The penalty kick: positions, taking it and offences

When it's awarded

A penalty kick is awarded when a player commits a direct free kick offence inside their own penalty area while the ball is in play. It doesn't matter where the ball is at that moment, only where the offence happens.

Positions

• The ball, stationary on the penalty mark.
• The kicker, clearly identified.
• The goalkeeper, on the goal line, facing the kicker, between the posts and not touching the posts, crossbar or net until the ball is kicked.
• All other players outside the area, behind the penalty mark and at least 9.15 m from it (that's why the penalty arc exists).

Taking the kick

The kicker kicks the ball forward. They may feint during the run-up, but not once it has been completed. When the ball is kicked, the goalkeeper must have at least part of one foot touching, in line with or behind the goal line.

The ball is in play when it is kicked and clearly moves. The kicker may not touch it again until another player has touched it.

Most common offences

• Illegal feint, ball kicked backwards or a kicker other than the one identified: play restarts with an indirect free kick to the defending team. For the illegal feint and the wrong kicker, the kicker is also cautioned.
• An attacker encroaches: if it's a goal, the kick is retaken; if not, an indirect free kick to the defending team.
• A defender encroaches: if it's a goal, it stands; if not, the kick is retaken.
• The goalkeeper comes off the line: if it's a goal, it stands; if not, and the goalkeeper's offence clearly affected the kicker, the kick is retaken.

Kicks from the penalty mark

The shoot-out to decide a tie is a separate procedure, covered in Law 10: there's a toss for the goal and the order, each team takes five kicks alternately and, if still level, one kick each until there's a winner.