What is the punishment for time-wasting in football?
I · Intermediate · How long is a match, and what stops it? · 10 of 14Time lost is added back, and the 2026/27 Laws add direct penalties. A substituted player has 10 seconds to leave. A delayed throw-in or goal kick gets a five-second countdown and is then given to the other team. A goalkeeper who holds the ball for more than eight seconds concedes a corner. Excessive delay is a yellow card.
How it works
| Delay | What happens |
|---|---|
| Substituted player not off within 10 seconds | The substitute waits until the first stoppage after one minute of play; the team plays one short until then |
| Throw-in deliberately delayed | Five-second countdown; then the throw-in goes to the other team |
| Goal kick deliberately delayed | Five-second countdown; then a corner kick to the other team |
| Goalkeeper holds the ball more than 8 seconds | Corner kick to the other team |
| Kicking or carrying the ball away, or taking a free kick from the wrong place to force a retake | Yellow card |
| Stopping an opponent taking a quick free kick | Yellow card |
| Excessive goal celebration | Yellow card |
- The referee can warn by voice or whistle first, but does not have to.
- The countdown can start before the player has the ball, for example if they fetch it slowly.
- A player in the act of throwing or kicking when the count ends is not penalised.
Tricky cases
Is a yellow card given when the five seconds run out?
No. Losing the restart is the penalty. A card follows only if the player or a teammate then excessively delays the other team's restart.
What if the player being substituted is injured and cannot leave in 10 seconds?
The referee need not apply the limit when an injury or a safety reason prevents it.
Why the rule exists
Adding time back did not stop teams breaking up the game. Handing the ball to the opponents is a cost a team feels at once.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| All football under the Laws from 1 July 2026 | Ten-second substitution limit and five-second countdowns are new | L3.3, 3.5, 15.2, 16.2; L Notes (protocols) |
From the rule book
IFAB Laws of the Game 2026/27, Laws 3.3, 3.5, 12.3, 12.4, 15 and 16 and the time-limited substitution and countdown protocols, in force from 1 July 2026. Checked 13 October 2026. Official document: IFAB Laws of the Game (PDF).