What special rules apply to goalkeepers and goal clearances?

FIFA Futsal Laws 2025-26:

Goal clearance (Law 16) instead of a goal kick, when the ball crosses the end line last touched by an attacker:

• The goalkeeper throws or releases the ball from anywhere in the penalty area.
• It must be in play within four seconds, or an indirect free kick goes to the opponents.
• Opponents must be outside the penalty area until the ball is in play.

Indirect free kick against the goalkeeper (Law 12) if they:

• control the ball with hands, arms or feet in their own half for more than four seconds
• after playing the ball in controlled possession, touch it again in their own half after a team-mate deliberately plays it back without an opponent touching it
• handle the ball in their penalty area after a team-mate deliberately kicks it to them, including from a kick-in

Changing the goalkeeper (Law 3)

• A substitute can swap with the goalkeeper at any time, without telling the referees.
• A player on the pitch can swap only at a stoppage, after telling the referees.
• A "flying goalkeeper" must wear a goalkeeper's shirt with their own number.

Domestic youth, veterans', disability or grassroots rules may stop goalkeepers throwing directly over the halfway line.