Football · Laws of the Game
Law 16: The Goal Kick
2 parts · 3 tests · 30 facts · updated 6 September 2026 · markdown
Law 16 governs the goal kick, the restart awarded to the defending team when the whole of the ball passes over the goal line, on the ground or in the air, having last touched an attacker, and a goal is not scored. The ball is placed stationary at any point inside the goal area and is kicked by a player of the defending team, most often but not only the goalkeeper. Since 2019 the ball is in play as soon as it is kicked and clearly moves: it no longer has to leave the penalty area first, so a team-mate may play it while still inside the area. Opponents must remain outside the penalty area until the ball is in play; an opponent who was inside, or entered before the ball was in play, and then touches or challenges for the ball forces a retake. If the kicker plays the ball again before it has touched another player an indirect free kick is awarded to the opponents, a direct free kick if the second touch is a handball offence, and a penalty kick if that handball is inside the kicker's own penalty area, unless the kicker is the goalkeeper, in which case it stays an indirect free kick. A goal may be scored directly from a goal kick, but only against the opposing team; a ball that goes straight into the kicker's own goal gives a corner kick to the opponents. A player cannot be penalised for offside directly from a goal kick. A player who unfairly delays the goal kick is given a five-second countdown, after which a corner kick is awarded to the opponents.
16.161The procedure
How a goal kick is taken, stated as positive rules with the sanctions left to sub-level 16.162. The ball is placed stationary at any point inside the goal area and is kicked by a player of the defending team, most often the goalkeeper but not necessarily. The ball is in play as soon as it is kicked and clearly moves; since 2019 it no longer has to leave the penalty area, so a team-mate may play it while still inside the area. Opponents must remain outside the penalty area until the ball is in play. The referee does not signal for a goal kick and it may be taken quickly. A goal kick is awarded when the whole of the ball passes over the goal line, on the ground or in the air, last touched by an attacker, without a goal being scored; if a defender touched it last outside the goalposts the restart is a corner kick.
Test 1Where, who, and when the ball is in play
The kick is taken from any point inside the goal area by a defending-team player.
Source: IFAB Laws of the Game 2026/27, Law 16 · recall
Any player of the defending side may take the goal kick, not only the goalkeeper.
Source: IFAB Laws of the Game 2026/27, Law 16 · recall
The ball must be still before it is kicked from within the goal area.
Source: IFAB Laws of the Game 2026/27, Law 16 · recall
The ball is in play the moment it is kicked and clearly moves.
Source: IFAB Laws of the Game 2026/27, Law 16 · recall
The 2019 change removed the need for the ball to leave the penalty area at a goal kick.
Source: IFAB Laws of the Game 2026/27, Law 16 · recall
Opponents must stay outside the penalty area until the ball is in play.
Source: IFAB Laws of the Game 2026/27, Law 16 · recall
A team-mate may play the ball while still inside the area; the ball became live when it moved.
Source: IFAB Laws of the Game 2026/27, Law 16 · applied
If the ball does not clearly move it is not in play, so the goal kick is retaken.
Source: IFAB Laws of the Game 2026/27, Law 16 · applied
The goal kick is not reserved for the goalkeeper; a quick one by another defender is fine.
Source: IFAB Laws of the Game 2026/27, Law 16 · applied
No referee signal is needed for a goal kick to be taken.
Source: IFAB Laws of the Game 2026/27, Law 16 · recall
Test 2Quick kicks, opponents, and the award boundary
A goal kick is the restart when the ball leaves over the goal line last touched by an attacker, no goal.
Source: IFAB Laws of the Game 2026/27, Law 16 · recall
Last touched by a defender and over the goal line outside the goal, it is a corner, air or ground.
Source: IFAB Laws of the Game 2026/27, Law 16 · applied
Opponents caught inside only for lack of time, who do not play the ball, do not stop play.
Source: IFAB Laws of the Game 2026/27, Law 16 · applied
A goal kick must be kicked; a goalkeeper may not throw it out to restart.
Source: IFAB Laws of the Game 2026/27, Law 16 · recall
The kick must be taken from within the goal area, not merely from inside the penalty area.
Source: IFAB Laws of the Game 2026/27, Law 16 · recall
An opponent from inside the area who challenges before the ball is in play forces a retake.
Source: IFAB Laws of the Game 2026/27, Law 16 · applied
Once the ball is in play the goal kick is complete and ordinary play resumes.
Source: IFAB Laws of the Game 2026/27, Law 16 · applied
The ball was not yet in play, so it is just placed again inside the goal area.
Source: IFAB Laws of the Game 2026/27, Law 16 · applied
The restart follows the last touch, so a deflection off the attacker gives a goal kick.
Source: IFAB Laws of the Game 2026/27, Law 16 · applied
The ball was live once kicked and moving, so leaving over a touchline is a normal throw-in.
Source: IFAB Laws of the Game 2026/27, Law 16 · applied
16.162Infringements and sanctions
What the referee gives when a goal-kick rule is broken. If the kicker plays the ball a second time before it has touched another player, an indirect free kick is awarded to the opposing team; if that second touch is a handball offence a direct free kick is awarded, and a penalty kick if the handball is inside the kicker's own penalty area, unless the kicker is the goalkeeper, in which case it stays an indirect free kick. A goal may be scored directly from a goal kick but only against the opposing team; a ball that goes straight into the kicker's own goal gives a corner kick to the opponents. A player cannot be penalised for offside directly from a goal kick. An opponent who was inside the penalty area when the kick was taken, or entered before the ball was in play, and then touches or challenges for the ball, forces a retake. A player who unfairly delays the goal kick is given a five-second countdown, after which a corner kick is awarded to the opponents. For any other offence with no specific sanction, the goal kick is retaken.
Test 1Second touches, direct goals, offside and delay
The kicker may not play the ball twice in a row; an indirect free kick goes to the opponents.
Source: IFAB Laws of the Game 2026/27, Law 16 · recall
A handball second touch is a direct-free-kick offence, so the sanction is direct rather than indirect.
Source: IFAB Laws of the Game 2026/27, Law 16 · applied
A direct-free-kick offence inside the kicker's own penalty area is a penalty kick, as the taker is not the goalkeeper.
Source: IFAB Laws of the Game 2026/27, Law 16 · applied
The penalty for handball in one's own area does not apply to a goalkeeper, so it remains an indirect free kick.
Source: IFAB Laws of the Game 2026/27, Law 16 · applied
A goal may be scored directly from a goal kick, but only into the opposing team's goal.
Source: IFAB Laws of the Game 2026/27, Law 16 · recall
A ball driven straight into the kicker's own goal from a goal kick gives the opponents a corner, not a goal.
Source: IFAB Laws of the Game 2026/27, Law 16 · applied
A player is not in an offside offence when receiving the ball directly from a goal kick.
Source: IFAB Laws of the Game 2026/27, Law 11 and Law 16 · applied
Since a goal counts directly against the opponents, a kick that sails in untouched is a valid goal.
Source: IFAB Laws of the Game 2026/27, Law 16 · applied
The referee counts five seconds; if the kick is still not taken, the opponents are given a corner.
Source: IFAB Laws of the Game 2026/27, Law 16 · recall
Where Law 16 sets no specific sanction for an offence, the goal kick is retaken.
Source: IFAB Laws of the Game 2026/27, Law 16 · recall
Sources
IFAB Laws of the Game 2026/27, Law 16 (paraphrased in original wording; original questions authored from the Law, not reproduced)
- IFAB Laws of the Game 2026/27, Law 1629
- IFAB Laws of the Game 2026/27, Law 11 and Law 161