Unlocking the Secrets of Soccer: A Comprehensive Guide to Football's Fundamentals

15 Football Trivia

On a planet where football reigns supreme, you watch football, talk about football, bet on football, and even curse at your favorite stars. But have you ever stopped to think about the basic football knowledge? Do you truly understand it?

1. Free Kick

A free kick is a method to restart a football (or soccer) game after a foul has occurred. There are two types of free kicks: direct free kicks (where the kicking player can score directly into the opposing team's goal) and indirect free kicks (where the kicking player cannot score directly, and the ball must touch or be touched by another player before entering the goal).

2. Penalty Kick

During a game, if a team commits one of ten fouls that can result in a direct free kick inside their own penalty area, a penalty kick is awarded. A penalty kick can directly result in a goal. Additional time is allowed for penalty kicks at the end of each half or during extra time.

3. Corner Kick

When the entire ball crosses the goal line outside the goal, and the last player to touch it was from the defending team, the attacking team takes a corner kick. Corner kicks can lead to a direct goal if scored without any additional touches.

4. Throw-In

A throw-in is a method to restart the game when the ball completely crosses the sideline, either on the ground or in the air. The opposing team of the player who last touched the ball before it went out of play is awarded the throw-in.

5. Goal Kick

A goal kick is a method to restart the game, typically taken by a defending player from within the goal area. The ball can be kicked directly into the opponent's goal for a goal. If the ball does not leave the penalty area, it must be retaken.

6. Yellow Card

In a football match, when a player commits a foul, the referee may issue a yellow card as a warning. Traditionally, referees record the details of the foul in their notebook, hence the term "booking."

7. Red Card

In a football match, if a player commits a serious foul, the referee shows a red card, resulting in the player's ejection from the game. If a player has already received a yellow card and subsequently commits another foul, they will be shown a red card and sent off, as per the "two yellow cards equal a red card" rule.

8. Offside

A player is in an offside position if, at the moment the ball is played by a teammate, they are nearer to the opponent's goal line than both the ball and the second-to-last defender, and they are involved in active play. Being in an offside position is an offense.

9. Substitution

Each team in a match is allowed to have no more than 11 players on the field, including one goalkeeper. If either team has fewer than 7 players, the game cannot begin. In official matches organized by FIFA, continental associations, or national associations, each team can use up to 3 substitute players. In friendly matches and warm-ups, the number of substitutions may be unlimited per pre-match agreement.

10. Injury Time

In football, injury time is added at the end of each half to compensate for stoppages in play, including injuries and substitutions. Typically, each stoppage adds 30 seconds to the injury time. The fourth official indicates the amount of injury time to be played before the end of the half.

In international football, injury time generally ranges from 1 to 5 minutes.

11. Extra Time

Extra time in football consists of 30 minutes, and FIFA regulations dictate that all official matches must play a full 30 minutes, regardless of goals scored, with no added injury time or halftime break.

If there is no winner after extra time, a penalty shootout ensues.

12. Penalty Shootout

In a football match, if no winner is determined after regular time and extra time, a penalty shootout is used to decide the victor. Each team takes turns shooting penalties, with a total of 5 shots for each team. The team with the most goals after 5 rounds wins. If the score is still tied, a sudden death penalty shootout follows, continuing until one team wins.

13. Football Field

A football field must be rectangular in shape, with a length between 90 and 120 meters and a width between 45 and 90 meters. The length must always exceed the width.

14. Goal

A football goal is placed in the center of each goal line, comprising two upright posts, 7.32 meters apart, equidistant from the corner flag, and connected by a horizontal crossbar situated 2.44 meters above the ground. Whether fixed or movable, goals must be stably secured to the field to ensure safety.

15. Match Ball

The official match ball for an 11-a-side football game is a size 5 ball, characterized by a round shape, leather or appropriate materials, a circumference between 68 and 70 centimeters, a weight between 410 and 450 grams at the start of the match, and an internal pressure equivalent to 0.6 to 1.1 atmospheres at sea level. Substituting the match ball during play is not allowed without the referee's permission.