Handball: direct or indirect free kick?
One of the more confusing rules in football is the distinction between direct and indirect free kicks. Handballs are a controversial topic, but leaving the controversy aside, you might be …
Behind the Rules
What part of the arm is handball in football?
Like many rules in football, handballs can get confusing. One aspect which can get controversial is the part of the arm that actually counts as handball. You see a slow …
Do any players NOT count as a defender for the offside rule?
The offside rule can get a little confusing at times and you might be wondering which players actually count as defenders for the offside rule. So, do any players not …
Do arms count as offside?
With the introduction of VAR, football viewers get a closer look than ever at offside calls made by officials. Sometimes these calls are incredibly close and it appears that a …
Can you be offside in your own half?
If you don’t know the ins and outs of the offside rule, there can be times when you’re sure a player is offside but the referee doesn’t blow his whistle. …
Football stoppage time: rules & FAQs
We all know that after most halfs of a football match, a few minutes are added on. But you might not be aware of some of the intricities of this …
Can you steal the ball from the goalkeepers hands?
It’s very common to see a forward press the keeper as he performs a drop kick to either win the ball or even score from a lucky rebound. But most …
What’s the offside rule when the goalkeeper is out of his goal?
For most of a football match, the goalkeeper stays near his goal and is usually the closest defending player to the goal line. Occasionally, whether to come out for an …
What are the exceptions to the offside rule?
There are a few exceptions to the offside rule, some of which players can use to their advantage to get behind the defensive line without being flagged. Below is a …
Can a defenders arm play someone onside?
Now that we have VAR to take a closer look at offside calls, referees are under more pressure to make the correct decisions. A close offside call usually causes some …