IFAB Laws of the Game · Law 10

Law 10: Determining the Outcome of a Match

Goal scored, winning team, and the kicks-from-the-penalty-mark procedure including equal-numbers reduction.

When is a goal scored?

A goal is scored when the whole of the ball passes over the goal line, between the posts and under the crossbar, provided no offence has been committed by the scoring team beforehand.

If the goalkeeper throws the ball directly into the opponents' goal, a goal kick is awarded. If the referee signals a goal before the ball has wholly crossed the line and play has restarted, the decision cannot be reversed.

Deciding a drawn match

The competition rules decide what happens if a match is drawn: away goals, extra time, or kicks from the penalty mark. Extra time is two equal periods of no more than 15 minutes, and goals scored in it count exactly the same as any other.

Kicks from the penalty mark

Kicks are taken at one goal chosen by the referee, unless the goal is unusable or conditions make it unsuitable. A coin toss decides which team kicks first.

Both teams must finish with an equal number of eligible players. A team with more players must reduce to match, and any player may swap with the goalkeeper. Only eligible players and match officials may remain on the field.

Each kick is taken by a different player, and every eligible player must kick before anyone may kick a second time. Kicks stop as soon as one team has scored more than the other could reach with its remaining kicks.

Written against the published IFAB Laws of the Game. For the official text, see IFAB's own Laws documents.

Law 10 at a glance

Kicks from the penalty mark

Both teams take five kicks alternately unless a result is decided sooner. Teams must be reduced to equal numbers before kicks start, and only eligible players at the end of play may take part.

Law 10 practice questions

3 questions on Determining the Outcome of a Match, each with the correct answer and an explanation of the reasoning. These are drawn from the free question bank.

Question 1 Law 10 intro

When is a goal scored?

A When the whole of the ball passes over the goal line, between the posts and under the crossbar, provided no offence was committed by the scoring team Correct answer

B When any part of the ball crosses the goal line between the posts and under the crossbar

C When the whole of the ball passes over the goal line, regardless of any offence

D When the referee blows the whistle to signal the goal

Why Law 10: a goal is scored when the whole of the ball passes over the goal line between the posts and under the crossbar, provided no offence has been committed by the team scoring the goal.

Question 2 Law 10 advanced

At the end of extra time one team has 11 players and the other has 9. Kicks from the penalty mark are to be taken. What must happen first?

A The team with 11 players must reduce to 9 and tell the referee which players are excluded Correct answer

B Both teams take kicks with the numbers they have

C The team with 9 players may bring on two substitutes

D The team with 11 players takes two extra kicks in the first round

Why Law 10.3: unless there are other provisions, both teams must have the same number of players before kicks start, so the larger team reduces to match and the referee is informed of the name and number of each excluded player.

Question 3 Law 10 standard

Who is eligible to take kicks from the penalty mark?

A Only players on the field of play at the end of the match, including any period of extra time Correct answer

B Any player named on the team sheet, including unused substitutes

C Only the eleven players who started the match

D Any player who has not already been substituted

Why Law 10.3: only players on the field of play — or temporarily off it for injury or equipment — at the end of the match, including extra time where played, are eligible to take kicks.

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