what does penalty declined mean in football

In football (soccer), when a team is awarded a penalty kick, the goalkeeper of the defending team must defend their goal against an attacking player attempting to score from 12 yards (10.97 meters) away, with only the goalkeeper present to stop the shot. However, there are situations when the defending team may choose to decline the penalty. Here’s what "penalty declined" means in detail:

Definition of Penalty Declined

1. Context: The concept of "penalty declined" is not commonly used in soccer terminology. Instead, the team’s choice to decline a penalty typically applies more to American football. In soccer, once a penalty is awarded, it usually must be taken unless any serious issues arise (e.g., an infraction about substitutions or an injury).

2. Why It Might Happen:

   • Major Foul: If the foul committed that led to the penalty is considered a serious foul, the referee might stop the game and issue a red card to the offending player. In this instance, the attacking team might have the choice to take the penalty or have the match continue with a different course of action if the referee decides on a different disciplinary method.
   • Advantage Rule: If, while play is continuing, the attacking team gains a clear advantage (such as a good positional opportunity to score) after the foul that led to a penalty kick, the referee might let the game continue instead of stopping for the penalty. This is known as playing the advantage.
3. Gameplay Mechanics: If a penalty kick is awarded and the team chooses to use the advantage, the original penalty kick is not taken; however, this is more about allowing the match to flow rather than explicitly "declining" the penalty itself.

Conclusion

In summary, the phrase "penalty declined" is not standard in football; penalties cannot ordinarily be turned down. However, it can refer to scenarios where the referee allows play to continue under specific conditions. The term is more relevant to sports like American football, where teams can decline penalties and choose to maintain a certain yardage or play option.