Introduction
Have you ever wondered if a shot counts when the ball deflates or breaks in mid – air before crossing the goal line? Today, we’ll uncover 10 seldom – known football rules.
1. Ball Condition Rules
FIFA mandates that the match ball must remain in perfect condition throughout. A standard football should weigh between 410 – 450 grams, and the pressure should be between 0.6 – 1.1 standard atmospheres. The referee is responsible for inspecting the ball before and during the game. If the ball breaks during a shot, even if it goes into the goal, a penalty kick will be retaken.
2. Yellow Cards for Illegal Celebrations
Even if a goal is disallowed for some reason, a yellow card for illegal celebration still stands. This rule was added in the 2019 – 2020 season. For instance, if a player takes off their shirt in excitement after scoring, but the goal is later ruled out, they’ll still get a yellow card for this act. Illegal celebrations include not only shirt – removing but also climbing fences, wearing masks, or making provocative gestures.
3. Pre – match Sending – off
A player can be sent off even before the game starts. If a player behaves unruly during warm – ups, like showing violence, engaging in conflicts, or using extremely offensive language or gestures, the referee has the right to send them off. The sent – off player can’t participate in the game, and the team can’t replace them with a substitute. Just like Patrice, who was sent off in 2017 for attacking a fan during warm – ups.
4. Equal Number of Penalty – takers
In a penalty shoot – out, the number of players allowed to take penalties from both sides must be equal. If a player from team A is sent off during normal play, team B must also exclude one player from the penalty shoot – out. This happened in the 2006 World Cup final between Italy and France. Do you remember which Italian player missed the penalty shoot – out?
5. Minimum Number of Players to Start
We know that a regular football match consists of two teams of 11 players each. However, if a team is short – handed before kick – off, theoretically, they can start with just seven players. This is the minimum requirement for the game to proceed. So, in an 11 – a – side match, a team can get a maximum of four red cards. A fifth red card would stop the game. This rule doesn’t apply to substitutes.
6. Distance from the Wall for Attacking Players
Since June 1, 2019, when the defending team forms a wall with three or more players, attacking players must not stand within 1 meter of the wall when a free – kick is taken. Otherwise, an indirect free – kick will be awarded. This new rule was added because some attacking players liked to disrupt the wall, wasting time and affecting the game’s image.
7. Direct Own – goal Rules
Under any restart situation – free – kick, corner – kick, goal – kick, throw – in, or penalty – kick, a player can’t score a direct own – goal. If you take a free – kick and it goes straight into your own goal without anyone else touching it, the goal won’t count, even though it can be embarrassing. But if the ball touches any other player, including the goalkeeper, before entering the goal, it’s a valid goal.
8. Options after Winning the Coin – toss
The team that wins the coin – toss can choose to kick – off or the direction of attack. This rule is straightforward, but in the past, the captain who won the coin – toss could only choose the direction of attack. This small change gives captains more tactical considerations. They might make a choice based on factors like the sun’s position, wind direction, or the position of the fans in the stands. For example, if the sun might affect the goalkeeper in the second half, a smart captain might choose to face that direction in the first half to gain an advantage in the crucial second half.
9. Penalty – kick Goalkeeper Rules
During a penalty – kick, the goalkeeper must stand on the goal line, with feet not stepping on or over the line. Before the ball is kicked, the goalkeeper can move along the line but can’t leave it. Also, the goalkeeper isn’t allowed to touch the ball, goalpost, or net, nor make obvious distracting movements like waving arms wildly or jumping. If the goalkeeper breaks the rules before the ball is kicked and no goal is scored, the penalty will be retaken. If a goal is scored, it counts.
10. Goalkeeper’s Ball – holding Time Limit
The goalkeeper can hold the ball for a maximum of 6 seconds. The timing starts when the goalkeeper has full control of the ball. If it exceeds 6 seconds, in theory, an indirect free – kick should be awarded to the opposing team. In practice, referees usually give some leeway, unless the goalkeeper is clearly stalling. This rule forces goalkeepers to quickly organize attacks, increasing the game’s rhythm and preventing them from wasting time, especially towards the end of the game.
Do you have any football rules that others don’t know? Let’s share them together
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