What is a dropped ball in football?
A · Advanced · Kick-offs, free kicks, penalties and other restarts · 6 of 12Checked 13 October 2026
A dropped ball restarts play when the referee stops it without an offence, for example for an injury or after the ball hits the referee. Inside the penalty area it goes to the defending goalkeeper. Elsewhere it goes to the team that had, or would have gained, the ball. Everyone else stays 4 metres away.
How it works
- Inside the penalty area: dropped for the defending goalkeeper.
- Elsewhere: dropped for one player of the team that had or would have kept or gained the ball, including a team that would have taken a restart if the ball had gone out. If that is unclear, for the team that last touched it.
- Dropped where the ball was, or where it hit the official or outside agent.
- Other players stay at least 4 metres away. The ball is in play when it touches the ground.
- Dropped again if it touches a player before the ground, or leaves the field without touching anyone.
- A dropped ball that goes into a goal without touching two players is a goal kick or corner kick, not a goal.
Tricky cases
Can a team score straight from a dropped ball?
No. It must touch at least two players before a goal can count.
Why the rule exists
It hands the ball back to whoever had it, so a stoppage that was nobody's fault does not change possession.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| All football under the Laws | As above; wording on possession and contact clarified in 2026/27 | L8.2; Law changes 2026/27 |
From the rule book
IFAB Laws of the Game 2026/27, Law 8.2, in force from 1 July 2026. Checked 13 October 2026. Official document: IFAB Laws of the Game (PDF).