Football is a game millions think they fully understand until a strange whistle blows or a goal is ruled out in baffling fashion. Beneath the basics lies a layer of lesser-known rules that even seasoned fans and players overlook. Whether you’re a weekend warrior, an armchair analyst, or a rising coach, here are football rules you probably didn’t know and might never forget after today.
7. You Can’t Score an Own Goal Directly from a Free-Kick or Throw-In
If a team accidentally puts the ball into their own net directly from a free-kick or throw-in without any other player touching it, the goal does not count. Instead, the opposing team is awarded a corner.
A famous example came during a Midlands derby when Aston Villa’s Olof Mellberg launched a throw-in toward his goalkeeper. Had the keeper not made contact, the own goal wouldn’t have stood but the faint touch was enough for it to count.
6. A Goal Kick Must Leave the 18-Yard Box to Be in Play
When taking a goal kick, the ball must fully leave the penalty area before any player touches it. If it’s touched too soon even by the kicker the goal kick must be retaken.
This rule famously came into play when Joe Hart mishit a goal kick against QPR, touched it again, and saw Charlie Austin score only for the goal to be disallowed.
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5. No Backpass Rule Workarounds Are Illegal
Trying to outsmart the backpass rule by flicking the ball into the air and heading or chesting it back to the goalkeeper? Technically, that’s not allowed.
While players sometimes get away with it, Marco Verratti was booked for such an attempt, proving that referees are on the lookout for this clever but illegal workaround.
4. A Match Requires Seven Players Per Team to Continue
According to FIFA laws, a team must have a minimum of seven players on the field to start or continue a match. If a team receives five red cards or has players unavailable due to injury or other reasons, the match is abandoned.
3. Offside Doesn’t Apply in Your Own Half
A player cannot be offside if they receive the ball while in their own half, regardless of positioning relative to defenders. This nuance allows for more dynamic defensive and midfield plays without penalizing creativity.
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2. Goalkeepers Can Only Hold the Ball for Six Seconds
Goalkeepers are allowed to hold onto the ball for no longer than six seconds before releasing it. While often loosely enforced, it’s a rule meant to prevent excessive time-wasting and keep the game flowing.
1. No Immediate Rebound Goals from Penalties
After taking a penalty kick, the player who takes it cannot score on the rebound unless another player touches the ball first. This prevents unfair second chances and keeps the playing field level for defenders and keepers alike.
Football’s beauty lies not just in the goals and drama but in the little rules that shape the game behind the scenes.
Did we miss a rule you think more people should know? Drop it in the comments or share this with that one friend who still thinks you can score directly from a throw-in.
Stay tuned for Part 2, the game gets even weirder.
