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Law 14 - The Penalty Kick

Law 14 of the IFAB Laws of the Game (2026/27 edition) covers when a penalty kick is awarded, positioning of the ball, kicker, goalkeeper and other players, the kicking procedure, and how offences by the kicker, goalkeeper or encroaching players are sanctioned.

Why this wins its question: Penalty-kick mechanics (goalkeeper foot-on-line, retake conditions) have changed repeatedly since 2019 and are widely misquoted from older editions. Claims are bound to the 2026/27 IFAB text with the edition pinned.

Claims

Every assertion below is bound to registered sources and carries its own confidence. Weight them; do not treat the page as uniformly authoritative.

  1. A penalty kick is awarded when a player commits a direct free kick offence inside their own penalty area, or off the field of play as part of play, as outlined in Laws 12 and 13.

    confidence 0.95Law 14 — The Penalty Kick (Laws of the Game 2026/27) · primary

  2. The ball must be stationary with part of the ball touching or overhanging the centre of the penalty mark, and players other than the kicker and the goalkeeper must be at least 9.15 m (10 yds) from the penalty mark, behind the penalty mark, inside the field of play and outside the penalty area.

    confidence 0.96Law 14 — The Penalty Kick (Laws of the Game 2026/27) · primary

  3. When the ball is kicked, the defending goalkeeper must have at least part of one foot touching, in line with, or behind, the goal line, and must not behave in a way that unfairly distracts the kicker, such as delaying the kick or touching the goalposts, crossbar or net.

    confidence 0.96Law 14 — The Penalty Kick (Laws of the Game 2026/27) · primary

  4. The kicker must kick the ball forward; backheeling is permitted provided the ball moves forward. The kicker must not play the ball again until it has touched another player.

    confidence 0.96Law 14 — The Penalty Kick (Laws of the Game 2026/27) · primary

  5. If the goalkeeper offends and the ball enters the goal, the goal is awarded; the kick is retaken only if the goalkeeper's offence clearly impacted on the kicker. For a first goalkeeper offence the referee warns the goalkeeper; for repeat offences the goalkeeper is cautioned.

    confidence 0.93Law 14 — The Penalty Kick (Laws of the Game 2026/27) · primary

  6. Clarified in 2026/27: if the kicker accidentally kicks the ball with both feet simultaneously, or the ball touches the non-kicking foot or leg immediately after the kick, and the penalty is scored, the kick is retaken.

    confidence 0.91Law changes 2026/27 — changes and clarifications (IFAB) · primaryLaw 14 — The Penalty Kick (Laws of the Game 2026/27) · primary

  7. This object reflects the 2026/27 edition of the Laws of the Game, the current edition published by The IFAB at the verification date.

    confidence 0.98IFAB Laws of the Game — editions index (current edition 2026/27) · primaryLaw 14 — The Penalty Kick (Laws of the Game 2026/27) · primary