A Perfect Guide For All The Football Rules

Football is the most followed sport in the world. The popular global sport is also considered an intensely emotional game. While the Football players try to ensure that the game is played fairly, tensions are so high that players from opposite teams, or even the same teams, feel the heat. The history of football owes much of its mass appeal to its simplicity. A strip of open space, two players, and a ball are all that's necessary to start a simple game of football. The most followed football leagues, such as the English Premier League and the Spanish La Liga, as well as big international events like the FIFA World Cup, UEFA Euros, and the Olympics, follow the standard universal football rules and regulations. Here's a perfect guide for all the football rules.

A Perfect Guide For All The Football Rules

1. The dimensions and layout of a football pitch

To play football effectively, it's essential to understand the dimensions and layout of a football field. Topped with natural grass or artificial turf, a football pitch is rectangular and measures 90 to 120 meters long and 45 to 90 meters wide. The boundaries along the length of the field are known as touchlines or sidelines, while the ones along the width of the pitch are called goal lines. Additionally, the four corners of the playing area are marked with corner flags.

The playing area, enclosed within the sidelines and goal lines, is divided into two by the half-line drawn parallel to the goal lines. A circle is drawn with the midpoint of the half-line as its centre, called the centre circle. Two goalposts are placed at the central points of each goal line at each end of the pitch. Goalposts are essentially rectangular metal or wooden frames that are 7.32m in length and 2.44m in height and are generally lined with nets. Around each goalpost, there's a designated penalty area called the 18-yard box.

The penalty area extends 16.5m inside the field from the goal and the same distance from either side of the two ends of the goalpost along the goal line. There's a smaller rectangular area called the 6-yard box or goal area inside the penalty box and around each goalpost. It extends 5.5m inside the field from the goal line and the same distance on either side of the two ends of the goalpost. There's a penalty spot marked 11m away from the centre of the goal. The mark falls between the outer edge of the 6-yard box and the 18-yard box.

2. Rules and regulations of football

A football match involves two teams competing against each other. Each team must have a minimum of 7 and a maximum of 11 players. There are four categories of players in a football match: goalkeepers, defenders, midfielders, and forwards. Each team must have one designated goalkeeper. If a goalkeeper is unavailable or suspended, any player from another position can become the designated goalkeeper. Every team is led by a captain, whose official responsibility is representing the team at the coin toss before the kick-off or penalty kicks. Winning the coin toss allows the team to choose the initial direction of play. The direction of play for both teams switches after half-time before the second half starts. The team that loses the toss does the first kick-off to start the game. Here are the main football rules and regulations. Talking about Indian football history, the Indian team in the old days played without shoes.

• Football Match Time

One of the standard football rules is the football match time. Football matches consist of two halves, each lasting 45 minutes, with additional time added for stoppages and injuries. If there is no winner at the end of regular time, an overtime period of 30 minutes (2 halves of 15 minutes each) is played. 

• Fouls and Disciplinary Cards in Football

The football disciplinary system includes two types of cards: red and yellow. These coloured cards were introduced at the 1970 Football World Cup and have been used as a punishment for a foul in football. A yellow card serves as a caution and warning for a player, while a red card results in the player being dismissed from the game. If a player receives two yellow cards in the same match, they will also be dismissed. Even Ronaldo and Messi, who are the best football players in 2024, have been shown many foul cards over the years.

• The offside rule in football

The offside rule is one of the more complex rules in football. It is called when an attacking player is in front of the last defender when the pass is played to them. The offside rule prevents players from hanging around the opponent’s goal while waiting for a pass to score. In football, players are considered onside if they are level with or behind the last defender when the ball is passed to them. If the player is ahead of the last defender, they are considered offside, and a free kick is awarded to the defending team. A player cannot be caught offside in their own half. If the ball is played backwards and the player is in front of the last defender, they are deemed not offside.

• Goal Line Technology and Use of VAR

Nowadays, technology is becoming a big part of the football rules and regulations. Goal Line Technology is one such technology that is always in the football news. It determines whether the ball has crossed the goal line, thereby deciding whether a goal has been scored. A signal is transmitted to the referee's watch, indicating whether or not the ball has crossed the goal line. Video Assistant Referees (VAR) have been introduced to assist the officials in football matches and correct mistakes made by the on-field referee. After watching video replays on a monitor on the side of the pitch, the referee can overturn his decision or stick with his initial decision. VAR can be used to review four types of decisions: goal check, foul during buildup, direct red card, penalty decisions, and mistaken player identity when awarding a card.