A penalty kick is a method of restarting play in association football, in which a player is allowed to take a single shot on the goal while it is defended only by the opposing team’s goalkeeper. It is awarded when a foul punishable by a direct free kick is committed by a player in their own penalty area.
Penalty kicks are also known as penalties or PKs, and provide some of the most exciting and dramatic moments in soccer. The teams are tied with minutes to go in the game. The attacking team surges into the opposition penalty box, and one of their players is brought to the ground. The crowd roars, demanding a penalty. The referee blows his whistle and points to the spot. The crowd goes crazy!
