If a goalkeeper takes more than six seconds to release the ball from their hands within the penalty area, what is the restart?

If a goalkeeper takes more than six seconds to release the ball from their hands while inside the penalty area, the correct restart is an indirect free kick awarded to the opposing team.

This rule exists to encourage the goalkeeper to play the game actively and prevent time-wasting. The action of delaying the game by holding onto the ball longer than the allowed six seconds is considered a violation of the Laws of the Game. The indirect free kick is used instead of a direct free kick because the nature of the infringement pertains specifically to the goalkeeper's handling of the ball, not an infraction that directly causes a scoring opportunity.

In this situation, the opposing team is given the chance to restart play without a direct attempt at goal, as the infringement does not warrant a more severe penalty.