Law 16: The Goal KickProcedure·Page 145, 2026/27 edition

Procedure

The provision as it is printed, and everything on Ruleside that turns on it.

· The ball must be stationary and is kicked from any point within the goal area by a player of the defending team
IFAB Laws of the Game 2026/27, page 145 · clause law-16-0b2665a0

Verdicts that turn on it 3

Walk the tree to any of these and this clause is part of the answer.

Correctly taken, and the ball is in playgoal-kick-corner
The goal kick is retakengoal-kick-corner
The countdown can start anywaygoal-kick-corner

Explained in the rules library 1

The plain-language pages that build on this provision.

Goal Kick

Questions that ask it 2

Points in a walk where the reader is deciding this provision.

What is in question about the goal kick?goal-kick-corner
Was the ball stationary, inside the goal area, and kicked by the defending team?goal-kick-corner

The Laws of the Game are published by The IFAB and quoted here for the purpose of explaining the decisions on this site. Ruleside is not affiliated with The IFAB or FIFA. Every clause of The Goal Kick that Ruleside cites.