What Is a Penalty Kick in Football? Rules Explained

Penalty kicks are some of the most recognizable moments in football. They give a team a direct opportunity to score from the penalty mark and can have a major impact on a match.

Understanding when penalties are awarded and how they work makes matches much easier to follow.

What Is a Penalty Kick?

A penalty kick is awarded when a player commits a direct free-kick offense inside their own penalty area while the ball is in play.

The attacking team then receives a kick from the penalty mark.

The goalkeeper must remain on the goal line between the goalposts until the ball is kicked, subject to the applicable laws and any competition-specific procedures.

Where Is the Penalty Taken?

The penalty kick is taken from the penalty mark, which is located inside the penalty area.

The goal is directly in front of the penalty mark, giving the kicker a clear opportunity to score.

Other players must remain in the positions required by the Laws of the Game until the kick is taken.

Who Takes the Penalty?

The attacking team chooses which eligible player takes the penalty.

It is often taken by a player who regularly practices penalties, but there is no general rule requiring a particular position or player to take it.

The referee confirms that the kick is ready before play resumes.

What Does the Goalkeeper Do?

The goalkeeper defending the penalty must remain on the goal line between the goalposts until the ball is kicked.

The goalkeeper can move along the goal line and attempt to save the shot.

Because the distance is relatively short, penalty kicks can be difficult for goalkeepers to stop.

Can a Penalty Kick Be Passed?

Yes.

The kicker does not necessarily have to shoot directly at goal.

A penalty can be passed to a teammate, provided the kick follows the Laws of the Game. The ball must be kicked forward, and the kicker cannot touch it again until another player has touched it.

This technique is uncommon and requires careful coordination.

What Happens If the Penalty Is Missed?

If the ball does not enter the goal, play can continue depending on what happens next.

For example, the ball may go wide, be saved by the goalkeeper, or come back into play after hitting the goal frame.

The attacking team may be able to continue the attack if the ball remains in play.

What Is a Penalty Shootout?

A penalty shootout is different from an ordinary penalty kick during a match.

Shootouts are used in certain knockout competitions when a winner is required after the match remains level through the permitted playing time and extra time.

Players from both teams take kicks according to the competition's procedures until one team has more successful kicks than the other can match.

Penalty Kicks vs. Free Kicks

A penalty kick and a free kick are not the same.

A free kick is normally taken from the location where the relevant offense occurred, subject to the laws governing the restart.

A penalty kick is taken from the penalty mark after a qualifying direct free-kick offense occurs inside the defending team's penalty area.

Why Are Penalties So Important?

A penalty provides a significant scoring opportunity because the kicker faces the goal directly with only the goalkeeper defending it.

As a result, penalty decisions can be important moments in matches and are often carefully reviewed when video technology is available.

Final Thoughts

A penalty kick gives an attacking team a direct scoring opportunity after a qualifying offense inside the defending team's penalty area.

The basic process is simple: the ball is placed on the penalty mark, the goalkeeper prepares on the goal line, and an eligible player takes the kick.

The exact circumstances surrounding a penalty can be more complicated, which is why referees must carefully apply the Laws of the Game.