Football Rules Not Everyone Knows

Football Rules

Football, the most popular sport in the world, attracts players and fans alike. If you’re passionate about football and wish to delve deeper into its nuances, understanding the basic football rules is essential. Let’s explore these fundamentals with JILIACE in this article!

Football Rules About Match Duration 

  1. Playing Time:
    A standard match lasts 90 minutes, divided into two equal halves of 45 minutes. This duration can only be shortened if both the referee and the teams agree before the match begins and the adjustment complies with competition regulations.
  2. Half-Time Interval:
    Players are allowed a half-time interval of at most 15 minutes. For extra time, a short break (no more than one minute) may be permitted between periods. The competition rules must specify the length of the half-time break, which can only be altered with the referee’s approval.

    Football Rules About Match Duration 
    Football Rules About Match Duration
  3. Allowance for Lost Time:
    The referee compensates for time lost during each half due to:

    • Substitutions.
    • Evaluation and treatment of injured players.
    • Time-wasting.
    • Disciplinary actions.
    • Medical stoppages are allowed by the competition rules, such as drink breaks (up to one minute) and cooling breaks (90 seconds to three minutes).
    • Delays related to VAR checks and reviews.
    • Any other significant delays, including excessive celebrations.
      The fourth official indicates the minimum added time decided by the referee at the end of each half. The referee may extend, but not reduce, this added time. Mistakes in timekeeping during the first half cannot be compensated by altering the second half’s duration.
  4. Penalty Kicks:
    If a penalty kick must be taken or retaken, the half is extended until the penalty is completed.
  5. Abandoned Matches:
    Abandoned matches are replayed unless the competition rules or the organizing authority decides otherwise.

Goals

  1. Scoring a Goal:
    A goal is awarded when the entire ball crosses the goal line, between the posts and beneath the crossbar, provided no rules have been violated by the scoring team.

    • If the goalkeeper throws the ball directly into the opposing goal, a goal kick is awarded.
    • If the referee signals a goal before the ball has entirely crossed the goal line, the match restarts with a dropped ball.
      Football Rules About 
      Football Rules About
  2. Determining the Winner:
    The team scoring more goals wins the match. If both teams score an equal number of goals or none, the match ends in a draw.
    When competition rules require a winner after a draw (including home-and-away aggregate ties), the following methods are used:

    • Away goals rule.
    • Two equal extra time periods of up to 15 minutes each.
    • Penalty shootouts.

Offside

  1. Offside Position:
    Simply being in an offside position is not an offense. A player is in an offside position if:

    • Any part of their head, body, or feet is in the opponent’s half (excluding the halfway line).
    • Any part of their head, body, or feet is closer to the opponent’s goal line than both the ball and the second-last opponent.
      The hands and arms of all players, including goalkeepers, are not considered. For offside judgments, the upper boundary of the arm aligns with the bottom of the armpit.
  2. Not in Offside Position:
    A player is not in an offside position if:

    • They are level with the second-last opponent.
    • They are level with the last two opponents.

Fouls

  1. Applicable Conditions:
    Direct and indirect free kicks and penalty kicks can only be awarded for offenses committed while the ball is in play.
  2. Direct Free Kicks:
    A direct free kick is awarded if a player commits any of the following offenses against an opponent in a manner deemed careless, reckless, or involving excessive force:

    • Jumping at, kicking, or attempting to kick an opponent.
    • Pushing.
    • Striking or attempting to strike (including headbutting).
    • Tackling or challenging.
      If a foul involves physical contact, it results in a direct free kick or penalty kick.

      • Careless: A lack of attention or consideration when making a challenge; no disciplinary action is required.
      • Reckless: Acting with disregard for danger or consequences; the player is cautioned.
      • Excessive Force: Using more force than necessary, endangering the opponent’s safety; the player is sent off.
  3. Other Direct Free Kick Offenses:
    A direct free kick is also awarded for the following actions:

    • Handball (except by the goalkeeper within their penalty area).
    • Holding an opponent.
    • Impeding an opponent with contact.
    • Biting or spitting at anyone listed in the match report.
    • Throwing objects at the ball, opponents, or match officials, or striking the ball with an object held in hand.

Football Rules About Handling the Ball

Football Rules About Handling the Ball
Football Rules About Handling the Ball

To determine a handball offense, the upper boundary of the arm is aligned with the bottom of the armpit. Not every touch of the ball with a player’s hand or arm constitutes an offense.

An offense occurs if a player:

  • Deliberately touches the ball with their hand or arm, such as moving the hand or arm towards the ball.
  • Touches the ball with their hand or arm when it makes their body unnaturally bigger. A player is deemed to have made their body unnaturally bigger when the position of their hand or arm is not a consequence of, or justifiable by, the player’s body movement for that specific situation. Placing the hand or arm in such a position increases the risk of the ball striking them and being penalized.
  • Scores a goal in the opponent’s net:
    • Directly from their hand or arm, even if accidental, including by the goalkeeper.
    • Immediately after the ball touches their hand or arm, even if accidental.

The goalkeeper has the same restrictions on handling the ball as any other player outside the penalty area. If the goalkeeper handles the ball within their penalty area when not permitted, an indirect free kick is awarded, but no disciplinary action is taken.

However, if the goalkeeper commits a second-touch offense (with or without using their hand or arm) after a restart before the ball has touched another player, they should be penalized if this action prevents a promising attack or denies the opponent or opposing team a goal or clear scoring opportunity.

Football Rules About Free Kicks

Football Rules About Free Kicks
Football Rules About Free Kicks

Types of Free Kicks

Direct and indirect free kicks are awarded to the opposing team when a player, substitute, substituted player, or team official commits an offense.

Indirect Free Kick Signal
The referee signals an indirect free kick by raising one arm above their head. This signal is maintained until the kick has been taken and the ball touches another player, goes out of play, or it becomes clear that a goal cannot be scored directly.

  • If the referee fails to signal for an indirect free kick and the ball is kicked directly into the goal, the kick must be retaken.

Football Rules About Scoring Rules

  • A goal is awarded if a direct free kick enters the opponent’s goal directly.
  • If an indirect free kick enters the opponent’s goal directly, a goal kick is awarded.
  • If a direct or indirect free kick is kicked directly into the team’s own goal, a corner kick is awarded to the opposing team.

Procedures

All free kicks are taken from the location of the offense, except:

  • Indirect free kicks for attacking offenses inside the opponent’s goal area: Taken from the nearest point on the goal area line parallel to the goal line.
  • Direct free kicks for defensive offenses inside the defensive goal area: Taken from anywhere within that area.
  • For offenses where a player leaves or re-enters the field without permission, the free kick is taken from the position of the ball when play was stopped. However, if the offense occurs off the field, the restart is taken on the nearest boundary line, and if it is a direct free kick offense, a penalty kick is awarded if the offense took place in the offender’s penalty area.

Football Rules About Penalty Kicks

A penalty kick is awarded when a player commits a direct free kick offense within their own penalty area or off the field as part of the game. Goals can be scored directly from a penalty kick.

=> Read more: Authority and Equipment of Referees: Things You Might Not Know

Procedure

  • The ball must be stationary on the penalty mark, and the goalposts, crossbar, and net must not move.
  • The player taking the penalty kick must be clearly identified.
  • The defending goalkeeper must remain on the goal line, facing the kicker, and must not touch the goalposts, crossbar, or net until the ball is kicked.
  • Players other than the kicker and goalkeeper must be:
    • At least 9.15 m (10 yds) from the penalty mark.
    • Behind the penalty mark.
    • Inside the field of play.
    • Outside the penalty area.

After the players are in position, the referee signals for the penalty to be taken.

  • The kicker must kick the ball forward (backheels are allowed if the ball moves forward).
  • When the ball is kicked, the defending goalkeeper must have at least part of one foot on, in line with, or behind the goal line.
  • The ball is in play once it is kicked and clearly moves.

The penalty kick is completed when the ball stops moving, goes out of play, or the referee stops play for any infringement.

=> Read more: Football Match Rules, Technology, and Player Equipment

Football Rules About Throw-Ins

Football Rules About Throw-Ins
Football Rules About Throw-Ins

A throw-in is awarded to the opponents of the player who last touched the ball when the entire ball crosses the touchline, either on the ground or in the air.

Scoring Rules

  • A goal cannot be scored directly from a throw-in:
    • If the ball enters the opponent’s goal, a goal kick is awarded.
    • If the ball enters the thrower’s goal, a corner kick is awarded to the opponents.

Procedure

At the time of delivery, the thrower must:

  • Face the field of play.
  • Have part of each foot either on the touchline or on the ground outside the touchline.
  • Deliver the ball using both hands from behind and over their head from the point where the ball left the field.

The above are the football rules compiled by JILIACE to equip you with essential football knowledge. We hope this information is helpful to you!

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