Penalties, keepers, and retakes.

How the call is made

1. Confirm the ball is on the penalty mark and the taker is clearly identified.
2. Check that other players stay outside the penalty area, outside the penalty arc, and behind the ball until it is kicked.
3. Watch whether the goalkeeper stays on the line, facing the kicker, without unfairly moving forward before the kick.
4. After the kick, decide whether any offence affected the outcome or led to a rebound advantage.
5. If the taker touches the ball again before another player touches it, punish the double touch.

Details fans miss most

• Encroachment depends on impact: an early step into the area matters most when it affects the result or a rebound.
• Goalkeepers have limits: they can move on the line, but must not gain an illegal advantage by leaving it too soon.
• Rebounds are live in normal play: unless an offence or double touch changes the restart.
• Feinting has a line: feinting during the run-up is allowed, but unfair feinting after the run-up is completed can be punished.

The ball and every player have defined positions

Part of the stationary ball must touch or overhang the centre of the penalty mark, and the goal frame and net must not be moving. The kicker is clearly identified. Until the kick, every other player except the defending goalkeeper must be inside the field, outside the penalty area and arc, behind the mark, and at least 9.15 metres away. The goalkeeper faces the kicker between the posts and may move along the line, but cannot unfairly distract the kicker by delaying or interfering with the goal frame.

One foot must retain a relationship with the line

At the moment the ball is kicked, the goalkeeper must have at least part of one foot touching, in line with, or behind the goal line. Stepping forward early is not punished when the kick enters the goal. If the ball is saved, a retake follows when the goalkeeper's offence prevented it entering; a miss or post generally requires a retake only when the early movement clearly affected the kicker. The goalkeeper is warned for the first offence that causes a retake in the match and cautioned for a subsequent one.

Entering early matters when it changes the play

An attacking teammate is penalised for encroachment when it clearly affects the goalkeeper or when that player becomes involved in a rebound and scores, attempts to score, or creates a chance. A defending teammate is penalised when the early entry clearly affects the kicker or the player then prevents the attackers scoring or creating a chance. This impact test avoids retaking every kick for a marginal step that changes nothing. The outcome still depends on which team offended, whether the kick scored, and whether a more serious offence occurred.

A slip is now separated from a deliberate second play

Under the 2026/27 text, if the kicker accidentally strikes the ball with both feet together or the ball immediately touches the non-kicking foot or leg, a goal from the kick leads to a retake; if it does not enter, the defending team receives an indirect free kick. A deliberate second touch before another player touches the ball remains an indirect-free-kick offence, or a direct free kick for punishable handball. A rebound from the goalkeeper permits the kicker to play again because another player touched it, but a rebound only from a post or crossbar does not.

"He was in the box early"

That does not automatically mean retake. Referees look at who encroached, whether the penalty was scored or missed, and whether the early player became involved in the next play.

Source material

• IFAB Law 14: The Penalty Kick
• IFAB Law 12: Fouls and Misconduct
• IFAB Laws of the Game
• FIFA Refereeing