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Futsal · Laws of the Game

Law 16: The Goal Clearance

1 parts · 5 tests · 50 facts · updated 12 October 2026 · markdown

Law 16 covers when a goal clearance is awarded (whole ball over the end line after an attacker's touch, no goal), why no goal can be scored directly and what follows an entry into either goal, the goalkeeper's throw or release from anywhere in the penalty area, the four-second limit, the requirement that opponents stay outside the penalty area, and every offence and sanction (the goalkeeper's second touch, the four-second offence, the halfway-line throw under domestic rules, encroachment and other offences).

16.161The Goal Clearance

When a goal clearance is awarded; why the goalkeeper's throw or release may be taken from anywhere in the penalty area; the four-second limit and the requirement that opponents stay outside the area; why no goal can be scored directly and what follows an entry into either goal; the goalkeeper's second touch and handling; the halfway-line throw under domestic rules; and encroachment and other offences.

Test 1When a goal clearance is awardedTake a test

  1. Three conditions apply: the end line, an attacker as the last toucher, and no goal.

    Source: FIFA Futsal Laws of the Game 2025-26, Law 16 (When a Goal Clearance Is Awarded) · recall

  2. The last touch by an attacker is what gives the defenders the goal clearance.

    Source: FIFA Futsal Laws of the Game 2025-26, Law 16 (When a Goal Clearance Is Awarded) · recall

  3. The whole ball has to be over the line, so a partial crossing does not count.

    Source: FIFA Futsal Laws of the Game 2025-26, Law 16 (When a Goal Clearance Is Awarded) · recall

  4. The Law names crossing the end line on the floor or in the air.

    Source: FIFA Futsal Laws of the Game 2025-26, Law 16 (When a Goal Clearance Is Awarded) · applied

  5. The last touch decides, and a defender's touch leads to a corner kick.

    Source: FIFA Futsal Laws of the Game 2025-26, Law 16 (When a Goal Clearance Is Awarded) · applied

  6. The goal clearance applies only when a goal is not scored.

    Source: FIFA Futsal Laws of the Game 2025-26, Law 16 (When a Goal Clearance Is Awarded) · applied

  7. Only an attacker's last touch over the end line brings a goal clearance.

    Source: FIFA Futsal Laws of the Game 2025-26, Law 16 (When a Goal Clearance Is Awarded) · applied

  8. The last toucher swaps the restart between the goal clearance and the corner.

    Source: FIFA Futsal Laws of the Game 2025-26, Law 16 (When a Goal Clearance Is Awarded) · applied

  9. The end line is for the goal clearance, and the touchline belongs to the kick-in.

    Source: FIFA Futsal Laws of the Game 2025-26, Law 16 (When a Goal Clearance Is Awarded) · applied

  10. Each distractor changes one condition, so all three must be right together.

    Source: FIFA Futsal Laws of the Game 2025-26, Law 16 (When a Goal Clearance Is Awarded) · applied

Test 2The procedure: the goalkeeper, the area, four secondsTake a test

  1. Only the defending goalkeeper puts the ball back into play at a goal clearance.

    Source: FIFA Futsal Laws of the Game 2025-26, Law 16 §1 (Procedure) · recall

  2. The goalkeeper is free to choose any spot inside the penalty area.

    Source: FIFA Futsal Laws of the Game 2025-26, Law 16 §1 (Procedure) · recall

  3. The Law describes a throw or release by the goalkeeper, which is not a kick.

    Source: FIFA Futsal Laws of the Game 2025-26, Law 16 §1 (Procedure) · recall

  4. Play starts as soon as the ball visibly moves after being thrown or released.

    Source: FIFA Futsal Laws of the Game 2025-26, Law 16 §1 (Procedure) · recall

  5. The Law sets no requirement to leave the area.

    Source: FIFA Futsal Laws of the Game 2025-26, Law 16 §1 (Procedure) · applied

  6. The four-second limit applies to this restart too.

    Source: FIFA Futsal Laws of the Game 2025-26, Law 16 §1 (Procedure) · recall

  7. The count is tied to the team's readiness, whether its own or as signalled by a referee.

    Source: FIFA Futsal Laws of the Game 2025-26, Law 16 §1 (Procedure) · applied

  8. The Law keeps opponents out of the penalty area rather than at a set distance.

    Source: FIFA Futsal Laws of the Game 2025-26, Law 16 §1 (Procedure) · recall

  9. The two restarts protect the taker in different ways, by area and by distance respectively.

    Source: FIFA Futsal Laws of the Game 2025-26, Law 16 §1 (Procedure) · applied

  10. Each distractor changes the taker, the opponents' position or the time limit.

    Source: FIFA Futsal Laws of the Game 2025-26, Law 16 §1 (Procedure) · applied

Test 3Goals from a goal clearanceTake a test

  1. The Law rules out a goal directly from a goal clearance.

    Source: FIFA Futsal Laws of the Game 2025-26, Law 16 (When a Goal Clearance Is Awarded) · recall

  2. An entry into the taker's own goal gives the other side a corner kick.

    Source: FIFA Futsal Laws of the Game 2025-26, Law 16 (When a Goal Clearance Is Awarded) · applied

  3. Since no goal counts, the opponents restart with their own goal clearance.

    Source: FIFA Futsal Laws of the Game 2025-26, Law 16 (When a Goal Clearance Is Awarded) · applied

  4. The direction of the entry decides which of the two restarts follows.

    Source: FIFA Futsal Laws of the Game 2025-26, Law 16 (When a Goal Clearance Is Awarded) · applied

  5. The two restarts are treated differently, with the corner allowing a direct goal against opponents.

    Source: FIFA Futsal Laws of the Game 2025-26, Law 16 (When a Goal Clearance Is Awarded) · applied

  6. The only consequence of an own-goal entry is a corner kick to the opponents.

    Source: FIFA Futsal Laws of the Game 2025-26, Law 16 (When a Goal Clearance Is Awarded) · applied

  7. The other side benefits from the goalkeeper's error.

    Source: FIFA Futsal Laws of the Game 2025-26, Law 16 (When a Goal Clearance Is Awarded) · recall

  8. The corner kick can score directly against the opponents, but the goal clearance cannot.

    Source: FIFA Futsal Laws of the Game 2025-26, Law 16 (When a Goal Clearance Is Awarded) · applied

  9. Neither restart can win a goal directly, and each hands a clearance to the defenders.

    Source: FIFA Futsal Laws of the Game 2025-26, Law 16 (When a Goal Clearance Is Awarded) · applied

  10. The correct pairing gives a corner for the taker's own goal and a clearance for the other one.

    Source: FIFA Futsal Laws of the Game 2025-26, Law 16 (When a Goal Clearance Is Awarded) · applied

Test 4The goalkeeper's offences, four seconds, and the halfway lineTake a test

  1. A second touch by the goalkeeper gives the opponents an indirect free kick.

    Source: FIFA Futsal Laws of the Game 2025-26, Law 16 §2 (Offences and Sanctions) · recall

  2. Handling outside the area turns the offence into a direct free kick.

    Source: FIFA Futsal Laws of the Game 2025-26, Law 16 §2 (Offences and Sanctions) · applied

  3. Inside their own area the goalkeeper's handling is punished only with an indirect kick.

    Source: FIFA Futsal Laws of the Game 2025-26, Law 16 §2 (Offences and Sanctions) · applied

  4. Location changes the outcome, since only handling outside the area gives a direct kick.

    Source: FIFA Futsal Laws of the Game 2025-26, Law 16 §2 (Offences and Sanctions) · applied

  5. Overrunning the count gives the opponents an indirect kick.

    Source: FIFA Futsal Laws of the Game 2025-26, Law 16 §2 (Offences and Sanctions) · applied

  6. The goal clearance leads to an indirect kick, whereas a late kick-in passes to the opponents.

    Source: FIFA Futsal Laws of the Game 2025-26, Law 16 §2 (Offences and Sanctions) · applied

  7. The kick is awarded to the opponents at the point where the ball crossed the halfway line.

    Source: FIFA Futsal Laws of the Game 2025-26, Law 16 §2 (Offences and Sanctions) · applied

  8. The Law names youth, veterans', disability and grassroots competitions.

    Source: FIFA Futsal Laws of the Game 2025-26, Law 16 §2 (Offences and Sanctions) · recall

  9. Any other offence leads to a retake, in contrast to the named offences.

    Source: FIFA Futsal Laws of the Game 2025-26, Law 16 §2 (Offences and Sanctions) · recall

  10. The named time offence is punished with an indirect kick, while unnamed offences only bring a retake.

    Source: FIFA Futsal Laws of the Game 2025-26, Law 16 §2 (Offences and Sanctions) · applied

Test 5Encroachment by opponents, and outcomesTake a test

  1. Opponents who lacked time to leave are not punished, so play continues.

    Source: FIFA Futsal Laws of the Game 2025-26, Law 16 §2 (Offences and Sanctions) · applied

  2. Playing the ball too early forces a retake of the clearance.

    Source: FIFA Futsal Laws of the Game 2025-26, Law 16 §2 (Offences and Sanctions) · applied

  3. Mere presence is tolerated, but touching or challenging for the ball is not.

    Source: FIFA Futsal Laws of the Game 2025-26, Law 16 §2 (Offences and Sanctions) · applied

  4. A foul while entering early brings a retake, with a card depending on the offence.

    Source: FIFA Futsal Laws of the Game 2025-26, Law 16 §2 (Offences and Sanctions) · applied

  5. The card follows the seriousness of the offence, as elsewhere in the Laws.

    Source: FIFA Futsal Laws of the Game 2025-26, Law 16 §2 (Offences and Sanctions) · recall

  6. The retake needs the opponent to play or challenge for the ball early.

    Source: FIFA Futsal Laws of the Game 2025-26, Law 16 §2 (Offences and Sanctions) · recall

  7. Of these four restarts, the goal clearance is the one where opponents must stay outside the penalty area until the ball is in play; at a kick-in, a corner kick or an indirect free kick they need only keep the 5m distance.

    Source: FIFA Futsal Laws of the Game 2025-26, Law 16 §2 (Offences and Sanctions) · applied

  8. A retake repeats the original restart by the defending goalkeeper.

    Source: FIFA Futsal Laws of the Game 2025-26, Law 16 §2 (Offences and Sanctions) · applied

  9. The other options lead to an indirect free kick or a corner kick, and not to a retake.

    Source: FIFA Futsal Laws of the Game 2025-26, Law 16 §2 (Offences and Sanctions) · applied

  10. Playing early costs the opponent's side a retake, whereas the goalkeeper's repeat touch gives an indirect kick.

    Source: FIFA Futsal Laws of the Game 2025-26, Law 16 §2 (Offences and Sanctions) · applied

Sources

FIFA Futsal Laws of the Game 2025-26, Law 16 (paraphrased in original wording; original questions authored from the Law, not reproduced)

  • FIFA Futsal Laws of the Game 2025-26, Law 16 (When a Goal Clearance Is Awarded)20
  • FIFA Futsal Laws of the Game 2025-26, Law 16 §2 (Offences and Sanctions)20
  • FIFA Futsal Laws of the Game 2025-26, Law 16 §1 (Procedure)10