Beginners Pack For A Pretender Football Fan – A Cheat Sheet To Avoid Embarrassment

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A lot of people pretend to be football fans but know nothing about it. Nah ah, not even 1%! So, for all the cool-ios and pretenders out there, here a small guide, consisting of basic rules of the game. Before someone does this to you in public, READ IT!!

RULE # 1: DURATION OF A MATCH:

Source: Mirror

The match is played for 90 minutes, consisting of 2 equal halves of 45 minutes. A half, at times both, might be extended, if the referee, i.e. the 4th referee, thinks it’s necessary, – in football language, it called ‘injury period’ or ‘stoppage time’ – and by necessary, it means, stoppage of play because of injuries, substitution of  players, or maybe a penalty kick – taken from the spot of penalty, all players except the kicker and the goalkeeper must be outside the penalty arc/area.

RULE # 2: KICKOFFS:

Source: Kickoff

Kickoffs indicate start or restart of the game. By restart I mean, starting the game after a goal. The kickoff takes place in the center circle, consisting of only 2 players in the circle.

RULE # 3: METHOD OF SCORING:

Source: Player Scout

If the ball crosses or touches the goal line, – whether in air or on the ground – without violating rules, it’s a goal!! The team with the most goals wins, and if both the teams have an equal number of goals, it’s a tie!

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RULE # 4: FOULS AND FOULS PUNISHMENTS:

Source: Emirates FA

Fouls include the following acts:

  • Obstruction: creating a barrier or impeding the progress of a player.
  • Sliding Tackles: if the player tackling, touches the other player before the ball, it’s a foul, punishable by a free kick, and if it’s a back from the back, it’s punishable by a red card.
  • Holding: trying to stop the other player, is a foul, punishable by a free kick – either a direct one, in which the kicker may score directly or an indirect one, in which the kicker must touch the ball before the goal is scored. It is usually taken from the spot of violation.
  • High Tackle: basically, it isn’t a foul, but if you impede the movement of a player, it can be. It all depends on the judgment of the referee.

Source: Toga Sports Blog

  • Tripping: carelessly bumping of crashing isn’t a foul, but if due to the clumsiness of one player, the other trips, it will be considered a foul. However, the final decision remains with the referee.
  • THE CARDS: finally, here come the cards, they come in red and yellow color. First the yellow card,  it’s shown to a player who might have committed offenses like, leaving/entering the ground without the referees’ permission, violating rules, using inappropriate words or actions,  or delaying the start of the game. Next, comes the red card, it’s shown for serious offenses, resulting in dismissal from the game. Offenses include violent, abusive and offensive language and actions, foul balls, and deliberately handling the ball. If a person is shown a yellow card earlier, next time a red card is shown, in the same game.

RULE # 5:  THROW IN:

Source: Blogger

Awarded to the opposing team, when the ball goes over the touchline or the boundary of the ground, the throw is taken from the spot where the ball went out of the bound.

RULE # 6: CORNER & GOAL KICK:

Source: Soccer Universe

The goal kick is awarded to the defending team if the opposing team causes the ball to go over the goal line. Any player can take it from the team, but it must de be done within the goal area, and the ball must go over the penalty area, or it’ll be retaken.

The corner kick is awarded to the attacking team if the opposing team causes the ball to go over the goal line. The play is resumed, by placing the ball in the nearest corner arc to the goal line.

Hopefully, these rules have helped you learn something, and maybe you’ll be able to defend your football fan title.

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