New for 2026/27·Law 8·From 1 July 2026

Dropped Ball: Who Gets It, and Where

If the ball was on its way out for your throw-in when the referee stopped play, the dropped ball is now yours. And a ball that hits a match official is dropped where the contact happened.

Previous rule

Dropped for the team that would have retained or gained possession, with no wording covering a ball on its way out of play.

New rule

That team includes the one that would have taken the throw-in, corner or goal kick. Interference by an official or outside agent fixes the position of the drop.

What changed

Law 8 already dropped the ball for the team that would have retained or gained possession. It now says in its own words that this includes the team that would have taken the restart where the ball would have gone out of play. Where a match official or an outside agent interfered, the ball is dropped at the position of the interference rather than at the position of the ball.

Why it matters

Before this, a ball clearly rolling out for a throw-in when play was stopped left the referee with no printed answer, and the fallback was the team that last touched it, which is the opposite of what everyone on the field expects. The stoppage no longer takes the restart away from the team that had earned it.

Scenarios

Play stopped while the ball rolls out for a throw-in

A defender's clearance is heading over the touchline for an attacking throw-in when the referee stops play for a head injury.

Correct call: Dropped ball for the attacking team, because they would have taken the throw-in.

Common mistake: Dropping it for the defending team on the grounds that they touched it last.

Verdict: drop-ball

The ball hits the referee and play is stopped

The ball strikes the referee in midfield, a team starts a promising attack, and play is stopped.

Correct call: Dropped ball at the position where the ball hit the referee.

Common mistake: Dropping it where the ball ended up. Inside the penalty area it is still dropped for the defending goalkeeper.

Verdict: drop-ball

The law

Law 8 · 2. Dropped ball

If, when play was stopped:

the ball was outside the penalty area, the referee drops it for one player of the team that would have retained or gained possession (including from the restart if the ball would have gone out of play) if this can be determined by the referee; otherwise, it is dropped for one player of the team that last touched it. The ball is dropped at its position when play was stopped, unless it hit a match official or outside agent, in which case it is dropped at the position of the interference/contact

the ball was inside the penalty area, the referee drops it for the defending team goalkeeper in their penalty area