The rules of football are quite simple, but some are not so basic and bring much controversy sometimes. In this informative article, we will try to explain most of the commonly misunderstood football rules.
Offside Rule
The referee will call for offside when an attacking player is ahead of the last defender, when the pass he or she is anticipating, is played through to them. This is the reason we have offside trap as a defending tactic.
Of course, there is a lot of debate regarding offside rules, because it’s sometimes hard to catch slippery attackers. Many times offside goals have been miscounted. The referee relies on the keen eyes of linesmen for tight offside situations.
Please note that an attacking player can’t be offside on their half and throw balls can’t be called for offside. Also, note that only the body parts that can score can be ruled offside, so if it’s your hand or arm only in an offside position, you are onside.
Penalty Card Rules
In football, indiscipline is instilled through cards. The lowest punishment is giving a foul but some warrant cards. We have the yellow card for warning players in serious indiscipline or unsportsmanlike acts. A second yellow card in a match escalates to a red card, and the player has to leave the pitch reducing the team to ten men. In grave indiscipline cases, the referee might issue a straight red card without warning.
Accumulation of several consecutive yellow cards or a red card leads to a subsequent ban where a player misses some of the next matches.
Handball or Ball to Hand?
Penalties from fouls are easy to determine, but handballs are often controversial. The rules state that it’s a penalty if the defending player handled the ball deliberately. Now, players and fans often become subjective in deciding whether the defending player handled the ball intentionally or not.