When your team is awarded a penalty by the referee, you have the perfect opportunity to have a shot on goal from twelve yards without interference from the opposing team.
The vast majority of penalties result in direct shots at goal that usually fly into the net or are saved by the goalkeeper.
But can you pass a penalty kick in soccer? Let’s find out.
Are you allowed to pass a penalty kick in soccer?
Yes, you’re allowed to pass a penalty kick in soccer. The person taking the penalty must pass the ball forwards (towards the goal), and the ball then must be touched by another player. For instance, you could approach the ball, roll it forward, and your teammate could run up and shoot past the goalkeeper. But it’s a risky approach because the opposition can also touch the ball once it is live in the box!
Why would you pass a penalty?
There’s very little reason why you should pass a penalty kick in soccer. When you’re fouled in the opponent’s box, you’re given a free shot from twelve yards out. More often than not, it results in a goal for your team.
Of course, you might hit the shot wide or over, or the keeper might save it. But generally, you have a good chance of scoring! According to InStat, penalty kicks have a 75% success rate in male soccer.
The only reason why you would pass a penalty is to try and trick the opposition and to try something new. If the goalkeeper and the defenders aren’t expecting it, there’s no reason why it can’t work out.
You just need to remember that as soon as you touch the ball, the goalkeeper can rush out, and the defenders can chase the ball down. If it goes wrong, you will be left extremely embarrassed, and you won’t get another chance to take the penalty! In other words, passing a penalty is probably not worth the hassle.
What does the law say about passing penalty kicks?
The rules associated with taking a penalty kick are stipulated in Law 14 of the Football Association’s handbook.
Interestingly, the law states that a goal ‘may’ (not should or must) be scored directly from a penalty kick. The law then goes on to say that ‘the player taking the penalty kick must kick the ball forward.’
Essentially, the ball is in play as soon as the taker moves the ball forward from the penalty spot. Thereafter, players from both teams are allowed to move into the box and resume play.
The law also stipulates that ‘the kicker must not play the ball again until it has touched another player.’
Therefore, the ruling on penalty kicks on soccer is clear: providing you kick the ball forward and don’t kick it again until another player has touched the ball, you can pass a penalty kick.
So, if you’re awarded a penalty in your next game, feel free to plan to pass it to a teammate instead of having a free strike at goal!
Has anyone passed a PK in pro soccer?
There have been multiple occasions in pro soccer when players have tried something clever instead of taking a shot at the goal from the penalty spot.
One of the most memorable examples occurred at Highbury Stadium in a match between Arsenal and Manchester City in 2005.
Robert Pires stepped up to take the penalty, and instead of shooting, he tried to roll it to fellow Frenchman Thierry Henry.
But the pair fluffed their lines, and instead of rolling it into the back of the net, the Manchester City defenders intervened and cleared the ball. This is a great example of what can go wrong when you try to be too clever with a penalty kick!
Another incident occurred in 2016 when Barcelona were playing Celta Vigo. Lionel Messi stepped up to take the penalty kick awarded to his team, and instead of shooting, he rolled the ball to one side.
Luis Suarez rushed into the box and scored past the goalkeeper, resulting in a goal to Barcelona. While there was nothing illegal about the penalty, Suarez was shown to have encroached into the box before Messi hit the ball, so it should have been disallowed.
Still, the pair showcased how it’s perfectly legal to pass a penalty kick in soccer.
The verdict: Should you pass a penalty kick in soccer?
As we have explored, there’s nothing illegal about passing a penalty kick in soccer. As long as the ball is played forward, you can pass it to your teammate, who can run on and score past the goalkeeper.
But should you do it?
We would advise against it! 75% of penalties are scored, which are pretty good odds. It’s much better to focus your attention and pick your spot before drilling your penalty home.
Passing a penalty can cause more hassle than it’s worth, so we wouldn’t recommend trying it in a match.
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