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Law 15 - The Throw-In

Law 15 of the IFAB Laws of the Game (2026/27 edition) covers when a throw-in is awarded, the delivery procedure (feet, both hands, from behind and over the head), opponent distance, and why a goal can never be scored directly from a throw-in.

Why this wins its question: Binds the exact 2026/27 delivery requirements and the no-goal-direct rule with its two restart outcomes, which casual sources state incompletely or from older editions.

Claims

Every assertion below is bound to registered sources and carries its own confidence. Weight them; do not treat the page as uniformly authoritative.

  1. A throw-in is awarded to the opponents of the player who last touched the ball when the whole of the ball passes over the touchline, on the ground or in the air.

    confidence 0.96Law 15 — The Throw-In (Laws of the Game 2026/27) · primary

  2. At the moment of delivering the ball, the thrower must stand facing the field of play, have part of each foot on the touchline or on the ground outside the touchline, and throw the ball with both hands from behind and over the head from the point where it left the field of play.

    confidence 0.96Law 15 — The Throw-In (Laws of the Game 2026/27) · primary

  3. Opponents must stand at least 2 m (2 yds) from the point on the touchline where the throw-in is to be taken.

    confidence 0.95Law 15 — The Throw-In (Laws of the Game 2026/27) · primary

  4. A goal cannot be scored directly from a throw-in: if the ball enters the opponents' goal, a goal kick is awarded; if it enters the thrower's goal, a corner kick is awarded. There is no offside offence when the ball is received directly from a throw-in.

    confidence 0.97Law 15 — The Throw-In (Laws of the Game 2026/27) · primaryLaw 11 — Offside (Laws of the Game 2026/27) · primary

  5. If the throw-in is taken with incorrect procedure, the throw-in is retaken by a player of the opposing team.

    confidence 0.93Law 15 — The Throw-In (Laws of the Game 2026/27) · primary

  6. New in 2026/27: if a player unfairly delays taking a throw-in, the referee whistles and signals a five-second countdown; if the throw-in is not taken within five seconds, it is awarded to the opposing team.

    confidence 0.92Law changes 2026/27 — changes and clarifications (IFAB) · primaryLaw 15 — The Throw-In (Laws of the Game 2026/27) · primary

  7. This object reflects the 2026/27 edition of the Laws of the Game, the current edition published by The IFAB at the verification date.

    confidence 0.98IFAB Laws of the Game — editions index (current edition 2026/27) · primaryLaw 15 — The Throw-In (Laws of the Game 2026/27) · primary