Penalty kicks

The same offences that lead to a direct free kick anywhere else on the pitch lead to a penalty when committed by a defender inside their own penalty area. That includes most physical fouls, handball, and offences such as pushing or holding.

A penalty is only awarded if the offence happens while the ball is in play. Fouls during a stoppage in play, such as before a corner is taken, are dealt with separately.

The ball is placed on the penalty spot, 11 metres (12 yards) from goal. The kicker must be clearly identified to the referee and the goalkeeper before the kick is taken.

All other players must be outside the penalty area, behind the penalty mark, and at least 9.15 metres (10 yards) from the penalty spot until the kick is taken. They cannot enter the penalty area until the ball is in play.

The goalkeeper must stay on their goal line, between the goalposts, facing the kicker, until the ball is kicked. At least one part of one foot must be touching, in line with, or behind the goal line at the moment of the kick.

The goalkeeper can move sideways along their line, but they cannot stand off the line, move in front of it too early, or distract the kicker in unfair ways. If the goalkeeper offends and prevents a goal, the penalty is retaken. If the kick is scored, the goal stands; if it misses or rebounds from the goal frame, a retake is only ordered if the goalkeeper's offence clearly affected the kicker.

The kicker must clearly play the ball forward. They may vary or feint during the run-up, but must not feint to kick the ball once the run-up has been completed. The kicker cannot touch the ball a second time before another player has touched it.

As soon as the ball is in play, the match is on. If the ball rebounds off a goalpost, crossbar or the goalkeeper, any player can play it — including the original kicker, as long as another player has now touched the ball.

A penalty shoot-out is used when competition rules require a winner after a drawn match or tie. In many knockout competitions this happens after extra time, but some competitions go straight to penalties. Each team can take up to five kicks, alternating between teams, but the shoot-out ends early if one team has an uncatchable lead. If the teams are level after five kicks each, the shoot-out continues one kick per team until one team is ahead after both have taken the same number of kicks.

Goals scored in a shoot-out do not count towards the official match score. The match still ends as a draw — the shoot-out simply decides who progresses or wins the tie.