Strange Football Rules You Probably Never Knew About

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Football is a game most Kenyans love and we can confidently say that whenever there is a match almost all the 40 million Kenyans are coaches but do we even know the rules?

Here are 8 of them.

1. Referees Can Be Substituted

For most of our lives that we’ve watched football, it is not common to see a referee being subbed but in the Fifa soccer rules, this is accepted. If a referee is unable to continue with the match, he can be subbed with an assistant referee to take over the match.

2. The Coach Can Play For The Team If He Wants To

Many might not know this but a coach is part of the team and can sub a player and step on the pitch to play. A typical example is with Gianluca Vialli who used to play for Juventus and later coached Chelsea, he was still capable of playing and so usually subbed himself when the need arises for him to step in. So don’t be surprised when one day a coach decides to play for his team.

3. Linesmen Can Issue Cards

The assistant coach is supposed to inform the referee of offenses which happened on his blind side and decide whether to give a card. If the referee gives the mandate to the linesman, he can issue a card based on what he saw, but the responsibility lies on the referee to give the assistant referee the go ahead according to the Fifa Rule 6.

4. A player cannot be offside from a goal kick, corner or throw-in

During goal kick, corner or throw-in, even if the player is in an off-side position, it is not counted. This has caused many teams goals when they assume it is an off-side and it takes them by surprise.

5. A substitute cannot take a corner or a throw-in to restart the match

When a ball goes out for a throw-in and the team decides to sub a player, the new player who just stepped in cannot take the throw to restart the match. You probably never knew this right?

6. It is illegal for a goalkeeper to roll his sleeves up

A goalkeeper is allowed to wear long sleeves due to their role but one thing they cannot do is to roll the sleeves up to form a short sleeve, they can be given a card for that.

7. A goalkeeper can’t pick the ball up again after he has let it out of his possession until another player has touched it

After catching a ball, a goalkeeper can’t pick the ball up again if he decides to drop it until another player has touched it. If he disobeys, he will receive a card, it is either for him to kick it or allow another player to pass it back to him before he can pick it up again.

8. A linesman can officiate a match

It is absolutely legal for an assistant coach to take over the match and officiate if the referee can’t continue with the match, so basically a linesman is also a referee who can do everything the main referee does.

9. If the referee doesnt notice a foreign object, play continues regardless of whether it intervenes.

If a foreign object enters the field the referee can stop the game to remove it, but if the referee hasn't noticed the foreign object until it actually affects play then it's too late and the interference has to stand. Such as back in 2009 when Sunderland beat Liverpool courtesy of well executed finish from a beach ball. Another example was when Sheffield United had some help from a balloon when they knocked Manchester City out of the FA Cup in 2008. While Paul Peschisolido scored for Derby against Nottingham Forest in 2004 after Barry Roche misjudged a back-pass that took a deflection off an unhelpful coffee cup.

10. If a player does a trick to avoid a back-pass its an automatic booking.

If a player does a trick to avoid a back-pass such as flicking the ball up with his foot and heading it back to the keeper, it is a yellow card offense. Even if the keeper doesn't pick it up it's still a booking as the player has already committed the offence.

11. English game differs.

And finally, it's worth noting that there is a slight difference in the interpretation of the law by the English FA and the rest of the worlds footballing community concerning challenging a goalkeeper. In the Bundesliga, Serie A, League 1 etc. it is an offence to impede the goalkeeper once he has jumped in the air. whereas this rule isn't implement in the English game. A good example of this was when Sol Campbell scored a 90th minute 'goal' against Portugal at Euro 2004. There was outrage in England about the goal that would of surely stood in the Premier League but no where else was this even a talking point as Campbell had clearly impeded the Goalkeepers jump.

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Saturday, 2 July 2016