Penalty kick rules: retakes, rebounds and second touches
After a legal goalkeeper save, a match penalty can stay live and the taker may play the rebound. After a post-only rebound, the taker must wait for another player to touch the ball. Retakes depend on the offence, the outcome of the kick and any required impact; someone moving early does not automatically mean another penalty.
When does a penalty count, and when is it retaken?
A penalty being awarded settles the original decision, but its execution still has rules. A goal can stand, the kick can be retaken, or play can restart with an indirect free kick or a goal kick. A legal rebound can also leave play continuing. The order of events matters as much as where the ball finishes.
This guide uses the 2026/27 IFAB Laws for a penalty during normal match play. The referee has awarded the kick and signalled for it to be taken. The examples exclude a shoot-out and a period extended solely to complete a penalty, which have different completion conditions. They also exclude simultaneous or unstated offences.
Start with the event after the award: the kick, a second touch, an early movement or a rebound. If your question is why the penalty was awarded in the first place, the handball and free-kick guides explain those separate decisions.
What must be in place before the kick?
The taker is the player identified to take the penalty. The ball must be stationary, with part of it touching or overhanging the centre of the penalty mark. The referee signals once the players are in position. A player cannot treat the award itself as permission to take the kick immediately.
The defending goalkeeper waits on the goal line, facing the taker between the posts. At the moment the ball is kicked, at least part of one foot must be touching, in line with, or behind the goal line. That is the test used here; it does not require both feet to be planted on the line.
Everyone except the taker and goalkeeper must be inside the field, behind the penalty mark, outside the penalty area and at least 9.15 metres from the mark. The penalty arc helps identify the required distance outside the area. Players must wait until the ball is in play before entering a restricted position.
The taker must kick the ball forwards. It becomes live when it is kicked and clearly moves. From that point, a rebound means the ball has bounced back into play from the goalkeeper or the frame of the goal; which one it touched can change what the taker may do next.
Can the taker score from a rebound?
Yes, after a legal goalkeeper touch during normal match play, provided the ball remains in play and no other offence occurs. The goalkeeper is another player, so that touch removes the restriction on the taker playing the ball again. Permission to play the rebound does not guarantee a goal.
A goalpost or crossbar is not another player. If the ball hits only the frame and the taker then deliberately plays it again with a foot before anyone else touches it, the defending team receives an indirect free kick. In the comparison, the referee stops play at that second play and no goal is awarded. The examples use a foot; handling would require a separate assessment.
An immediate accidental second contact is a different event. If the taker slips and the ball touches their non-kicking foot or leg immediately after the kick, or is accidentally kicked with both feet together, a goal from that kick leads to a retake. The initial goal does not count.
If that immediate accidental contact occurs and the ball does not enter the goal from the kick, the rule gives an indirect free kick to the defending team. Our no-goal example expressly says the referee stops play and does not apply advantage. The IFAB FAQ allows the referee to apply advantage where appropriate; that possibility must not be silently removed from a real incident.
Does entering early always mean a retake?
Encroachment means a player takes up a restricted position before the ball is in play. For team-mates of the taker or goalkeeper, early entry alone is not enough to decide the consequence. Law 14 also asks whether it clearly affected the relevant opponent or led to specified involvement after the kick.
An attacking team-mate is penalised if the early entry clearly impacts the goalkeeper. They can also be penalised if they play or challenge for the rebound and then score, attempt to score or create a goalscoring opportunity. If an early entrant neither impacts the goalkeeper nor becomes involved in that way, a goal directly from the kick can stand.
For a defending team-mate, the corresponding questions are whether the early entry clearly impacts the taker, or whether later playing or challenging for the ball prevents the opponents from scoring, attempting to score or creating a goalscoring opportunity. In the lab's saved-kick example, the early defender prevents an attacking attempt, so the kick is retaken.
The goalkeeper's position has its own consequence. If a goalkeeper who has broken the line-position rule saves the kick and prevents a goal, the stated stopped-play case leads to a retake. If the untouched kick goes wide, it is retaken only if that positioning offence clearly impacted the taker. With no clear impact and the ball wholly over the goal line outside the posts, the restart is a goal kick.
Impact is a supplied judgement in these examples, not a distance calculated from a drawing. Seeing a boot over a line can identify a positioning question; it cannot establish every required consequence on its own.
Which feints are allowed?
A feint is a deceptive action intended to make the goalkeeper react. Feinting during the run-up is permitted. The prohibited action is feinting to kick once the taker has completed the run-up. A pause or unusual rhythm must be considered in its actual phase; the description 'a stuttered run-up' does not settle the question.
When the taker commits that completed-run-up offence, the referee cautions the taker and awards an indirect free kick to the defending team, whether or not the ball enters the goal. The lab makes both the phase and the offence explicit. It does not infer either from an illustration.
Compare the fact that changes the restart
Choose a fictional case after an awarded penalty and the referee's signal. Every case stays within normal match play. The taker is the original kicker; an attacking team-mate is a different player on the same side. Read the phase and touch sequence before the conclusion.
Which fact changes the penalty restart?
These fictional cases start with an awarded penalty and the referee’s signal during normal match play. They are not shoot-outs or kicks taken in a period extended only to complete the penalty.
Read the phase and touch sequence first. Keeper position, early entry and clear impact are stated evidence; a position on a picture cannot establish intent, contact or impact.
Taker plays a keeper rebound
- At the kick, part of at least one of the goalkeeper’s feet is touching, in line with or behind the goal line; the goalkeeper is otherwise legally positioned.
- No player enters early and there is no other offence.
- The goalkeeper saves the kick and the ball rebounds into the field.
- The taker then legally plays the ball with the foot inside the opponents’ penalty area, outside the goal area. No resulting goal is supplied.
Assumptions for this example: Normal match play, an awarded penalty and the referee’s signal are established. This is neither a shoot-out nor a period extended only to complete the penalty. The initial procedure is proper except for the explicitly stated exception. There is no simultaneous or other offence.
Stated phase and sequence
- The referee signals and the penalty is kicked into play.
- The legally positioned keeper touches the ball while saving it.
- The ball rebounds into the field; the taker plays it with the foot and the referee allows play to continue.
Legal rebound play: play continues
The keeper has touched the ball, so the taker may play this rebound. With no other offence, play continues; no restart or resulting goal is invented.
- Goal consequence
- No resulting goal is supplied. This case establishes only that the taker may play the keeper rebound.
- Restart
- No restart: the referee allows play to continue.
- Where
- No restart location applies while play continues.
- Discipline in this case
- No disciplinary sanction is assigned for this legal play.
What decides this case?
The keeper’s touch is a touch by another player before the taker plays again. A rebound off a post alone would not supply that touch.
Facts kept the same: The awarded penalty is taken in normal match play after the signal. The keeper is legally positioned, nobody enters early and no other offence occurs. The ball rebounds into the field before the taker deliberately plays it with the foot inside the opponents’ penalty area, outside the goal area.
| This case: Taker plays a keeper rebound | Compare with: Taker plays a post-only rebound |
|---|---|
| Touch before the taker plays againThe goalkeeper touches the ball in the save. | Touch before the taker plays againThe ball hits only the post; no other player touches it. |
| ConsequenceLegal rebound play: play continues | ConsequenceSecond-play offence: indirect free kick |
The another-player touch changes the taker’s entitlement to play the rebound. The legal case supplies no later goal; the post-only case ends when the referee stops the second play.
Limit of this example: This permission applies in normal match play after another player’s touch. It does not predict a goal or extend a shoot-out kick beyond its completion.
Each answer applies only to the supplied sequence. All cases exclude simultaneous or other offences. Known cases follow the proper initial procedure except for the stated exception. Definite offence restarts assume play is stopped with no advantage. Missing evidence stays unknown.
Compare all twelve penalty cases
Taker plays a keeper rebound
- At the kick, part of at least one of the goalkeeper’s feet is touching, in line with or behind the goal line; the goalkeeper is otherwise legally positioned.
- No player enters early and there is no other offence.
- The goalkeeper saves the kick and the ball rebounds into the field.
- The taker then legally plays the ball with the foot inside the opponents’ penalty area, outside the goal area. No resulting goal is supplied.
Assumptions for this example: Normal match play, an awarded penalty and the referee’s signal are established. This is neither a shoot-out nor a period extended only to complete the penalty. The initial procedure is proper except for the explicitly stated exception. There is no simultaneous or other offence.
Stated phase and sequence
- The referee signals and the penalty is kicked into play.
- The legally positioned keeper touches the ball while saving it.
- The ball rebounds into the field; the taker plays it with the foot and the referee allows play to continue.
Legal rebound play: play continues
The keeper has touched the ball, so the taker may play this rebound. With no other offence, play continues; no restart or resulting goal is invented.
- Goal consequence
- No resulting goal is supplied. This case establishes only that the taker may play the keeper rebound.
- Restart
- No restart: the referee allows play to continue.
- Where
- No restart location applies while play continues.
- Discipline in this case
- No disciplinary sanction is assigned for this legal play.
What decides this case?
The keeper’s touch is a touch by another player before the taker plays again. A rebound off a post alone would not supply that touch.
Facts kept the same: The awarded penalty is taken in normal match play after the signal. The keeper is legally positioned, nobody enters early and no other offence occurs. The ball rebounds into the field before the taker deliberately plays it with the foot inside the opponents’ penalty area, outside the goal area.
| This case: Taker plays a keeper rebound | Compare with: Taker plays a post-only rebound |
|---|---|
| Touch before the taker plays againThe goalkeeper touches the ball in the save. | Touch before the taker plays againThe ball hits only the post; no other player touches it. |
| ConsequenceLegal rebound play: play continues | ConsequenceSecond-play offence: indirect free kick |
The another-player touch changes the taker’s entitlement to play the rebound. The legal case supplies no later goal; the post-only case ends when the referee stops the second play.
Limit of this example: This permission applies in normal match play after another player’s touch. It does not predict a goal or extend a shoot-out kick beyond its completion.
Taker plays a post-only rebound
- At the kick, part of at least one of the goalkeeper’s feet is touching, in line with or behind the goal line; the goalkeeper is otherwise legally positioned.
- The ball hits the post only: neither the goalkeeper nor any other player touches it.
- The ball rebounds into the field and the taker later deliberately plays it with the foot inside the opponents’ penalty area, outside the goal area.
- The referee stops play before any goal; no advantage is applied.
Assumptions for this example: Normal match play, an awarded penalty and the referee’s signal are established. This is neither a shoot-out nor a period extended only to complete the penalty. The initial procedure is proper except for the explicitly stated exception. There is no simultaneous or other offence. The referee stops play; no advantage is applied.
Stated phase and sequence
- The referee signals and the penalty is kicked into play.
- The ball hits only a goalpost and rebounds into the field.
- Before any other player touches it, the taker deliberately plays it with the foot again; the referee stops play.
Second-play offence: indirect free kick
A goalpost is not another player. The taker’s later deliberate foot play before any other player’s touch is a second-play offence: the defending team gets an indirect free kick.
- Goal consequence
- No goal is claimed: the referee stops play at the second play before any goal.
- Restart
- Indirect free kick to the defending team; no advantage is applied.
- Where
- At the taker’s second foot play, inside the opponents’ penalty area and outside the goal area.
- Discipline in this case
- No automatic card is assigned for this second-play offence.
What decides this case?
There is no touch by another player between the initial kick and the taker’s later deliberate foot play. This is a foot-play offence, not handball.
Facts kept the same: The awarded penalty is taken in normal match play after the signal. The keeper is legally positioned, nobody enters early and no other offence occurs. The ball rebounds into the field before the taker deliberately plays it with the foot inside the opponents’ penalty area, outside the goal area.
| This case: Taker plays a post-only rebound | Compare with: Taker plays a keeper rebound |
|---|---|
| Touch before the taker plays againThe ball hits only the post; no other player touches it. | Touch before the taker plays againThe goalkeeper touches the ball in the save. |
| ConsequenceSecond-play offence: indirect free kick | ConsequenceLegal rebound play: play continues |
A post-only rebound does not reset the restriction on the taker. The goalkeeper’s touch in the comparison does. The defending restart here is indirect, not a direct free kick.
Limit of this example: The later play is deliberately made with the foot, after a post-only rebound. Do not apply the accidental immediate double-contact rule to this different sequence.
Accidental double contact: goal
- The taker slips. Immediately after the kicking-foot contact, the ball accidentally touches the non-kicking foot or leg near the penalty mark, outside the goal area.
- The ball then enters the opponents’ goal from that kick with no further touch.
- At the kick, part of at least one of the goalkeeper’s feet is touching, in line with or behind the goal line; the goalkeeper is otherwise legally positioned.
- No deliberate second play or other offence occurs.
Assumptions for this example: Normal match play, an awarded penalty and the referee’s signal are established. This is neither a shoot-out nor a period extended only to complete the penalty. The initial procedure is proper except for the explicitly stated exception. There is no simultaneous or other offence. The referee stops play; no advantage is applied.
Stated phase and sequence
- The referee signals and the taker kicks the penalty.
- The slip causes immediate accidental non-kicking-foot or leg contact.
- The ball enters the goal from the kick without a further touch; the goal is not awarded.
Accidental double contact and goal: retake
This immediate accidental double contact is followed by a goal from the kick. The goal is not awarded and the penalty is retaken.
- Goal consequence
- The ball enters the goal, but that goal is disallowed.
- Restart
- Retake the penalty; no advantage is applied.
- Where
- From the same penalty mark.
- Discipline in this case
- No caution is assigned for this accidental contact alone.
What decides this case?
The contact is immediate and accidental, and the ball enters the goal from the kick. It is not a later deliberate second play.
Facts kept the same: The taker slips and the ball immediately and accidentally contacts the non-kicking foot or leg near the penalty mark, outside the goal area. There is no separate deliberate second play; the keeper is legally positioned and there is no other offence.
| This case: Accidental double contact: goal | Compare with: Accidental double contact: no goal |
|---|---|
| Outcome of the kickThe ball enters the goal with no further touch. | Outcome of the kickThe legally positioned keeper saves; the ball rebounds into the field and no goal is scored. |
| ConsequenceAccidental double contact and goal: retake | ConsequenceAccidental double contact, no goal: indirect free kick |
With this same accidental contact, a goal from the kick leads to a retake. If no goal results and the referee stops play without advantage, the restart is an indirect free kick to the defence.
Limit of this example: The same Law 14 provision also covers accidentally kicking with both feet simultaneously. These examples do not turn a later deliberate second play into accidental contact.
Accidental double contact: no goal
- The taker slips. Immediately after the kicking-foot contact, the ball accidentally touches the non-kicking foot or leg near the penalty mark, outside the goal area.
- At the kick, part of at least one of the goalkeeper’s feet is touching, in line with or behind the goal line; the goalkeeper is otherwise legally positioned.
- The goalkeeper saves the kick and the ball rebounds into the field; no goal is scored.
- The referee stops play without applying advantage. No deliberate second play or other offence occurs.
Assumptions for this example: Normal match play, an awarded penalty and the referee’s signal are established. This is neither a shoot-out nor a period extended only to complete the penalty. The initial procedure is proper except for the explicitly stated exception. There is no simultaneous or other offence. The referee stops play; no advantage is applied.
Stated phase and sequence
- The referee signals and the taker kicks the penalty.
- The slip causes immediate accidental non-kicking-foot or leg contact.
- The legally positioned keeper saves and the ball rebounds into the field; the referee stops play without advantage.
Accidental double contact, no goal: indirect free kick
No goal results from this immediate accidental double contact. With play stopped and no advantage applied, the defending team gets an indirect free kick at the accidental second contact.
- Goal consequence
- No goal is scored: the keeper saves and the ball rebounds into the field.
- Restart
- Indirect free kick to the defending team in this stopped, no-advantage example.
- Where
- At the accidental second contact near the penalty mark, outside the goal area.
- Discipline in this case
- No caution is assigned for this accidental contact alone.
What decides this case?
No goal is scored from the kick, and the referee stops play without advantage after the immediate accidental contact.
Facts kept the same: The taker slips and the ball immediately and accidentally contacts the non-kicking foot or leg near the penalty mark, outside the goal area. There is no separate deliberate second play; the keeper is legally positioned and there is no other offence.
| This case: Accidental double contact: no goal | Compare with: Accidental double contact: goal |
|---|---|
| Outcome of the kickThe legally positioned keeper saves; the ball rebounds into the field and no goal is scored. | Outcome of the kickThe ball enters the goal with no further touch. |
| ConsequenceAccidental double contact, no goal: indirect free kick | ConsequenceAccidental double contact and goal: retake |
The goal outcome changes this accidental-contact restart. The no-goal example is stopped without advantage; the goal example requires a retake.
Limit of this example: The IFAB FAQ permits advantage for the defending team in an appropriate no-goal case. That possibility is outside this example because the referee explicitly stops play without advantage.
Keeper off the line: save
- At the kick, both of the goalkeeper’s feet are entirely in front of the goal line. The keeper’s position offence is established.
- The goalkeeper prevents the ball entering the goal by saving it. No later goal occurs.
- There is no early teammate entry or other offence; the referee stops play without advantage.
- Whether this is the keeper’s first such offence in the game is not supplied.
Assumptions for this example: Normal match play, an awarded penalty and the referee’s signal are established. This is neither a shoot-out nor a period extended only to complete the penalty. The initial procedure is proper except for the explicitly stated exception. There is no simultaneous or other offence. The referee stops play; no advantage is applied.
Stated phase and sequence
- The referee signals and the penalty is kicked while both of the keeper’s feet are entirely in front of the line.
- The offending keeper prevents a goal with a save.
- The referee stops play and orders a retake.
Offending keeper prevents a goal: retake
The keeper’s position offence is established and the save prevents a goal. The penalty is retaken. Any warning or caution depends on whether this is the first such offence in the game.
- Goal consequence
- No goal is scored: the keeper saves and no later goal occurs.
- Restart
- Retake the penalty; no advantage is applied.
- Where
- From the same penalty mark.
- Discipline in this case
- Because the keeper’s offence results in a retake, warn the keeper for the first such offence in the game; caution for a subsequent such offence. That history is unknown here.
What decides this case?
The goalkeeper both offends in position and prevents the ball entering the goal. The actual history must be established before choosing warning or caution.
Facts kept the same: Both of the goalkeeper’s feet are entirely in front of the goal line at the kick: the position offence is established. The awarded penalty otherwise follows the proper procedure, with no early teammate entry or other offence.
| This case: Keeper off the line: save | Compare with: Keeper off the line: untouched miss |
|---|---|
| Result and effect of the kickThe offending keeper makes a save which prevents a goal. | Result and effect of the kickThe ball goes wide untouched, with explicitly no clear impact by the keeper’s offence on the kicker. |
| ConsequenceOffending keeper prevents a goal: retake | ConsequenceUntouched miss, no clear impact: goal kick |
An established keeper position offence does not make every miss a retake. A goal-preventing save leads to a retake; an untouched miss without clear impact on the kicker does not.
Limit of this example: The example supplies the position offence and the goal-preventing save. It does not infer either from coordinates, or invent the keeper’s earlier offence history.
Keeper off the line: untouched miss
- At the kick, both of the goalkeeper’s feet are entirely in front of the goal line. The keeper’s position offence is established.
- The ball goes wide untouched and wholly crosses the goal line outside the goalposts.
- The keeper’s offence has explicitly no clear impact on the kicker. There is no early teammate entry or other offence.
Assumptions for this example: Normal match play, an awarded penalty and the referee’s signal are established. This is neither a shoot-out nor a period extended only to complete the penalty. The initial procedure is proper except for the explicitly stated exception. There is no simultaneous or other offence. The ball is out of play. No advantage is used to change the stated restart.
Stated phase and sequence
- The referee signals and the penalty is kicked while both of the keeper’s feet are entirely in front of the line.
- The ball misses untouched, with no clear impact by the keeper’s offence on the kicker.
- It wholly crosses the goal line outside the posts; a goal kick follows.
Untouched miss, no clear impact: goal kick
The ball misses untouched and the keeper’s offence has no clear impact on the kicker. This does not require a retake. Because the ball has gone over the goal line outside the posts, the defence gets a goal kick.
- Goal consequence
- No goal: the ball misses outside the posts.
- Restart
- Goal kick to the defending team; the stated lack of clear impact means no retake.
- Where
- From any point within the defending team’s goal area.
- Discipline in this case
- No retake-based warning or caution is assigned here because no retake results. This does not exempt other keeper misconduct from discipline.
What decides this case?
The ball misses untouched, the keeper’s offence has no clear impact on the kicker, and the ball wholly crosses the goal line outside the posts.
Facts kept the same: Both of the goalkeeper’s feet are entirely in front of the goal line at the kick: the position offence is established. The awarded penalty otherwise follows the proper procedure, with no early teammate entry or other offence.
| This case: Keeper off the line: untouched miss | Compare with: Keeper off the line: save |
|---|---|
| Result and effect of the kickThe ball goes wide untouched, with explicitly no clear impact by the keeper’s offence on the kicker. | Result and effect of the kickThe offending keeper makes a save which prevents a goal. |
| ConsequenceUntouched miss, no clear impact: goal kick | ConsequenceOffending keeper prevents a goal: retake |
Both cases establish the same illegal keeper position. The different result and effect explain why one ends in a goal kick and the other requires a retake.
Limit of this example: If the keeper’s offence clearly affected the kicker on a miss, the answer could change. The no-clear-impact fact is supplied here and cannot be inferred merely from a wide shot.
Attacker enters early: no impact
- A teammate of the kicker enters the penalty area before the ball is in play.
- That entry has no clear impact on the goalkeeper, and that teammate has no subsequent ball or challenge involvement.
- At the kick, part of at least one of the goalkeeper’s feet is touching, in line with or behind the goal line; the goalkeeper is otherwise legally positioned.
- The penalty kick goes directly into the opponents’ goal, with no other offence.
Assumptions for this example: Normal match play, an awarded penalty and the referee’s signal are established. This is neither a shoot-out nor a period extended only to complete the penalty. The initial procedure is proper except for the explicitly stated exception. There is no simultaneous or other offence.
Stated phase and sequence
- The referee has signalled; an attacking teammate enters the area before the kick puts the ball in play.
- The kick directly scores. The early teammate has no clear impact on the keeper and no subsequent involvement.
- The referee allows the goal.
Early entry without qualifying impact: goal allowed
The attacker’s early entry has no clear impact on the keeper and no qualifying later involvement. It is not penalised in this example, so the direct goal is allowed.
- Goal consequence
- Goal allowed: the kick goes directly into the opponents’ goal.
- Restart
- Kick-off to the team that conceded the goal.
- Where
- From the centre mark after the goal.
- Discipline in this case
- No card is assigned for the stated event. An early-entry offence does not automatically require a caution.
What decides this case?
Early entry alone is not enough here: both clear impact on the keeper and qualifying subsequent involvement are explicitly absent.
Facts kept the same: A teammate of the kicker enters the penalty area before the ball is in play. The kick goes directly into the goal, the keeper is legally positioned, that teammate has no later ball or challenge involvement and there is no other offence.
| This case: Attacker enters early: no impact | Compare with: Attacker enters early: clear impact |
|---|---|
| Effect of the early entry on the keeperNo clear impact on the goalkeeper. | Effect of the early entry on the keeperClear impact on the goalkeeper is established. |
| ConsequenceEarly entry without qualifying impact: goal allowed | ConsequenceEarly attacker clearly affects keeper: retake |
Only the clear-impact fact changes before the referee’s resulting decision. With clear impact, the early attacker is penalised and the scored penalty is retaken.
Limit of this example: This does not make all early entry harmless. Clear impact or qualifying subsequent involvement must be checked; neither may be assumed from a player’s location alone.
Attacker enters early: clear impact
- A teammate of the kicker enters the penalty area before the ball is in play.
- That early entry has a clear impact on the goalkeeper. This impact is supplied evidence, not inferred from position.
- That teammate has no subsequent ball or challenge involvement.
- At the kick, part of at least one of the goalkeeper’s feet is touching, in line with or behind the goal line; the goalkeeper is otherwise legally positioned.
- The penalty kick goes directly into the opponents’ goal, with no other offence.
Assumptions for this example: Normal match play, an awarded penalty and the referee’s signal are established. This is neither a shoot-out nor a period extended only to complete the penalty. The initial procedure is proper except for the explicitly stated exception. There is no simultaneous or other offence. The referee stops play; no advantage is applied.
Stated phase and sequence
- The referee has signalled; an attacking teammate enters the area before the kick puts the ball in play.
- The early entry clearly affects the goalkeeper, and the kick directly scores.
- The referee does not award the goal and orders a retake.
Early attacker clearly affects keeper: retake
The early attacking teammate clearly affects the goalkeeper. That entry is penalised; because the kick enters the goal, the goal is not awarded and the penalty is retaken.
- Goal consequence
- The direct goal is not awarded.
- Restart
- Retake the penalty; no advantage is applied.
- Where
- From the same penalty mark.
- Discipline in this case
- No card is assigned for the stated event. An early-entry offence does not automatically require a caution.
What decides this case?
The early teammate’s clear impact on the goalkeeper is established. That is the changed fact; the direct goal and absence of later involvement remain the same.
Facts kept the same: A teammate of the kicker enters the penalty area before the ball is in play. The kick goes directly into the goal, the keeper is legally positioned, that teammate has no later ball or challenge involvement and there is no other offence.
| This case: Attacker enters early: clear impact | Compare with: Attacker enters early: no impact |
|---|---|
| Effect of the early entry on the keeperClear impact on the goalkeeper is established. | Effect of the early entry on the keeperNo clear impact on the goalkeeper. |
| ConsequenceEarly attacker clearly affects keeper: retake | ConsequenceEarly entry without qualifying impact: goal allowed |
The scored kick is retaken because this entry clearly affects the goalkeeper. If that impact and later qualifying involvement are both absent, the comparison’s goal stands.
Limit of this example: An early player’s position does not establish clear impact. This fixed example supplies the impact and makes no automatic card decision from entry alone.
Early defender prevents a rebound chance
- A defending teammate enters the penalty area before the ball is in play, without clear impact on the kicker at the initial kick.
- At the kick, part of at least one of the goalkeeper’s feet is touching, in line with or behind the goal line; the goalkeeper is otherwise legally positioned.
- After the keeper saves, that early-entering defender plays the rebound and prevents opponents attempting to score or creating a goal opportunity.
- There is no foul, other offence or subsequent goal. The referee stops play without advantage.
Assumptions for this example: Normal match play, an awarded penalty and the referee’s signal are established. This is neither a shoot-out nor a period extended only to complete the penalty. The initial procedure is proper except for the explicitly stated exception. There is no simultaneous or other offence. The referee stops play; no advantage is applied.
Stated phase and sequence
- A defending teammate enters early; the penalty is kicked after the referee’s signal.
- The legally positioned goalkeeper saves and the ball rebounds into the field.
- The early-entering defender plays the rebound and prevents an opposing scoring attempt or goal opportunity; play is stopped.
Early defender’s qualifying involvement: retake
The early defender plays the rebound and prevents an opposing attempt to score or goal opportunity. That qualifying involvement makes the entry punishable, so the penalty is retaken.
- Goal consequence
- No goal is scored in this sequence.
- Restart
- Retake the penalty; the referee has stopped play with no advantage.
- Where
- From the same penalty mark.
- Discipline in this case
- No card is assigned for the stated event. An early-entry offence does not automatically require a caution.
What decides this case?
The early defender’s later play prevents opponents attempting to score or creating a goal opportunity. Mere early presence is not the whole finding.
Facts kept the same: A teammate enters the penalty area early. There is no clear impact on the kicker from the defender’s entry, or on the goalkeeper from the attacker’s entry. A legally positioned keeper saves and the ball rebounds into the field; there is no foul or other offence. The side and the qualifying rebound action differ in this comparison.
| This case: Early defender prevents a rebound chance | Compare with: Early attacker scores the rebound |
|---|---|
| Side of the early-entering playerA defending teammate. | Side of the early-entering playerAn attacking teammate. |
| Qualifying rebound action and goalPlays the rebound and prevents an opposing attempt or opportunity; no subsequent goal. | Qualifying rebound action and goalPlays the rebound and scores. |
| ConsequenceEarly defender’s qualifying involvement: retake | ConsequenceEarly attacker’s rebound goal: indirect free kick |
This comparison changes both the player’s side and the qualifying later action. The early defender’s intervention requires a retake; the early attacker’s rebound goal is disallowed with a defending indirect free kick.
Limit of this example: The example supplies the prevention of a scoring attempt or opportunity and excludes a foul. A defender touching a rebound is not automatically this same case.
Early attacker scores the rebound
- An attacking teammate enters the penalty area before the ball is in play, without clear impact on the keeper at the initial kick.
- The entry point is on the penalty-area boundary, outside the goal area.
- At the kick, part of at least one of the goalkeeper’s feet is touching, in line with or behind the goal line; the goalkeeper is otherwise legally positioned.
- After the keeper saves, that early-entering attacker plays the rebound and scores. There is no other offence.
Assumptions for this example: Normal match play, an awarded penalty and the referee’s signal are established. This is neither a shoot-out nor a period extended only to complete the penalty. The initial procedure is proper except for the explicitly stated exception. There is no simultaneous or other offence. The referee stops play; no advantage is applied.
Stated phase and sequence
- An attacking teammate enters early at the stated penalty-area boundary; the penalty is kicked after the signal.
- The legally positioned goalkeeper saves and the ball rebounds into the field.
- The early-entering attacker plays that rebound and scores; the referee disallows the goal.
Early attacker’s rebound goal: indirect free kick
The early attacker’s play of the rebound followed by a goal is qualifying involvement. The goal is disallowed and the defending team gets an indirect free kick where that attacker entered the penalty area.
- Goal consequence
- The rebound goal by the early-entering teammate is disallowed.
- Restart
- Indirect free kick to the defending team; no advantage is applied.
- Where
- At the attacker’s entry point on the penalty-area boundary, outside the goal area—not at the later rebound touch.
- Discipline in this case
- No card is assigned for the stated event. An early-entry offence does not automatically require a caution.
What decides this case?
The player entered early, then played the rebound and scored. The IFAB FAQ places this indirect free kick where the attacker entered, not where the later touch happened.
Facts kept the same: A teammate enters the penalty area early. There is no clear impact on the kicker from the defender’s entry, or on the goalkeeper from the attacker’s entry. A legally positioned keeper saves and the ball rebounds into the field; there is no foul or other offence. The side and the qualifying rebound action differ in this comparison.
| This case: Early attacker scores the rebound | Compare with: Early defender prevents a rebound chance |
|---|---|
| Side of the early-entering playerAn attacking teammate. | Side of the early-entering playerA defending teammate. |
| Qualifying rebound action and goalPlays the rebound and scores. | Qualifying rebound action and goalPlays the rebound and prevents an opposing attempt or opportunity; no subsequent goal. |
| ConsequenceEarly attacker’s rebound goal: indirect free kick | ConsequenceEarly defender’s qualifying involvement: retake |
Both entries become punishable through qualifying later involvement. The different side and later action matter: the attacker’s goal is disallowed with an indirect free kick at the entry point; the defender case is a retake.
Limit of this example: This is the kicker’s early-entering teammate, not the original taker legally playing a keeper rebound. The entry-point restart is specific to the stated encroachment sequence.
Feint after the run-up is complete
- After completing the run-up, the kicker feints to kick the ball and then kicks it into the goal.
- At the kick, part of at least one of the goalkeeper’s feet is touching, in line with or behind the goal line; the goalkeeper is otherwise legally positioned.
- There is no simultaneous goalkeeper offence or other offence.
- The kicker has not previously been cautioned in this match.
Assumptions for this example: Normal match play, an awarded penalty and the referee’s signal are established. This is neither a shoot-out nor a period extended only to complete the penalty. The initial procedure is proper except for the explicitly stated exception. There is no simultaneous or other offence. The referee stops play; no advantage is applied.
Stated phase and sequence
- The referee signals and the kicker completes the run-up.
- The kicker then feints to kick at the ball near the penalty mark, outside the goal area.
- The kicker kicks the ball into the goal; the referee disallows it, cautions the kicker and awards an indirect free kick.
Illegal feint: caution and indirect free kick
Feinting to kick after the run-up is complete is an offence. The goal is disallowed, the kicker is cautioned and the defending team gets an indirect free kick, regardless of whether the kick scores.
- Goal consequence
- The ball enters the goal, but the goal is disallowed.
- Restart
- Indirect free kick to the defending team; no advantage is applied. This restart applies whether or not the kick enters the goal.
- Where
- At the illegal feint near the penalty mark, outside the goal area.
- Discipline in this case
- Caution the kicker for this illegal feint. The example establishes that the kicker has no earlier caution in the match.
What decides this case?
The feint to kick happens after the run-up has been completed. Feinting during the run-up is permitted.
Facts kept the same: The comparison assumes normal match play, an awarded penalty, the referee’s signal, a legally positioned keeper and no other offence. The timing of the feint is the distinction.
| This case: Feint after the run-up is complete | Compare with: Permitted feint during the run-up |
|---|---|
| Phase of the feintThe run-up is complete before the feint to kick the ball. | Phase of the feintThe feint happens during the run-up, before it is complete. |
| ConsequenceIllegal feint: caution and indirect free kick | ConsequenceNo feint offence; with an otherwise lawful direct goal, goal allowed |
This timing contrast is explanatory, not another selectable case. A run-up feint is permitted; a feint to kick after completing the run-up brings a caution and an indirect free kick even if the ball goes in.
Limit of this example: The completed run-up is a supplied fact. The case excludes simultaneous keeper offences and earlier cautions; it does not diagnose the feint phase from a still image.
The decisive sequence is missing
- An awarded penalty, the referee’s signal and normal match play are known.
- The exact phase, touch chain, keeper position, any early entry and its impact or later involvement are not established.
- Any goal and the referee’s subsequent action are not established.
Assumptions for this example: Normal match play, an awarded penalty and the referee’s signal are established. This is neither a shoot-out nor a period extended only to complete the penalty. There is no simultaneous or other offence. The exact procedure, goal, restart, impact and discipline findings remain unknown.
Stated phase and sequence
- A penalty is awarded during normal match play and the referee signals.
- The phase and events after that signal remain unestablished.
Not enough information
The supplied facts do not establish an offence, a goal decision, a restart, a restart location or discipline. Those outcomes remain unknown until the sequence and relevant impact are established.
- Goal consequence
- Unknown: whether the ball entered the goal, and from which sequence, is not established.
- Restart
- Unknown: the offence findings, ball outcome and referee’s action are missing.
- Where
- Unknown: no relevant contact, entry, feint or restart location is established.
- Discipline in this case
- Unknown: the offence and any required disciplinary history are not established.
What is missing?
Establish the phase, touch chain, keeper position, impact, outcome and referee’s action before matching a known case. A reported incident or still picture cannot supply those facts.
Facts needed to compare a known case
- Whether the incident happens during the run-up, after its completion, at an immediate accidental second contact, or during later play.
- The full touch chain: which foot or leg contacts the ball, whether contact is accidental, and whether a keeper or another player touches it before the taker plays again.
- The keeper’s position at the kick and whether an offence prevents a goal or clearly impacts the kicker.
- Who enters early, whether an attacker’s entry clearly impacts the goalkeeper or a defender’s entry clearly impacts the kicker, as appropriate, and any qualifying subsequent play or challenge.
- Whether the ball enters the goal, stays in play or wholly crosses a boundary, and the relevant contact, entry or feint location.
- The referee’s decision and whether advantage applies, and any earlier offence or caution history relevant to discipline.
Choose a known example only when its decisive facts are established. Missing evidence is its own case and never silently becomes the legal keeper-rebound default.
Limit of this example: No intent, impact, touch, goal, referee action or disciplinary history is inferred. This case is distinct from unsupported input, which the model rejects.
2026/27 Laws · reviewed
Start with the legal goalkeeper rebound, then compare the post-only second play. Next compare an immediate accidental contact that scores with one that does not. The early-entry pair keeps a directly scored kick the same and changes the supplied impact on the goalkeeper.
Each case states the facts, assumptions, continuation or restart, and what changes the answer. All twelve complete explanations are available as text. The missing-evidence case remains unresolved instead of borrowing the facts of the nearest-looking example.
What else must you know before judging the decision?
Separate the restart from discipline. If a goalkeeper's offence results in a retake, the goalkeeper is warned for the first such offence in the game and cautioned for a subsequent one. The early-save example leaves that history unknown, so it gives the condition rather than inventing a yellow card. The wide, no-impact example does not generate a retake-based warning or caution.
Team-mate encroachment does not automatically require a caution. Illegal feinting after the completed run-up does require the taker to be cautioned. That example states that the taker has no earlier caution; it does not silently add a second-caution dismissal.
Check the phase, then the sequence. Was this ordinary match play? Had the run-up ended? Did the ball touch the goalkeeper, only the post, or the taker's non-kicking leg immediately? Which player entered early, and was clear impact or the required later involvement established? If those facts are missing, the outcome can remain unknown.
The location of an indirect free kick also matters. In the second-play example it is the place of that play; in the attacker-rebound example it is where the attacker entered the penalty area. The examples place these offences outside the goal area. A defending team's free kick within its own goal area has a separate positioning provision, explained in the free-kick guide.
Finally, establish whether the referee stopped play and whether advantage was applied. A missed or saved kick alone does not answer that. These cases give precise restarts only where the necessary facts are supplied, and do not classify an unseen incident from a scoreline or a still picture.
Find the exact match and the players involved
Use the club panel to open recorded matches when that context is available. Choose the exact opponent and date, then read the result, listed players and available match details. An available match link in the guide can take you directly to that fixture; Results is another route to a completed match.
Read the displayed lineup status before treating a name as a confirmed starter. A team sheet can help identify a player, but it cannot tell you in advance who will take a penalty or establish a second touch, early entry or impact.
Match XI provides recorded lineups, results and the match details available to us. It does not provide footage or a complete penalty incident log. A missing penalty entry does not mean there were zero penalties, retakes or disputed incidents; use the actual sequence and the referee's decision to assess the rule.