penalty kick

penalty kick
Name	Penalty kick
Sport	Association football
Introduced	1891
Governing body	Fédération Internationale de Football Association
Typical outcome	Goal, Save, Miss, Rebound

penalty kick is a method of restarting play in association football awarded after a foul by a defending player inside the defending team's penalty area. It provides a single attacker with a free shot from the penalty mark against the goalkeeper, often deciding match outcomes in league, cup, and international competitions. The kick has evolved through rule changes, tactical adaptations, and high-profile incidents involving clubs, national teams, referees, and governing bodies.

History

The penalty kick was introduced following campaigns by William McCrum and debates within the Irish Football Association and The Football Association in the late 19th century. Early rule adoption by national associations such as the Scottish Football Association and the English Football League followed, and the provision was codified by the International Football Association Board and later administered globally by Fédération Internationale de Football Association. The kick's role expanded through tournaments organised by The Football Association Challenge Cup, FIFA World Cup, and continental competitions like the UEFA Champions League. Technological and procedural reforms emerged after disputes in fixtures involving clubs such as Real Madrid, Manchester United, and national teams like Brazil national football team and Germany national football team.

Laws and rules

Rules governing the kick are specified by the International Football Association Board and enforced by match officials appointed by organisations including Fédération Internationale de Football Association, UEFA, CONMEBOL, and domestic bodies like the English Football Association. Laws address fouls that trigger the award, the location at the penalty mark, the placement of the goalkeeper on the goal line, and encroachment by other players from the penalty area and arc. Match officials such as the referee and assistant referees, and in modern use the Video Assistant Referee team, adjudicate compliance. Disciplinary procedures under Laws of the Game prescribe yellow or red cards for misconduct associated with the incident.

Procedure and placement

Execution follows a standardised sequence: the ball is placed on the penalty mark inside the penalty area, the referee signals when the kick may be taken, and attacking and defending players must remain outside the area and beyond the penalty arc until the ball is kicked. The goalkeeper must remain on the goal line between the goalposts until the ball is kicked; breaches may be penalised with a retake or disciplinary action. Competitions supervised by FIFA and confederations such as UEFA and CONMEBOL impose additional procedural directives for shootouts, stadium operations, and referee protocols. Location specifics include the 12-yard penalty mark used in tournaments like the FIFA World Cup and domestic leagues such as the Premier League.

Strategy and tactics

Penalty-taking technique has been studied by coaches and sports scientists at institutions including Loughborough University and clubs like FC Barcelona and Bayern Munich. Tactics include shot placement, power, stutter steps, and psychological ploys influenced by practitioners such as Johan Cruyff, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Lionel Messi during their careers at clubs like Ajax, Real Madrid, and Paris Saint-Germain. Goalkeepers employ strategies such as pre-match research, video analysis from analysts at Juventus or Manchester City, and behavioral cues observed in matches involving Argentina national football team and Italy national football team. Coaches at national teams during FIFA World Cup and continental championships organise practice drills and penalty order decisions influenced by managers like Pep Guardiola, José Mourinho, and Jürgen Klopp.

Notable records and statistics

Records tracked by organisations like FIFA and UEFA include most penalties scored in international tournaments, success rates for club and national team players, and longest scoring streaks. Players such as Alan Shearer, Francesco Totti, Sergio Ramos, and Harry Kane feature in lists maintained by national associations and media outlets covering UEFA Champions League and domestic competitions like La Liga and the Premier League. Goalkeepers with notable penalty records include Gianluigi Buffon and Manuel Neuer as documented in tournament statistics for UEFA European Championship and FIFA World Cup qualifiers. Shootout outcomes in finals of events like the UEFA European Championship final and Copa América final are often cited in comparative statistics compiled by confederations such as CONMEBOL.

Controversies and notable incidents

High-profile controversies have involved refereeing decisions, interpretation of laws, and VAR interventions in matches featuring clubs and nations such as Real Madrid, Manchester United, Argentina national football team, and England national football team. Notable incidents include disputed awards in FIFA World Cup fixtures, penalty shootout debates in UEFA Champions League finals, and disciplinary cases reviewed by federations like The Football Association and CONMEBOL. Legal and ethical disputes have arisen involving players and officials in tournaments overseen by FIFA and confederations, prompting reforms and policy changes by bodies like the International Football Association Board.

Category:Association football set pieces