Football is known as the beautiful game for many reasons, the only sport to stop a war, a lot of people love to play the game and a lot of people love to watch the game, however many fans of the sport may know a lot of rules but some may not know five rules that sometimes isn’t followed in by any Referees. Here are 5 Rules you may not have known about!
Any interference from the crowd, should result in a drop ball.
The law states that if there is any interference from the crowd or anything at all, e.g. dog on the pitch, the referee must award a drop ball, meaning the play should be stopped straight away. If any goals happen from this, the goal shouldn’t count, however there was one incident that happened back in 2009, Liverpool FC had an incident that occurred when a beach ball was thrown onto the pitch and conceded a goal because of it. The play wasn’t stopped, and the goal was awarded when it should have been disallowed!
Can’t score an own goal from a free kick or throw in.
A lot of fans know that you can’t score an own goal from a throw in after the incident that happened in 2002, however not many fans may of known about the free kick rule as well, you are unable to score an own goal from a free kick. Meaning you are unable to score a goal by passing it into the goal if it’s in your own net. The incident occurred in a game between Aston Villa and Birmingham City in 2002 and Peter Enckelman missed the ball from a throwing, and it went into the goal, unfortunately the goal was given.
Goalkeepers can only hold the ball for 6 seconds.
Some fans may already know about this rule due to the popular game known as FIFA, they implemented this rule from the start, however some fans may not know this since the game may of been trying to make the play happen quicker and allow more freedom on the ball after 6 seconds, however the rule is real! The referee may not enforce this rule much since most goalkeepers stay on the floor longer to time waste however, this is a real rule that is implemented into the sport.
The ball must be made with of a suitable material.
In football, you must have a round football and must be 68cm and 70cm, or at least in-between. The ball must also be made with suitable material to be allowed in the world of football! The ball has come a long way to become what it is today, however nowadays the ball doesn’t lose much air or goes flat but if it does the play must be stopped. Most fans may not know this but if the ball goes flat or deflates in the air during a shot, the goal must be disallowed.
Passing the ball isn’t allowed during a penalty.
A lot of fans may not know this since Messi and Suarez are the most recent footballers to try and do this rule, however this isn’t allowed and would result in the goal being disallowed. Players like Thierry Henry, Lionel Messi and Johan Cruyff have done this, and one embarrassing moment happened with Robert Pires and Thierry Henry!
Which one did you not know about?
