2. Offences and sanctions
The provision as it is printed, and everything on Ruleside that turns on it.
If a player is unfairly delaying the taking of a goal kick for their team, the referee will whistle and signal the start of a five-second countdown. The referee will visually count down the five seconds with a raised hand, and if the goal kick has not been taken by the end of the five seconds, a corner kick is awarded to the opposing team. The offending player is cautioned only if they excessively delay the restart after the corner kick has been awarded to the opposing team.*
Verdicts that turn on it 4
Walk the tree to any of these and this clause is part of the answer.
Explained in the rules library 3
The plain-language pages that build on this provision.
Changed for 2026/27 1
What this provision replaced, and when it took effect.
Questions that ask it 1
Points in a walk where the reader is deciding this provision.
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.