What Is a Foul Throw in Football?
A foul throw occurs when a thrower violates IFAB Law 15 throw-in technique. Common violations: lifting feet, throwing one-handed, releasing from behind the head incorrectly.
A foul throw occurs when a thrower violates IFAB Law 15 throw-in technique. The throw-in must be taken with both hands behind and over the head, both feet on the ground (or behind / on the touchline), and from the spot where the ball crossed the line. Common foul-throw violations: lifting a foot, throwing one-handed, releasing the ball forward of the head, or stepping over the line.
Correct throw-in technique (IFAB Law 15)
- Stand behind / on the touchline. Feet must not cross the line.
- Both feet on the ground. Throughout the throw motion until release.
- Both hands on the ball. Equally — not one hand dominant.
- Ball delivered from behind and over the head. Smooth motion; ball must come from behind head.
- Throw to a teammate. Thrower cannot play the ball again until another player touches it.
Common foul throws
- Lifted foot. Most common violation; foot leaves the ground during throw motion.
- One-handed throw. Hands not equally on the ball.
- Forward release. Ball not delivered from behind the head.
- Stepping over the line. Foot crosses the touchline.
- Wrong throw location. Throw not from where the ball crossed the line (within ~1m).
- Penalty. Throw-in awarded to the opposing team from the same spot.
Frequently asked questions
- What is a foul throw in football?
- A foul throw is a violation of IFAB Law 15 throw-in technique. The throw-in must be taken with both hands behind and over the head, both feet on the ground (or behind / on the touchline), from the spot where the ball crossed the line. Common violations: lifting a foot, throwing one-handed, releasing the ball forward of the head.
- What is the punishment for a foul throw?
- The throw-in is awarded to the opposing team from the same spot. There is no caution / yellow card unless the violation is repeated deliberately. Foul throws are particularly common at youth and grass-roots level; referees enforce more strictly at professional level.
- Can you score directly from a throw-in?
- No. A goal cannot be scored directly from a throw-in (per IFAB Law 15). The ball must touch another player before entering the goal. If a thrower's direct throw-in goes into the opponent's goal without contact, it's a goal kick to the opposition.
References
- IFAB Law 15 — The Throw-In — IFAB / The FA
- RefChat — Foul Throw Discussion — RefChat
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