For the most part, anyone who enjoys playing and/or watching the game of soccer will most likely have a firm grasp of the various rules that players and teams need to adhere to. These rules have been developed over many decades, and without them, official soccer games would not be able to exist as we know them.
While many of the standard rules are well-known among the general public, there are some rules that are so strange and obscure that it’s hard to believe that they are a part of the game. Let’s explore some of the strangest rules in soccer that are present in the game that we all know and love.
Goalkeepers Holding The Ball
Sometimes a goalkeeper will need to snatch the ball out of the air using their hands; without it, many of the shots that players take would inevitably end up in the goal and the game would be that much more difficult to keep track of as teams rack up points. But one rule that ensures that the ball isn’t off the ground for too long means that goalkeepers are not allowed to hold the ball for a period longer than 6 seconds. In fact, this rule has helped some teams win games that they would have otherwise had to lose.
Another Goalie Rule
Another rule that applies to goalkeepers is that they are not allowed to lift the ball once they have released it to the ground. If they catch the ball and then release it, they are forbidden from picking it up again directly after until it has once again been re-integrated into general play. If the goalie does pick the ball up again, the referee will stop the game and give the competing team a free kick, so it’s a rule that goalies always must keep in mind.
Ball Interference
If there is a foreign object that happens to be on the field and touches the ball, it’s deemed as interference. The referee would then bring the game to a halt momentarily while the object is removed. It’s not uncommon for this to happen in official games where there are fans throwing objects into the field. If a shot is made and it happens to hit the object and then go into the goal, the goal would be forfeit as it’s not officially counted as having been made.
Like many soccer rules, if the referee doesn’t happen to catch the rule break when it occurs and doesn’t call it out, the chances are that the game will continue, and the goal will be counted.
Early Celebrations
For an example of this rule in action, imagine that a player scores a goal and celebrates by running around with their arms up or taking off their shirt – similar to finding success after learning guides to Canadian casinos – but the referee rules out the goal. The act of celebrating, even if the goal has been ruled out, still means that the player can be penalised with a yellow card.
