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When does the 5 second countdown begin on goal kicks and throw ins? They’re basically forcing teams to play short

When does the 5 second countdown begin on goal kicks and throw ins? They’re basically forcing teams to play short

For these, as I understand it, it’s when the referee decides they need to get going. Presume once player has ball and is legit able to get going, call 5. With multiple ball / ball boys, teams should be given the ball and get on with it?

Hopefully will be stricter with teams a goal up and minutes left, trying to run down the clock. If not, no point to it!

The sub one will definitely help, as they’re not waiting for the ball or any grey area. Once number is up, no excuse to get off in 10 secs (nearest exit!) or sub can’t come on for a minute - that should have an impact, and stop all the frustrating cheating, if done properly, as it’s often the impact on momentum as much as the physical time.

Some refs at Women’s WC were dreadful at implementing the 8 seconds when it was brought in, so it’ll be interesting if it’s actually enforced!

So if a "foul" is comitted at a set piece but before the ball is in play and VAR spots it, what happens?

Assuming this happens at a corner and the "foul" is commited by an attacking player does that become a defensive free kick?  Or does VAR simplay wipe out whatever happened after the corner was taken and a re-take is ordered?

Ditto a "foul" by a defender - penalty kick or re-take??

PS:  I keep using quotes to enclose the word "foul" because - as written - a foul cannot take place when the ball is not in play and such a development is a fundemental change in the way the laws of football work.  I do hope that - before this can of worms is opened, IFAB have thoroughly thought it through.

A retake would be ordered if an attacker was found to have blocked (or similar) a defender in a manor which would be deemed to be a foul if the ball were in play and had an impact on the ultimate end result being a goal scored.

If it was a defender blocking (or similar) an attacker in a manor which would be deemed to be a foul if the ball were in play, nothing will happen, and it won't result in a goal scored in that attacking phase of play.

They're still not awarding free kicks and as such not treating them as fouls as such, but just ensuring a goal isn't scored, helped by unscrupulous attacking play

Quote from: olliebcafc on Mon 01 Jun 2026 18:24

When does the 5 second countdown begin on goal kicks and throw ins? They’re basically forcing teams to play short

For these, as I understand it, it’s when the referee decides they need to get going. Presume once player has ball and is legit able to get going, call 5. With multiple ball / ball boys, teams should be given the ball and get on with it?

Hopefully will be stricter with teams a goal up and minutes left, trying to run down the clock. If not, no point to it!

They seemed to be playing to “World Cup rules” at the Scotland v Curaçao friendly on Saturday (hence water breaks in mid-teens Glasgow temperatures) and this is how they looked to be enforcing it at throw ins and goal kicks

But a goal can be scored from a goal-kick.  One big old-fashioned hoof upfield and the ball could be in the back of the net 5 seconds later - from a goal-kick that should have been a corner! 

I don’t want VAR re-refereeing the game (or being there in the first place, frankly) but if they are looking at goal-kick/corner situations, they’ve at least got to be consistent.

It just shows (yet again) what an ugly tangle a once pretty straightforward set of laws has become.

Far more emotion attached to an incorrect corner that actually does result in a goal, however unlikely, compared to an incorrect goal kick (that if it was correctly awarded as a corner most likely would not result in a goal anyway).

Despite my reservations, it’s actually worked pretty well. It’s a far better use of VAR on factual decisions only. My biggest worry remains in that seeing it working will open floodgates to throw ins and goal kicks and suddenly everything is reviewed.