Where do I stand at penalty kicks and a penalty shoot-out?
Rule- South Africa
- SAFA
- IFAB Laws of the Game
- Assistant referees
- Senior
- 2026/27
- Match officials
Penalty kick during the match
- Stand at the intersection of the goal line and the penalty area (no additional assistant referees).
- You indicate whether the goalkeeper moves off the goal line before the ball is kicked, and whether the ball crosses the line (Law 6).
- If the goalkeeper blatantly moves off the line before the kick and prevents a goal, indicate the encroachment as the referee instructed you in the pre-match briefing.
Where goal-line technology or VAR can check the goal line, IFAB recommends the AR stands on the touchline in line with the penalty mark (the offside line), but most SAFA amateur matches have neither.
Penalty shoot-out
- One AR stands at the intersection of the goal line and the goal area.
- The other AR stands in the centre circle to control the players.
Added 22 Oct 2026