When a penalty kick is awarded
A penalty kick is given for a direct-free-kick offence committed by a player inside their own penalty area, or off the field as part of play as covered by the Laws.
Penalty kick
Penalty Kick Explained
What a penalty kick is, when it is awarded, and how it differs from a penalty shoot-out.
Penalty kick vs penalty shoot-out
A penalty kick can happen during a match. A penalty shoot-out is a tie-breaker after the match when a competition requires a winner.
Visual path
Penalty decision path
Direct-free-kick offence
Inside penalty area
Penalty kick
Play continues
Not a shoot-out
Based on FIFA tournament information for World Cup pages and the IFAB Laws of the Game for rules pages. Football Buddy keeps explanations short for casual fans.
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FAQ
Common beginner questions
Is every handball in the box a penalty?
No. It must be a handball offence under the Laws, not simply any contact with the hand or arm.
Is a penalty kick the same as a shoot-out kick?
No. A penalty kick happens during play. Shoot-out kicks are a tie-breaker after the match.