that player is cautioned. An attacking-team infringement, such as a team-mate encroaching and affecting the goalkeeper or playing the ball, brings a retake if a goal was scored and an indirect free kick to the defenders if it was not; a team-mate who merely steps in early without effect is not punished. A goalkeeper or other defender infringement brings a retake if the kick is missed or saved, with the goalkeeper warned for a first offence and cautioned for further offences; if a goal is scored despite the infringement the goal stands. If both teams infringe, the kick is retaken. If the kicker and the goalkeeper infringe at the same time, an indirect free kick is awarded to the defending team and the kicker is cautioned, whatever the outcome.

### Test 1: Kicker and attacking-team offences

- Feinting once the run-up is complete is an offence: indirect free kick to the defending team and a caution for the kicker. (Source: IFAB Laws of the Game 2026/27, Law 14)
- Feinting in the run-up to confuse the goalkeeper is permitted; only a feint after the run-up is complete is an offence. (Source: IFAB Laws of the Game 2026/27, Law 14)
- A penalty must be kicked forward; a sideways or square pass is an offence and the defenders get an indirect free kick. (Source: IFAB Laws of the Game 2026/27, Law 14)
- If someone other than the identified kicker takes the penalty, an indirect free kick goes to the defenders whatever the outcome and the taker is cautioned. (Source: IFAB Laws of the Game 2026/27, Law 14)
- An attacker who encroaches without affecting the goalkeeper and without playing the ball has not committed a punishable offence, so a scored penalty stands. (Source: IFAB Laws of the Game 2026/27, Law 14)
- The team-mate encroached and played the ball, and a goal resulted, so the penalty is retaken. (Source: IFAB Laws of the Game 2026/27, Law 14)
- A kick taken by someone other than the identified kicker brings an indirect free kick to the defenders and a caution, whether scored or saved. (Source: IFAB Laws of the Game 2026/27, Law 14)
- An accidental double touch by the kicker means a scored penalty is retaken; had it been missed, the defenders would get an indirect free kick. (Source: IFAB Laws of the Game 2026/27, Law 14)
- Playing the ball a second time before another player does is an offence; the defenders get an indirect free kick and the later goal does not stand. (Source: IFAB Laws of the Game 2026/27, Law 14)
- The Law does not require the retake to be taken by the same player; a different kicker may be identified for it. (Source: IFAB Laws of the Game 2026/27, Law 14)

### Test 2: Goalkeeper and defending-team offences

- If a goal is scored despite the goalkeeper coming off the line early, the goal stands and there is no card. (Source: IFAB Laws of the Game 2026/27, Law 14)
- A goalkeeper infringement at a saved penalty brings a retake; for a first offence the goalkeeper is warned, not cautioned. (Source: IFAB Laws of the Game 2026/27, Law 14)
- After a first warning, a further goalkeeper infringement is punished with a caution as well as the retake. (Source: IFAB Laws of the Game 2026/27, Law 14)
- No card is shown for a first goalkeeper offence; the goalkeeper is warned, and cautioned for any further offence. (Source: IFAB Laws of the Game 2026/27, Law 14)
- Deliberately delaying the kick is a way of unfairly distracting the kicker, and the goalkeeper is cautioned for it. (Source: IFAB Laws of the Game 2026/27, Law 14)
- When a defender interferes and the penalty does not go in, the correct outcome is a fresh kick from the mark. (Source: IFAB Laws of the Game 2026/27, Law 14)
- When both teams infringe at a penalty kick, the kick is retaken whatever the outcome. (Source: IFAB Laws of the Game 2026/27, Law 14)
- When the kicker and the goalkeeper infringe together, the defenders get an indirect free kick and the kicker is cautioned, whatever the outcome. (Source: IFAB Laws of the Game 2026/27, Law 14)
- The referee does not signal for the penalty to be taken until the players are positioned in accordance with the Law. (Source: IFAB Laws of the Game 2026/27, Law 14)
- Any defending-team infringement, goalkeeper or outfield, brings a retake when the penalty does not result in a goal. (Source: IFAB Laws of the Game 2026/27, Law 14)

## 14.143 The penalty at the end of a half

A penalty awarded or to be retaken at the end of a half, or at the end of either period of extra time, is taken with time extended so it can be completed. The kick is completed the moment the ball stops moving, goes out of play, is played by any player other than the defending goalkeeper, including the kicker, or the referee stops play for an offence. So there is no rebound to follow up: a save the goalkeeper holds ends the period, a rebound from the goalkeeper or the goal frame that the kicker or a team-mate then plays ends it with no goal, and only the ball going in without another player playing it counts. A goal is scored if the ball, before it enters, touches a goalpost, the crossbar, the goalkeeper or any combination of these. A defending-team infringement when this kick is missed or saved still brings a retake, with the same warning and caution for the goalkeeper as in normal play. During normal play the same rebound would be live and could be followed up; at the end of a half it cannot.

### Test 1: Time extended and completing the kick

- Additional time is allowed at the end of a half, or of a period of extra time, for a penalty kick to be taken and completed. (Source: IFAB Laws of the Game 2026/27, Law 14)
- The kick is complete when the ball stops moving, leaves play, is played by any player other than the defending goalkeeper, or the referee stops play. (Source: IFAB Laws of the Game 2026/27, Law 14)
- At the end of a half the kick is complete once any player other than the goalkeeper plays the ball, so the kicker playing the rebound ends the period with no goal. (Source: IFAB Laws of the Game 2026/27, Law 14)
- A goal counts if the ball enters after touching the crossbar, a post or the goalkeeper, provided no other player has played it. (Source: IFAB Laws of the Game 2026/27, Law 14)
- A save the goalkeeper holds stops the ball, which completes the kick and ends the period. (Source: IFAB Laws of the Game 2026/27, Law 14)
- Even with the clock stopped, a defending offence on a saved kick means the penalty is taken once more, time extended again. (Source: IFAB Laws of the Game 2026/27, Law 14)
- There is no follow-up at the end of a half: a rebound another player then plays completes the kick with no goal. (Source: IFAB Laws of the Game 2026/27, Law 14)
- A rebound in normal play stays live and can be followed up; at the end of a half playing it completes the kick, so it cannot. (Source: IFAB Laws of the Game 2026/27, Law 14)
- The ball entered off the goalkeeper with no other player touching it, so it is a goal even though the keeper first saved it. (Source: IFAB Laws of the Game 2026/27, Law 14)
- The kick is not yet complete, so a defender playing the ball is legal; his touch completes the kick and the half ends with no goal. (Source: IFAB Laws of the Game 2026/27, Law 14)

Sources: IFAB Laws of the Game 2026/27, Law 14 (paraphrased in original wording; original questions authored from the Law, not reproduced)

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