UEFA.com works better on other browsers
For the best possible experience, we recommend using Chrome, Firefox or Microsoft Edge.
Penalties
Clear Line

Penalties

Penalty area incidents cover several common situations: handball, holding, pushing, shirt pulling, tripping, stepping on the foot, simulation, who played the ball first, and actions by goalkeepers. We examine what referees must consider in their decision-making, and where VAR should intervene if required.
Overview Handball Holding / pushing Tripping Stepping on foot Who played the ball? Goalkeepers Simulation Overview Handball Holding / pushing Tripping Stepping on foot Who played the ball? Goalkeepers Simulation

Goalkeepers

Referees must consider whether the goalkeeper touches the ball, and whether they use reckless or excessive force to impact the attacking player's ability to play the ball.

  • VAR should recommend a penalty where the attacker clearly plays the ball first and the goalkeeper makes late contact or where the goalkeeper makes a reckless challenge with significant force or intensity.
  • VAR should recommend cancelling a penalty where any subsequent contact is considered a normal football collision.
  • If it is not clear who played the ball first, VAR should not intervene.

The rationale

Whether diving at an attacker’s feet or coming for a cross in the air, a goalkeeper going for the ball almost inevitably leads to contact. The keeper is entitled to go for the ball, and reaching the ball first will usually be the decisive factor for the referee.

However, no goalkeeper has a license to use any amount of force. Match officials must distinguish a collision that results from a genuine attempt to claim the ball from a challenge considered reckless regardless of who arrived first.

What referees consider when making a decision

  • Who played the ball first: the attacker or the goalkeeper?
  • Was the goalkeeper’s action reckless or using excessive force?
  • What was the attacker’s realistic possibility of continuing to play for the ball?

✅ When VAR should recommend a penalty

VAR reviews the footage and recommends the referee looks again if:

  • the attacker clearly plays the ball first and the goalkeeper makes late contact, with no need for frame-by-frame analysis. (Video 1)
  • after the attacker plays the ball, the goalkeeper makes a reckless challenge with significant force or intensity. (Video 2)
  • the goalkeeper touches the ball but uses significant force, resulting in a clearly reckless challenge or serious foul play. (Video 3)

Video 1 – Goalkeepers: Attacker plays ball first and goalkeeper clearly kicks opponent
Video 2 – Goalkeepers: Goalkeeper did not touch ball and makes clear reckless challenge
Video 3 – Goalkeepers: Goalkeeper touches ball but makes clear reckless challenge

✅ When VAR should recommend cancelling a penalty

The protocol works both ways, meaning the review can also show that a penalty should not stand if:

  • the attacker plays the ball first and any subsequent contact is considered a normal football collision. (Video 4)
  • the goalkeeper touches or deflects the ball first and any subsequent contact is considered a normal football collision. (Video 5)
Video 4 – Goalkeepers: Attacker plays ball first before normal football collision
Video 5 – Goalkeepers: Goalkeeper plays ball first before normal football collision

❌ When VAR should not intervene

  • it is not clear who played the ball first.
  • both players arrive at the ball almost simultaneously, even if one player touches it before the other.

A decision standing after a check is not VAR failing to act. It means VAR has found no clear and obvious error to correct.