Association Football (or soccer) is regarded as the most popular sport in the world.
It is widely believed that modern football was invented in England and that its origin goes as far back as the 8th century AD. Although it’s hard to say when the first game of football was played, the first international match was in 1872 in Glasgow. The match was between rivals Scotland and England, with the match ending in a disappointing 0-0 draw.
The rules are simple. There are two teams. Each team has 11 players on the field: traditionally one goalkeeper and ten outfield players. Each side will also have a number of substitutes. These are usually between five and seven in club football and seven and twelve in international. In most matches – excluding friendlies – each side can use a maximum of three substitutes at any point in the game. Matches are made up of two halves which last 45 minutes each, plus any added time from that half – usually from delays in the game. After each goal, the ball is returned to to the centre circle, where the conceding goal “kicks off”. You also kick off at the start of both halves, with the teams taking turns in kicking off.
The aim is to score the most goals. There are two nets (around 100m away from each other) which are guarded by the goalkeepers. The goalkeepers are the only players who are allowed to touch the ball with their hands – but only in their own “box”. If any outfield player (or goalkeeper outside their box) handles the ball, they will be penalised.
General make-up of a football pitch
There are rules for fouling too. You can foul by either unfairly tackling an opposing player, handling the ball, diving, acting in an aggressive manner or disrespecting the referee. You can be given a yellow card, which is a warning. If you receive another yellow, you are given a red card and you’re sent off and your team lose a player. This term is often known as “down to 10 men”. You can also receive a straight red card for two-footed tackling, headbutting, verbal abuse and general fighting as well as fouling an opponent in a goal-scoring opportunity.
Fouls lead to set pieces which stops play and allows the team to take a free kick or a penalty. Free kicks usually consist of a player crossing a ball into the box for a player or trying to shoot. The opposing team will build a wall to try and block the kick – but they must be at least 10 yards away. If a player fouls in their own box, it’s a penalty. This allows the opposing team to score from a spot 12 yards from the goal. It’s a one-on-one between the penalty taker and the goalkeeper.
If the ball leaves the lines of play – either behind the goals or at the sides – there are three possible outcomes: it’s a goal kick, corner or throw-in.
A goal kick comes from an attacker who misses the target and the ball goes out of bounds. Because the attacker was the last to touch the ball, the ball is returned to the opposing team with the goalkeeper taking what is basically a free kick from their box. A corner is another set piece that stops play. It allows an attacking player to cross the ball in from one of the four corners of the pitch. A corner is given if the ball goes behind the goal and touches a defending player last. Lastly, a throw-in is given if the ball goes out to the sidelines. This allows a player to throw the ball back into play, but they can’t score from a throw-in, something that Aston Villa players Peter Enckelman and Olof Mellberg will feel aggrieved about (the referee said that Enckelman touched the ball, which would be an own-goal, but replays showed otherwise). A throw-in is given to the team who didn’t kick the ball out of play.
The offside rule is pretty simple too. An attacking player can’t be in front of the second-last defending player or they’re offside. If in line with the second-last player, the attacking player is not offside. You also can’t be penalised for an offside offence if you’re inside your own half in an offside position or from some set pieces like throw-ins, corners and goal kicks.
Simple example of the Offside Rule
Football is especially popular in Europe, Latin America and Africa.
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