GUIDES · BETSLIP DOCTOR
Does every player encroaching at a penalty force a retake?
No. Law 14 uses different impact tests for the penalty taker's teammates and the goalkeeper's teammates. For an attacking teammate, the referee considers whether the player clearly affected the goalkeeper or later played the ball and scored, attempted to score, or created a goal-scoring opportunity. For a defending teammate, the tests focus on clearly affecting the kicker or preventing an opponent from scoring, attempting to score, or creating a goal-scoring opportunity. The referee applies those tests to the events after the kick; simply being early is not enough to predict a retake.
For Soccer fans interpreting penalty retakes, saves, and rebounds. · Updated
The test depends on which team encroached
Law 14 first requires most players to stay outside the penalty area, behind the penalty mark, and at least 9.15 metres (10 yards) from the mark until the kick is taken. The position rule identifies an infringement, but the sanction for a teammate's encroachment also depends on its effect.
For a teammate of the kicker, the referee penalizes encroachment when it clearly impacts the goalkeeper, or when that player plays the ball or challenges an opponent and then scores, attempts to score, or creates a goal-scoring opportunity. Proximity alone does not establish either condition. A defender's teammate is judged under a separate test: clear impact on the kicker, or play/challenge that prevents an opponent from scoring, attempting to score, or creating a goal-scoring opportunity.
These are referee judgments about impact and what happened after the kick. Do not apply the attacking-team test to a defending player, or treat every early step as an automatic retake. Other penalty-kick offences can affect the restart too, so this guide isolates teammate encroachment rather than predicting every possible ruling.
The ball's outcome still matters
On a direct goal, the kicker's teammate is penalized only if the encroachment clearly impacted the goalkeeper; in that case, the penalty is retaken. If there was no clear impact on the goalkeeper, the goal is awarded. A goalkeeper teammate's encroachment does not cancel a direct goal. When the ball does not enter, the referee applies the relevant impact or later-involvement test. A qualifying attacking-team offence generally leads to an indirect free kick for the defending team; a qualifying defending-team offence generally leads to a retake. If players of both teams commit a penalized offence, the kick is retaken unless a more serious offence occurred.
A rebound is not automatically a retake either. If an attacking teammate enters early, the goalkeeper saves the kick, and that teammate then plays the rebound to score, attempt to score, or create a goal-scoring opportunity, the attacking-team test can be met and the defending team receives an indirect free kick. The exact restart depends on the full sequence and the referee's decision.
- Attacking teammate: clear impact on the goalkeeper, or qualifying later play/challenge and scoring involvement.
- Defending teammate: clear impact on the kicker, or qualifying play/challenge that prevents an opponent's scoring involvement.
- Do not infer a retake from the position alone; check the ball's outcome and the applicable test.
Two fictional rebound situations
In a fictional match, an attacking teammate steps into the area early while a penalty is taken. The player neither affects the goalkeeper nor plays a rebound, and the kick misses. That early position alone does not establish a retake under the attacking-teammate test. In a second fictional play, the keeper saves the kick and the same early-entering teammate plays the rebound to create a clear goal-scoring opportunity. The referee may apply the attacking-team test and award an indirect free kick to the defending team. These examples illustrate the rule; only the referee can assess impact and involvement in an actual incident.
Related questions
Does an early run by an attacking teammate always cancel a penalty goal?
Not always. The goal stands if the kicker's teammate did not clearly impact the goalkeeper. If that encroachment clearly did impact the goalkeeper, the penalty is retaken. A goalkeeper teammate's encroachment does not cancel the goal. If the ball does not enter, the applicable impact and later-involvement tests matter.
What if the goalkeeper saves the kick and an early-entering attacker plays the rebound?
The referee considers whether that player scores, attempts to score, or creates a goal-scoring opportunity. If the Law 14 test is met, the defending team receives an indirect free kick rather than an automatic retake.
Are goalkeeper teammates judged by the same test?
No. Their test concerns clear impact on the kicker or play/challenge that prevents an opponent from scoring, attempting to score, or creating a goal-scoring opportunity.