What is a penalty kick?
A penalty kick is a free shot at goal taken from a spot 11 meters (12 yards) away, with only the goalkeeper to beat. It is awarded for a foul by the defending team inside its own penalty area.
The penalty spot is 11 meters from the goal line. All players except the kicker and the goalkeeper must stay outside the penalty area and at least 9.15 meters from the spot until the ball is kicked. The goalkeeper must stay on the goal line, between the posts, with at least part of one foot touching or level with the line.
Penalties can be awarded for fouls such as tripping, pushing or holding an opponent, or for a deliberate handball by a defender inside the penalty area. They are usually scored around 75 to 80 percent of the time in professional soccer.
Penalty shootouts
When knockout matches are tied after extra time, they are often decided by a penalty shootout. Each team takes five penalties, and if still tied, they continue one by one. World Cup finals in 1994, 2006 and 2022 were decided this way.
Did You Know?
The penalty kick was invented by Irish goalkeeper William McCrum and added to soccer's laws in 1891.