Where do I stand at penalty kicks and penalty shoot-outs?

Q: Where do I stand at penalty kicks and penalty shoot-outs?

From the practical guidelines (2026/27): Penalty kick: position yourself at the intersection of the goal line and the penalty area. Where the goal line can be checked for goalkeeper encroachment and goal/no goal through technology (for example goal line technology or the VAR system), it is recommended that you stand on the touchline in line with the penalty mark (which is the offside line), because being on the goal line risks not getting back to judge offside if the kick rebounds. Where there are additional assistant referees (AARs), the AAR stands at the intersection of the goal line and the goal area and you stand in line with the penalty mark. Your job at a penalty kick (Law 6): indicate whether the goalkeeper moves off the goal line before the ball is kicked and whether the ball crosses the line. If the goalkeeper blatantly moves off the line before the kick and prevents a goal, indicate the encroachment according to the referee's pre-match instructions. If AARs are appointed, the assistant referee stands in line with the penalty mark. Penalty shoot-out: one assistant referee stands at the intersection of the goal line and the goal area. The other is in the centre circle to control the players. If AARs are appointed, they stand at each intersection of the goal line and the goal area, except where goal line technology is in use and only one AAR is required. Source: IFAB Laws of the Game 2026/27, Law 6 and Practical guidelines for match officials (https://www.theifab.com/laws-of-the-game-documents/).

Question

Accepted Answer

From the practical guidelines (2026/27):

Penalty kick: position yourself at the intersection of the goal line and the penalty area. Where the goal line can be checked for goalkeeper encroachment and goal/no goal through technology (for example goal line technology or the VAR system), it is recommended that you stand on the touchline in line with the penalty mark (which is the offside line), because being on the goal line risks not getting back to judge offside if the kick rebounds. Where there are additional assistant referees (AARs), the AAR stands at the intersection of the goal line and the goal area and you stand in line with the penalty mark.
Your job at a penalty kick (Law 6): indicate whether the goalkeeper moves off the goal line before the ball is kicked and whether the ball crosses the line. If the goalkeeper blatantly moves off the line before the kick and prevents a goal, indicate the encroachment according to the referee's pre-match instructions. If AARs are appointed, the assistant referee stands in line with the penalty mark.
Penalty shoot-out: one assistant referee stands at the intersection of the goal line and the goal area. The other is in the centre circle to control the players. If AARs are appointed, they stand at each intersection of the goal line and the goal area, except where goal line technology is in use and only one AAR is required.

Source: IFAB Laws of the Game 2026/27, Law 6 and Practical guidelines for match officials (https://www.theifab.com/laws-of-the-game-documents/).