GUIDES · BETSLIP DOCTOR
What happens when a delayed throw-in or goal-kick countdown reaches five seconds?
Under the 2026/27 Laws, the five-second count does not run at every throw-in or goal kick. After judging unfair delay, the referee starts it by blowing the whistle, signaling with a hand or arm, and counting visibly from five with a raised hand. A preliminary hurry-up whistle or voice cue is separate; the count may start without one. If a throw-in is not taken by expiry, opponents receive the throw-in; if a goal kick is not taken, they receive a corner. IFAB says a player already in the act of throwing or kicking at expiry should not be penalized. A caution applies only if the offending player or a teammate excessively delays the opponents' restart.
For Soccer fans following current throw-in and goal-kick restart rules. · Updated
The referee starts the count after judging unfair delay
The 2026/27 Laws provide a visible five-second countdown when the referee judges that a throw-in or goal kick is being unfairly delayed. A slow-looking restart does not by itself show that the count has started.
The referee may first use a whistle and/or voice to hurry the player. To start the five-second count, the referee blows the whistle, signals clearly with the hand or arm for the restart to be taken, and visually counts down from five with a raised hand. A preliminary hurry-up cue is not the countdown by itself, and the count can start without that earlier cue.
A slow-looking restart does not by itself show that the count has started; this is not a universal timer for every restart.
The consequence depends on the restart
If the throw-in has not been taken by the end of the count, the opposing team receives the throw-in from the same position as the original throw-in. If the goal kick has not been taken, the opposing team receives a corner kick. The Laws set different consequences for the two restarts.
The protocol says a player already throwing or kicking as the count ends should not be penalized. A caution is not automatic: only the offending player or a teammate who excessively delays the opponents' restart may be cautioned. These are 2026/27 procedures, so check the edition in force before applying them to an earlier season.
- The count starts after the referee whistles, signals for the restart with the hand or arm, and visibly counts down from five with a raised hand.
- Expired throw-in count: throw-in to the opponents from the original position.
- Expired goal-kick count: corner kick to the opponents.
- A player already in the process of the throw or kick at expiry should not be penalized; a caution requires excessive further delay by the offender or a teammate.
Two fictional delayed restarts
In one fictional stoppage, the referee judges that Team A is unfairly delaying a throw-in, whistles, signals for the restart with the hand or arm, and counts down from five with a raised hand. Team A does not begin the throw before the count ends, so Team B receives the throw-in from the same position. In a second fictional stoppage, the referee uses the same procedure for a delayed goal kick; the kick is not taken in time, so the opponents receive a corner. Neither player is already in the act of restarting when the count ends; IFAB's protocol says a player who is in that process should not be penalized. Any caution depends on excessive further delay of the opponents' restart by the offending player or a teammate.
Related questions
Does the five-second countdown start automatically at every throw-in or goal kick?
No. The referee must judge unfair delay. A preliminary whistle or voice cue may tell a player to hurry up, but that cue alone is not the countdown. To start the count, the referee whistles, clearly signals for the restart with the hand or arm, and visually counts from five with a raised hand; the count may start without a preliminary cue.
What restart follows an expired throw-in count?
If the throw-in has not been taken by expiry, the opposing team receives it from the same position as the original throw-in. The protocol says a player already in the process of throwing as the count ends should not be penalized.
What restart follows an expired goal-kick count?
If the goal kick has not been taken by expiry, the opposing team receives a corner kick. The protocol says a player already in the process of kicking as the count ends should not be penalized. A caution is not automatic; excessive further delay by the offending player or a teammate is required.