Throw-in rules: why a direct throw cannot score
Understand the touchline restart, foot position and the need for another touch before a goal.
Directly into the net is not a goal
IFAB Law 15 does not allow a goal directly from a throw-in. A throw directly into the opponents' goal produces a goal kick; directly into the thrower's own goal produces a corner kick.
A long throw is therefore not an exception merely because it travels a long distance. A touch by another player changes the facts, so first establish whether the throw really went in directly.
The throw has a procedure
At release, the thrower must face the field, have part of each foot on or behind the touchline and on the ground, and throw with both hands from behind and over the head. The restart is taken where the ball left the field.
Opponents must stand at least two metres from the point on the touchline where the throw is taken. A ball that enters play and one that never enters it can require different outcomes.
The touchline and score are separate
The usual award follows the whole ball crossing the touchline, last touched by the opposing team. Current delay provisions also need checking, rather than assuming every throw-in label describes a ball rolling out.
A hypothetical throw-in at 2-1 leaves the match at 2-1 unless a valid later goal occurs. Use ScoreZaap's confirmed event and score together. This guide does not decide whether a real thrower's heel was grounded from an unseen camera frame.