The ten rules of soccer unknown to the fan

Every year, the International Football Association Board, known to all as the IFAB, publishes the rules that govern soccer worldwide. From season to season, small arrangements are introduced such as only one man at the kickoff, allowing the fourth change in overtime… Looking ahead to the next campaign, there are also issues under debate such as the protocol of the VAR in the offside or the possibility of introducing temporary substitutions in case of shock. However, in the published document there are hundreds of immovable rules and some of them are hardly known even by the protagonists themselves. Curiosities, situations not covered … Diez somewhat strange nuances and that you may not know before reading these lines.

1- Throw-ins

Something as simple as a throw-in has a number of nuances in the regulation that are not as popularized because of their improbability. If in a shot a player gets the ball into his own goal without anyone touching it, it will be a corner kick for the rival, just like in a free kick. If a goal is scored in favor of this same method, the opponent would enjoy a goal kick. Furthermore, if a footballer takes a throw-in and the ball fails to enter the field, the throw should in principle be repeated.

2- The goals and the sticks

7.32 meters wide, 2.44 meters high … The dimensions of the goal do not cater to interpretation. However, the posts do not have to be round. They can also be square, rectangular or elliptical in shape as long as they remain standing, they are white and have the same width and thickness.

3- From goal to goal …

The typical phrase of the school playground is valid in the royal regulations. If a goalkeeper, with his hand, scores a goal in the rival goal, the goal will be canceled and a goal kick will be awarded. If you do it with your foot, however, it will go up to the scoreboard. Another curiosity in goals: if the referee scores a goal and the ball does not enter the goal, he should logically cancel it. The regulations do not include the option of whistling for a goal, not entering, but in rejecting the ball it does end up inside the rival network.

4- Penalty kicks

A relatively frequent situation, but not too well known. The IFAB Laws of the Game state that if in a penalty shoot-out a team has ten players and another with eleven, the one who has no numerical inferiority must be compared to his rival. In other words, in the Super Cup final, Atlético de Madrid could only count on ten pitchers in the round, the same as Zidane's team after the expulsion of Fede Valverde. Before the start of the round, Simeone had to inform the referee which of his players would not shoot. Although it seems the opposite, from this circumstance the one who has eleven footballers benefits, since the least experienced will get rid and the specialist will pitch along with one of the rival's best pitchers.

Something rare, but more widespread among soccer fans is that if Iago Aspas takes a penalty on the post, goes for the rejection and scores, the goal would not go up to the scoreboard. The regulation does not allow the maximum penalty thrower to collect the rebound, as long as his shot hit the club and the goalkeeper did not intervene.

Before penalties, the best example is given that the rules are not always strictly observed. The rules of the game impose a maximum minute of rest between the first part and the second part of extra time.. On a day-to-day basis, on rare occasions it stays in just 60 seconds of refreshment. Although the respite is minimal, it is usually longer. That yes, the regulation gives power to the referee to extend it whenever it considers it necessary.

5- Play with less than seven footballers

The regulation stipulates that if a team has less than seven players on the pitch, the match is won directly by their rival. However, if Osasuna suffers four expulsions and Roberto Torres has to go out to the band to change boots, in no case would he lose. In that case, there is an important nuance: the referee should not let the game continue until the midfielder returns with his teammates, but he must not stop it if he leaves with the ball in motion.

6- Goals and unauthorized presences

Nerves can Simeone, who occupies a small space on the field when Álvaro Morata scores in a heads-up with the rival goalkeeper. The referee sees it and not only must he tell the Argentine coach to get into his technical area, but, according to the regulations, he must cancel the goal regardless of the impact of Cholo on the play. Yes, it would validate both if it is Klopp who is in the box when the Atletico striker beats Adrián San Miguel. An even stranger situation. Maxi Gómez is substituted before a corner in favor of Atalanta and withdraws from the pitch for his baseline. The Italian team dribbles the corner kick and, after a couple of rebounds, has a free ball to score. At that time, the Uruguayan forward, already substituted, decided to enter the area to save the rival goal on the line. He succeeds and in a rejection, Papu Gómez scores. The referee must validate the goal.

7- The unknown ball to the ground

In current football, the concept of neutral pot (now the ball on the ground) has disappeared and it is the referee who leaves the ball next to the team that had it controlled at the time the game was stopped. If when throwing the ball it touches a footballer before falling to the ground, it is repeated. Also if after the boat he leaves without anyone touching him. More striking is the goal after a neutral pot. The situation: the referee leaves the dead ball to Frenkie de Jong in front of the area. He decides to shoot directly into the goal and his shot ends at the bottom of the net without anyone touching him.. The result of that action would be a goal kick for the Blaugrana rival.

8- Goal kick

It seems impossible, but have you ever wondered if a goal would be valid in the kickoff? If the ball enters the rival goal it would be. Of course, in no case could a goal be scored in one's own goal. Here's the situation: Real Madrid take off center and Karim Benzema gives the ball back to Thibaut Courtois. The Belgian slips and the ball enters the white goal without any footballer having touched it. The goal does not go up and the referee must signal a corner in favor of the rival team.

9- Long pants on goalkeepers

Footballers must wear their team's shirt, pants, socks and all underwear must go together to avoid confusion. Goalkeepers also have the added bonus of being able to wear long pants if they require it. An advantage only allowed for them.

10- Indirect free kick

Also called a barrier penalty, it is an unusual move in today's football. It can be pointed out by assignment, dangerous play, iron … and also by two strange situations that hardly occur or, failing that, are never called. For the video game fan, when a goalkeeper blocks the ball with his hand, he has a series of seconds to set it in motion. In case of not doing it, the machine responds automatically and hits a long ball. In reality, the referee should signal free indirect. The same would happen if a footballer insults another with the ball in motion. Nothing is further from reality, these actions are usually left in anecdotes.

Check all the rules of the game.