Penalty feints: the run-up and completed run-up differ
Understand which deception IFAB allows and which brings a caution.
A pause is not one universal offence
IFAB Law 14 permits feinting during the run-up. It separately prohibits feinting to kick once the run-up has been completed. The point in the sequence matters; a slow or unusual approach is not enough by itself to establish the offence.
For a hypothetical taker changing pace while approaching, first identify whether the feint occurred during the run-up or after it ended. A short highlight can omit the detail needed to decide.
The prohibited feint has consequences
For the prohibited completed-run-up feint, the retrieved Law prescribes an indirect free kick and a caution to the kicker, regardless of whether the ball enters the goal. A ball in the net is therefore not conclusive proof of a valid penalty goal.
The kick must also go forward. A backheel is permitted if the ball moves forward, so the movement of the ball matters more than the name of the technique.
Separate technique from the final ruling
The penalty taker must be identified, and the referee signals for the kick after the players take the required positions. An unusual routine does not remove those steps.
Use the confirmed decision on ScoreZaap rather than adding a goal from an apparent finish during a review. This guide covers run-up feinting, not every encroachment, goalkeeper offence or accidental double-contact case. Each needs its own facts and governing provision.