A goal kick is awarded when the whole ball crosses the goal line, no goal is scored and an attacking player touched it last. From the 2026/27 Laws, a referee can also start a visible five-second countdown when a team unfairly delays taking the goal kick. Failure to put the ball in play produces a corner kick.
The standard goal-kick procedure
Under IFAB Law 16, the ball must be stationary and is kicked from any point within the goal area by a player of the defending team. The goalkeeper does not have to take it.
The ball is in play when it is kicked and clearly moves. It no longer needs to leave the penalty area before another player can touch it, so a team-mate may receive the kick inside the area.
Where can the ball be placed?
The ball can be placed anywhere inside the goal area. It does not need to be taken from the side where it crossed the goal line, and the team may move it from one side of the goal area to the other before the referee begins a countdown.
Once the referee judges that those actions are unfairly delaying the restart, the referee can whistle, signal and start the five-second count. Repeatedly relocating the ball can therefore trigger the procedure.
Who may take the goal kick?
Any defending player may take the goal kick. A centre-back or full-back can restart play while the goalkeeper moves into a receiving position.
The player who takes it cannot touch the ball again until another player has touched it. A second touch normally results in an indirect free kick, or a direct free kick if the second touch is a handball offence.
When is the ball in play?
The ball is in play when it has been kicked and clearly moves. A small legal kick is enough when the ball clearly changes position.
A team-mate may then touch it inside the penalty area. Opponents who started outside may enter and challenge once the ball is in play.
If the ball is not kicked or does not clearly move, the goal kick has not been taken.
The five-second countdown for 2026/27
If a player or team is unfairly delaying the taking of a goal kick, the referee whistles, signals for the restart and visually counts down five seconds with a raised hand.
The ball must be in play by the end of the countdown. This means it must have been kicked and clearly moved before time expires.
The protocol states that a player should not be penalised when already in the process of kicking the ball as the referee reaches the end of the count. The measure is designed to prevent time-wasting rather than punish a genuine kicking action at the final moment.
Is the countdown used at every goal kick?
No. The referee does not automatically count five seconds after every award. Normal actions such as retrieving the ball, placing it, waiting for opponents to leave and arranging a reasonable restart remain part of the match.
The countdown begins only when the referee considers that the restart is taking too long or is being deliberately delayed. The referee does not need to wait until the goalkeeper is physically holding the ball before starting it.
IFAB’s official example allows the referee to begin the procedure when a goalkeeper ignores one available ball, seeks another and walks slowly toward the goal area.
What happens if the five seconds expire?
If the ball is not in play at the end of the countdown, the opposing team receives a corner kick. It is taken from the side of the field closest to where the goal kick was to be taken.
The original goalkeeper or defender does not choose the corner side after being penalised. The referee identifies the nearest side based on the planned location of the delayed goal kick.
The corner-kick sanction is also used for the separate eight-second goalkeeper-control offence, but the starting event and countdown procedure are different.
Is the goalkeeper or kicker booked?
There is no automatic yellow card merely because the five-second limit expires. The corner kick is the sanction.
A player is cautioned only if that player or a team-mate then excessively delays the corner awarded to the opponents. This prevents a team from continuing the same time-wasting after losing the restart.
Other misconduct, such as dissent or repeated delaying behaviour in a different context, can still be punished under the normal disciplinary rules.
What if the goalkeeper was already cautioned?
An earlier caution does not turn countdown failure itself into a second yellow. IFAB’s official example says a goalkeeper already cautioned is sent off only if they then excessively delay the opponents’ corner after the original goal kick has been lost.
The referee therefore separates the failed countdown from any later excessive delay.
Where must opponents stand?
Opponents must be outside the penalty area until the ball is in play. Once the kick is taken and clearly moves, they may enter immediately.
If an opponent deliberately remains inside, enters early or interferes before the ball is in play, the goal kick is retaken. Repeated deliberate interference can result in a caution for persistent misconduct or delaying the restart.
What if a quick goal kick traps opponents inside?
A defending team may take the kick quickly while an opponent is still inside because the opponent had no time to leave. The opponent cannot interfere with or prevent the kick but may intercept the ball after it is in play.
This follows the same principle as a quick free kick. The defending team accepted the risk of restarting before the opponent had left, so the Law does not automatically protect a poor pass.
An opponent who deliberately remains in the area to gain an advantage is treated differently and should not benefit.
Can the ball be passed to the goalkeeper inside the area?
Yes. A defender may take the goal kick and pass to the goalkeeper inside the penalty area. Because the restart was a goal kick rather than a deliberate kick from open play, the normal back-pass restriction does not prevent the goalkeeper from handling that first pass once the ball is in play.
However, players cannot use a deliberate trick to circumvent the back-pass rule. For example, the kicker cannot flick the ball up for the goalkeeper or another player to return it by the head solely to allow handling. The initiator is cautioned for unsporting behaviour.
Can the goalkeeper pick up their own goal kick?
No. If the goalkeeper takes the goal kick, the goalkeeper cannot touch it again before another player has touched it. Picking it up creates a handball second-touch offence.
Inside the penalty area, the restart is normally an indirect free kick unless the second touch denies a goal or obvious goal-scoring opportunity under the special second-touch provisions.
Can a goal be scored directly?
A goal may be scored directly against the opponents from a goal kick. There is no offside offence when a player receives the ball directly from the goal kick.
If the ball enters the kicker’s own goal without touching another player, a corner kick is awarded to the opponents rather than an own goal.
What if the ball is blown back toward the goal?
Once the ball is in play, wind can carry it back toward the kicker’s goal. The kicker may not touch it again before another player does.
If it enters the kicker’s own goal directly, the result is a corner kick. If another player touches it before it enters, the ordinary scoring rules apply.
Second touches and DOGSO
A player who takes a goal kick and then touches the ball again before anyone else normally commits an indirect-free-kick offence. If the second touch is handball, the restart is a direct free kick.
If that second touch denies an obvious goal-scoring opportunity, the player can be sent off. IFAB guidance also confirms that when advantage after the offence produces a goal, the goal is awarded and the player is not cautioned or sent off for DOGSO.
What if the goal kick is taken from the wrong place?
The goal kick must be taken from inside the goal area. A kick from outside that area does not satisfy the procedure and is retaken.
Minor practical movement inside the area is allowed before the kick. The countdown procedure becomes relevant only when the referee judges that the movement is being used for unfair delay.
Goalkeeper restart checklist
- Identify the nearest usable ball immediately.
- Choose the side and intended first pass before entering the goal area.
- Place the ball anywhere inside the goal area and keep it stationary.
- Confirm that opponents are leaving or decide whether to restart quickly.
- React immediately if the referee whistles and begins the countdown.
- Kick the ball so it clearly moves before the count expires.
- Do not touch it again before another player.
- After losing the restart, move away and allow the corner without further delay.
Common myths
- “The goalkeeper must take every goal kick.” Any defending player may take it.
- “The ball must leave the penalty area.” It is in play when kicked and clearly moves.
- “Every goal kick has a five-second timer.” The referee starts it only for unfair delay.
- “Countdown failure is an automatic yellow card.” The immediate sanction is a corner.
- “Opponents can never be inside when a quick kick is taken.” Play can continue when they genuinely had no time to leave and do not interfere before the kick.
- “A goalkeeper may pick up their own short goal kick.” The kicker cannot touch it twice before another player.
Frequently asked questions
Does every goal kick have a five-second countdown?
No. The referee starts it only after deciding that the team is unfairly delaying the restart.
What happens when the five seconds expire?
The opponents receive a corner kick from the side closest to where the delayed goal kick was to be taken.
Is the goalkeeper automatically booked?
No. A caution applies only if a player or team-mate then excessively delays the opponents’ corner, or for separate misconduct.
Can a defender take the goal kick?
Yes. Any defending player may take it from anywhere inside the goal area.
Can the goalkeeper receive a short goal kick inside the penalty area?
Yes. A team-mate may receive or return the ball inside once it has been kicked and clearly moves, subject to second-touch and deliberate-trick rules.
Official sources and version notes
- The IFAB Law 16: The Goal Kick
- The IFAB throw-in and goal-kick countdown protocol
- Changes to the Laws of the Game 2026/27
- The IFAB Law 17: The Corner Kick
- The IFAB clarification on opponents and quick goal kicks
- Laws of the Game 2026/27 documents
This guide covers association football under the IFAB Laws of the Game 2026/27. Competition-specific implementation timing and authorised modifications should be checked separately.