Penalty kick rules explained: the spot, the keeper and retakes

A penalty is the biggest one-on-one in football: striker versus goalkeeper from twelve yards. Here are the rules that govern it.

When a penalty is awarded

A penalty kick is given when a player commits a direct-free-kick offence — a foul or deliberate handball — inside their own penalty area. It doesn't matter where the ball is; what matters is where the offence happened.

The set-up

• The ball is placed on the penalty spot, twelve yards (about 11m) from goal.
• Only the kicker and the goalkeeper may be inside the area.
• Every other player must stand outside the box, behind the ball, and at least 9.15m away — which is what the penalty arc marks.

The goalkeeper's rule

When the ball is kicked, the goalkeeper must have at least part of one foot on, or in line with, the goal line. They can move along the line but cannot come off it early before the ball is struck. The keeper isn't allowed to stand behind the line either.

The kicker's rules

The taker must kick the ball forward and may not touch it again until another player has. A feint in the run-up is allowed — that's the classic stutter step — but feinting after completing the run-up, once at the ball, is illegal and punished.

Retakes and encroachment

If players rush in too early ("encroachment"), the result depends on who and what happened:

• Attacker encroaches and a goal is scored → retake.
• Defender encroaches and the kick is missed or saved → retake.
• Goalkeeper breaks the line and the kick is missed → retake (unless the offence had no impact).

Why it's so hard to defend

A well-struck penalty is converted far more often than not, which flips the usual pressure: the keeper is the underdog and the taker is expected to score. That's exactly why a miss is remembered — and why shootouts are so brutal.

Follow penalties and the drama they bring in our live match centre, and read how shootouts work.