Harry Kane stepped up to take a penalty for England against Croatia in the 2026 World Cup, saw his first effort saved by goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic, and then scored from the retake after the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) intervened. The incident left many viewers confused: why was Kane allowed a second chance? The answer lies in football's laws about penalty encroachment, and how VAR enforces them.
When a penalty is taken, the goalkeeper must have at least one foot on or above the goalline when the ball is struck. If the keeper moves off the line too early and saves the kick, the referee can order a retake. In this case, Livakovic had stepped forward before Kane struck the ball. At the same time, a defending player can also cause a retake by entering the penalty area before the kick is taken — but only if they then affect play. Croatia's Josko Gvardiol ran into the box early and then cleared the rebound, preventing England's Noni Madueke from shooting. According to the laws, if a defending player encroaches and impacts the play after a missed penalty, the kick must be retaken. Referee Clement Turpin paused the match, consulted with VAR, and correctly ordered the retake.
“Why Harry Kane's retaken penalty was correct under football's VAR and encroachment laws.”
The law on encroachment is not new, but VAR has made it much easier to enforce. Before VAR, many such infractions went unnoticed because the game moved on too quickly. Now, with replay technology, referees can check if keepers or defenders have moved too soon. Kane said he deliberately used a stuttered run-up to tempt Livakovic off his line, a tactic he had researched from earlier matches. "I was 80% sure that it was off the line," Kane told BBC Sport. "This is all why I do the research, and in the end it worked out nicely for me." After the first save, Kane changed his technique for the retake and scored low to the other side.
For UK football fans, this rule matters because it directly affects match outcomes and penalties are often decisive. Understanding it helps viewers appreciate why VAR pauses play and why certain penalties are retaken. The incident also highlights the fine margins goalkeepers and defenders must manage: even a fraction of a second early can cost their team.
Q: When can a penalty be retaken for goalkeeper encroachment? A: If the goalkeeper moves off the goalline before the ball is kicked and then saves the penalty, the referee can order a retake. One foot must be on or above the line at the moment the kick is taken.
Q: What if a defender encroaches into the penalty area? A: If a defending player enters the penalty area or the D-line before the kick and then affects play — for example, by clearing the ball after a save — the penalty must be retaken. Mere encroachment without impact does not automatically trigger a retake.
Q: How does VAR affect penalty retake decisions? A: The Video Assistant Referee reviews footage to check for encroachment by goalkeepers or defenders. If an infraction is spotted that the on-field referee missed, VAR can recommend a retake. This adds accuracy but can cause short delays.
What happens next? The incident has already become a talking point for the remainder of the World Cup. Kane's penalty tactic may lead goalkeepers to stay tighter to their line, and defenders to be more disciplined about not entering the box early. Future VAR reviews of penalties will likely scrutinise encroachment even more closely, making this an ongoing factor in tournament matches.