clarify! IFAB official: The player accidentally touched the ball twice when he was penalized. If the penalty is made, he should be sentenced to a heavy penalty.

IFAB (International Football Federation Council) issued an official announcement, clarifying the rules for second-touch penalty kicks. If the player takes the penalty kick, and the final penalty kick is scored, he should be awarded a heavy penalty.

IFAB official announcement↓

The International Football Federation Council (IFAB) now explains the following situations in Chapter 10 of the "Football Competition Rules" and Chapter 14 "Follow-off Penalty": When the penalty player accidentally touches the ball with both feet at the same time, or immediately touches the non-main kick/leg after the penalty kick is kicked.

This kind of situation is relatively rare. Since Chapter 14 of the Rule does not directly cover the relevant content, the referee usually awards an indirect free kick (if it is a penalty shootout, it is recorded as a missed shot), and this penalty standard is understandable.

But it should be clear that this clause in Chapter 14 of the rule is mainly aimed at the intentional secondary touch of the free thrower before the ball touches other players (for example: when the ball bounces from the post/barrel and does not touch the goalkeeper). This is essentially different from the free throw player's simultaneous touch of the ball or the non-main kick/leg immediately touches the ball due to accidents such as slipping.

However, if an unexpected second touch is not punished at all, it may cause injustice to the goalkeeper due to a change in the ball path.

Therefore, IFAB hereby clarify the handling procedures for the following situations:

The free throw player accidentally touches the ball with both feet at the same time, or the ball touches the non-main kick/leg immediately after the ball is kicked out:

• If the goal is scored: a heavy penalty

• If the goal is not scored: an indirect free kick is awarded (unless the referee masters the principle of favorable and is obviously beneficial to the defense); if it is a penalty, it is a missed shot, it is a missed shot,

The free throw player deliberately touches the ball with both feet at the same time, or deliberately touches the ball twice before the ball touches other players: an indirect free kick is awarded (unless the referee masters the principle of favorable and is obviously beneficial to the defense); if it is a penalty, it is a missed shot.

This description will take effect in events starting on and after July 1, 2025, and events that start before this date can also be implemented in accordance with reference.

There has been a related penalty this season. In the Champions League quarter-finals, Real Madrid eliminated Atletico Madrid in a penalty shootout. In the second round of the penalty shootout, Alvarez scored a penalty, but was awarded a second touch violation and the goal was invalid. Atletico Madrid finally failed in the penalty shootout and was eliminated by Real Madrid.