Where everyone has to be

At a penalty kick, only two players are inside the penalty area:

• The kicker, standing behind the ball at the penalty mark
• The goalkeeper, on the goal line

Every other player — both attackers and defenders — must be:

• Outside the penalty area
• Outside the penalty arc (the half-circle on the edge of the box)
• Behind the ball relative to the goal line
• At least 9.15 metres (10 yards) from the penalty mark

When encroachment happens

Encroachment is when any of those players enters the penalty area or arc before the ball is kicked. The most common form is an attacker drifting in early to follow up a rebound.

The decision matrix

The outcome of the penalty determines the consequence:

| Who encroached | Outcome | Result | |---|---|---| | Attacking team | Goal scored | No retake — indirect free kick to defenders | | Attacking team | Penalty missed/saved | No retake — indirect free kick to defenders | | Defending team | Goal scored | Goal stands | | Defending team | Penalty missed/saved | Retake | | Both teams | Any outcome | Retake | | Goalkeeper only | Penalty missed/saved | Retake (and caution) |

Notice the asymmetry. If the attacking team encroaches, they cannot benefit. If only the defending team encroaches, they cannot benefit either — the kick is retaken if missed.

How advantage applies

The referee uses advantage logic when assessing encroachment. If the encroaching team would gain from their infringement (an attacker following in for a rebound after early entry), the advantage is removed.

If the encroaching team is already at a disadvantage (a defender stepped in but the penalty was scored anyway), play continues — the goal stands.

The goalkeeper rule

The goalkeeper is governed by a separate rule. They must remain on the goal line, between the posts, until the ball is kicked. Moving forward off the line before the ball is struck is encroachment — but is treated under Law 14 specifically for the keeper, not the general team encroachment rules.

A keeper who encroaches on a missed or saved penalty triggers a retake plus a caution. On a scored penalty, the goal stands and no action is taken.

When the kick can be taken

The referee blows the whistle to signal that the penalty can be taken. Until then, the ball is dead. A kicker who strikes the ball before the whistle gives away an indirect free kick to the defending team — even if the kick goes into the goal.

Why both encroachments cause a retake

When both sides encroach, the referee cannot apply advantage cleanly — neither side has a clear claim to whatever happened next. The retake is the only fair outcome.

This is also why goal celebrations after a penalty are sometimes interrupted by the referee — they may have spotted bilateral encroachment and need to confirm with VAR before allowing the goal to stand.