Law 10: Determining the Outcome of a Match Explained
Law 10 defines what constitutes a goal and when a goal is valid. It also covers the procedures for kicks from the penalty mark (penalty shootout) and how a winner is determined when the score is level.
Key Points
- 1A goal is scored when the ball wholly crosses the goal line between the posts and under the crossbar.
- 2No offence by the attacking team must have occurred in the lead-up to the goal.
- 3The team scoring the most goals wins the match.
- 4In kicks from the penalty mark, teams take alternate kicks and the team scoring more kicks wins.
- 5When the ball is kicked, the goalkeeper must have at least part of one foot touching, in line with, or behind the goal line.
- 6If the kicker accidentally kicks the ball with both feet at once and it goes in, the kick is retaken; if it does not go in, it is recorded as missed.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens if a kicker accidentally touches the ball twice in a shootout?
If the kicker accidentally kicks the ball with both feet at the same time, or the ball touches their non-kicking foot or leg immediately after the kick, the outcome decides it. If the ball goes in, the kick is retaken. If it does not, the kick is recorded as missed. This was confirmed for the 2026/27 Laws. A deliberate second touch is a different matter and is not permitted.
What is the procedure for kicks from the penalty mark?
Each team selects a maximum of five kicks initially. Teams alternate kicks. If the score is still level after five kicks each, the shootout proceeds to sudden death where each team takes one kick at a time. A player can take a second kick only after every eligible player on that team has taken one.
Can a goalkeeper move before the ball is kicked in a penalty shootout?
The goalkeeper must have at least one foot on the goal line (or be behind it) at the moment the ball is kicked. They may move laterally along the line. If the goalkeeper encroaches and the penalty is missed, the kick is retaken.
Got a question about Determining the Outcome?
RefereeGPT is trained on the full IFAB Laws of the Game and can answer any question about Law 10. Ask your first question for free.