WOMEN'S WORLD CUP 2023
In which situations are penalties retaken in soccer?
Depending on whether penalties are scored or not, and who commits an offence, match officials can order a retake.
It’s been quite an incredible start to the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023. In case you hadn’t noticed, but there has been at least one penalty in each of the first eight matches played, the first time that has happened in any major tournament, male or female.
A coincidence, or is it being caused by something specific? It would be easy to put it down to Video Assistant Referees (VARs) and there probably is something in that, although a 2022 study focusing on penalties awarded in Europe’s top five leagues over a five-year-period both pre- and post-VAR suggests there is no clear pattern.
What percentage of penalties are scored?
According to statistics, 85% of penalties at elite level are scored, in sharp contrast to what we have seen in Australia and New Zealand so far. The Football Ferns missed from the spot in the opening game, as have Nigeria, Spain and the USWNT. Penalty goals for Australia, Switzerland, Japan and England have at least brought the success rate up to 50%.
However, the Lionesses’ Georgia Stanway needed two opportunities to score from 12 yards against Haiti after her initial spot-kick was saved by Kerly Théus. Unfortunately for the goalkeeper, referee Emikar Calderas Barrera spotted that she had moved off her line and ordered a retake, from which Stanway scored.
When are penalties retaken?
The International Football Association Board are responsible for determining the laws of soccer and explain that penalties are to be retaken in the following situations:
IFAB rules on retaking penalties
- When the penalty is scored but there has been encroachment by a player on the attacking team
- When the penalty is not scored but there has been encroachment by a player on the defending team
- When there has been encroachment by a players on both teams, regardless of whether the penalty is scored or not
- When an offence is committed by the goalkeeper
The most obvious questions are related to the definition of “encroachment” and which “offences” goalkeepers commit.
What is “encroachment”?
When penalties are taken, all players other than the goalkeeper and the taker are required to remain outside the penalty area and the semi circle on the edge of the penalty area. Any player who has moved into those parts of the field before the kick is taken will be deemed guilty of encroachment.
What offences should goalkeepers not commit?
As for goalkeeper offences, IFAB state that “The defending goalkeeper must remain on the goal line, facing the kicker, between the goalposts, without touching the goalposts, crossbar or goal net, until the ball is kicked. The goalkeeper must not behave in a way that unfairly distracts the kicker, e.g. delay the taking of the kick or touch the goalposts, crossbar or goal net”.
As both of Haiti goalkeeper Théus’ feet were in front of the goal line, Stanway was allowed to retake the penalty for England. Goalkeepers are only required to keep one foot on - or behind - the goal line, with many attempting to spring forward with one leg trailing behind them in an effort to give themselves an advantage.