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Law 15

Law 15 — The Throw-in

The most frequent restart in the game and yet one of the worst executed. Law 15 requires four conditions at once.

Correct execution

The thrower must: face the field of play, have part of each foot on the touchline or on the ground outside, and throw the ball with both hands from behind and over the head, from the point where it left the field.

Opponents

Must stand at least 2 metres from the point at which the throw-in is taken. Failing to do so is unsporting behaviour: a caution.

Double touch

The thrower may not touch the ball again until it has touched another player. If they do: indirect free kick. If they handle it deliberately: direct free kick.

No goal can be scored

A goal cannot be scored directly from a throw-in. If the ball enters the opponents' goal: goal kick. If it enters the thrower's own goal: corner kick.

No offside

A player cannot be offside if they receive the ball directly from a throw-in.

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