A goal is scored when the whole of the ball passes over the goal line, between the goalposts and under the crossbar, provided that no offence has been committed by the team scoring the goal.
If the goalkeeper throws the ball directly into the opponents’ goal, a goal kick is awarded.
If a referee signals a goal before the ball has passed wholly over the goal line, play is restarted with a dropped ball.
The team scoring the greater number of goals is the winner. If both teams score no goals or an equal number of goals, the match is drawn.
When competition rules require a winning team after a drawn match or home-and-away tie, the only permitted procedures to determine the winning team are:
away goals rule
two equal periods of extra time not exceeding 15 minutes each
penalties (penalty shoot-out)
A combination of the above procedures may be used.
Penalties (penalty shoot-out) are taken after the match has ended and unless otherwise stated, the relevant Laws of the Game apply. A player who has been sent off during the match is not permitted to take part; warnings and cautions issued to players and team officials during the match are not carried forward into penalties (penalty shoot-out).
Before penalties (penalty shoot-out) start
Unless there are other considerations (e.g. ground conditions, safety etc.), the referee tosses a coin to decide the goal at which the kicks will be taken, which may only be changed for safety reasons or if the goal or playing surface becomes unusable
The referee tosses a coin again, and the team that wins the toss decides whether to take the first or second kick
With the exception of a substitute for a goalkeeper who is unable to continue, only players who are on the field of play or are temporarily off the field of play (injury, adjusting equipment etc.) at the end of the match are eligible to take kicks
Each team is responsible for selecting from the eligible players the order in which they will take the kicks. The referee is not informed of the order
If at the end of the match and before or during the kicks one team has a greater number of players than its opponents, it must reduce its numbers to the same number as its opponents and the referee must be informed of the name and number of each player excluded. Any excluded player is not eligible to take part in the kicks (except as outlined below)
A goalkeeper who is unable to continue before or during the kicks may be replaced by a player excluded to equalise the number of players or, if their team has not used its maximum permitted number of substitutes, a named substitute, but the replaced goalkeeper takes no further part and may not take a kick
If the goalkeeper has already taken a kick, the replacement may not take a kick until the next round of kicks
During penalties (penalty shoot-out)
Only eligible players and match officials are permitted to remain on the field of play
All eligible players, except the player taking the kick and the two goalkeepers, must remain within the centre circle
The goalkeeper of the kicker must remain on the field of play, outside the penalty area, on the goal line where it meets the penalty area boundary line
An eligible player may change places with the goalkeeper
The kick is completed when the ball stops moving, goes out of play or the referee stops play for any offence; the kicker may not play the ball a second time
The referee keeps a record of the kicks
If the goalkeeper commits an offence and, as a result, the kick is retaken, the goalkeeper is warned for the first offence and cautioned for any subsequent offence(s)
If the kicker is penalised for an offence committed after the referee has signalled for the kick to be taken, that kick is recorded as missed and the kicker is cautioned
If both the goalkeeper and the kicker commit an offence at the same time, the kick is recorded as missed and the kicker is cautioned.
Subject to the conditions explained below, both teams take five kicks
The kicks are taken alternately by the teams
Each kick is taken by a different player, and all eligible players must take a kick before any player can take a second kick
If, before both teams have taken five kicks, one has scored more goals than the other could score, even if it were to complete its five kicks, no more kicks are taken
If, after both teams have taken five kicks, the scores are level, kicks continue until one team has scored a goal more than the other from the same number of kicks
The above principle continues for any subsequent sequence of kicks but a team may change the order of kickers
Penalties (penalty shoot-out) must not be delayed for a player who leaves the field of play. The player’s kick will be forfeited (not scored) if the player does not return in time to take a kick
Substitutions and sendings-off during penalties (penalty shoot-out)
A player, substitute, substituted player or team official may be cautioned or sent off
A goalkeeper who is sent off must be replaced by an eligible player
A player other than the goalkeeper who is unable to continue may not be replaced
The referee must not abandon the match if a team is reduced to fewer than seven players
The replaced goalkeeper takes no further part and may not take a kick. If the goalkeeper has already taken a kick, the replacement may not take a kick until the next round of kicks.
The player can leave penalties (penalty shoot-out) but may not be replaced. The opposing team must remove one player (to equalise the numbers) and inform the referee.
Yes, the injured player may be excluded. Team B must then exclude one player and inform the referee of the name/number of this excluded player.
The kick is recorded as missed and the kicker is cautioned (yellow card, YC). When (rarely) the goalkeeper and the kicker offend at exactly the same time, the kicker should be penalised, as it is the ‘illegal’ feinting that has caused the goalkeeper’s encroachment.
As most goalkeeper encroachment results from mis-anticipating when the ball will be kicked, the goalkeeper is warned for a first offence but must be cautioned (yellow card, YC) for any further offence(s) at the retaken kick and/or any subsequent kick.
Warnings and cautions (YCs) issued during the match (including during extra time) are not carried forward into penalties (penalty shoot-out). A player who receives a YC during both the match and penalties (penalty shoot-out) is not sent off. The two separate cautions are reported to the appropriate authorities.
The player is sent off and the opposing team must withdraw one player as well. The referee must be informed which player is being withdrawn.
Yes, the goalkeeper may be replaced by:
a substitute if the competition rules allow an additional substitute in extra time
a player excluded to equalise the number of players
a team-mate who is on the field.
No. If the goalkeeper throws the ball directly into the opponents’ goal, a goal kick is awarded.
No. The order of the kickers is the tactical responsibility of the teams. The referee’s responsibility is to make sure that no player takes a second kick before every other team member has taken their first kick.
It is only allowed if a goalkeeper is unable to continue e.g. injured, ill and the team has not used the maximum number of substitutes.
Team A must reduce its numbers to the same number as its opponents and the referee must be informed of the name and number of each player excluded. Any such excluded player is not eligible to take part in penalties (penalty shoot-out), except as outlined in the Laws of the Game.
The referee may take disciplinary action against team officials who fail to act in a responsible manner during penalties (penalty shoot-out). The coach will be cautioned (yellow card) or sent off (red card) depending on the exact circumstances.
Warnings and cautions (YCs) issued during the match (including during extra time) are not carried forward into penalties (penalty shoot-out). A team official who receives a YC during both the match and then during penalties (penalty shoot-out) is not sent off. The two separate cautions are reported to the appropriate authorities.
The coach is sent off (red card) and must leave the field of play and its immediate surrounds, including the technical area.
