Football Glossary
FOOTBALL BODIES
The IFAB – The International Football Association Board
Body composed of the four British FAs and FIFA which is responsible for the Laws of the Game worldwide. In principle, changes to the Laws may only be approved at the Annual General Meeting usually held in February or March
FIFA – Fédération Internationale de Football Association
The governing body responsible for football throughout the world
Confederation
Body responsible for football in a continent. The six confederations are AFC (Asia), CAF (Africa), CONCACAF (North, Central America and Caribbean), CONMEBOL (South America), OFC (Oceania) and UEFA(Europe)
National football association
Body responsible for football in a country
FOOTBALL TERMS
Abandon
To end/terminate a match before the scheduled finish
Additional time
Time allowed at the end of each half for time ‘lost’ because of substitutions, injuries, disciplinary action, goal celebration etc.
Advantage
The referee allows play to continue when an offence has occurred if this benefits the non-offending team
Assessment of injured player
Quick examination of an injury, usually by a medical person, to see if the player requires treatment
Away goals rule
Method of deciding a match/tie when both teams have scored the same number of goals; goals scored away from home count double
Brutality
An act which is savage, ruthless or deliberately violent
Caution
Disciplinary sanction which results in a report to a disciplinary authority; indicated by showing a yellow card; two cautions in a match result a player or team official being sent off
Challenge
An action when a player competes/contests with an opponent for the ball
Charge (an opponent)
Physical challenge against an opponent, usually using the shoulder and upper arm (which is kept close to the body)
Cooling break
In the interests of player welfare and safety, competition rules may allow, in certain weather conditions (high humidity and temperatures), ‘cooling’ breaks (usually ninety seconds to three minutes) to allow the body’s temperature, to fall; these are different from ‘drinks’ breaks
Deceive
Act to mislead/trick the referee into giving an incorrect decision/disciplinary sanction which benefits the deceiver and/or their team
Deliberate
An action which the player intended/meant to make; it is not a ‘reflex’ orunintended reaction
Direct free kick
A free kick from which a goal can be scored by kicking the ball directly into the opponents’ goal without having to touch another player
Discretion
Judgment used by a referee or other match official when making a decision
Dissent
Public protest or disagreement (verbal and/or physical) with a match official’s decision; punishable by a caution (yellow card)
Distract
Disturb, confuse or draw attention (usually unfairly)
Drinks break
Competition rules may allow ‘drinks’ breaks (of no more than one minute) for players to rehydrate; these are different from ‘cooling’ breaks
Dropped ball
A method of restarting play – the referee drops the ball for one player of the team that last touched the ball (except in the penalty area where the ball is dropped for the goalkeeper); the ball is in play when it touches the ground
Electronic performance and tracking system (EPTS)
System which records and analyses data about the physical and physiological performance of a player
Endanger the safety of an opponent
Put an opponent at danger or risk (of injury)
Excessive force
Using more force/energy than is necessary
Extra time
A method of trying to decide the outcome of a match involving two equal additional periods of play not exceeding 15 minutes each
Feinting
An action which attempts to confuse an opponent. The Laws define permitted and ‘illegal’ feinting
Field of play (Pitch)
The playing area confined by the touchlines and goal lines and goal nets where used
Goal line technology (GLT)
Electronic system which immediately informs the referee when a goal has been scored i.e. the ball has wholly passed over the goal line in the goal(see Law 1 for details)
Hybrid system
A combination of artificial and natural materials to create a playing surface which requires sunlight, water, air circulation and mowing
Impede
To delay, block or prevent an opponent’s action or movement
Indirect free kick
A free kick from which a goal can only be scored if another player (of any team) touches the ball after it has been kicked
Intercept
To prevent a ball reaching its intended destination
Kick
The ball is kicked when a player makes contact with the foot and/or the ankle
Kicks from the penalty mark
Method of deciding the result of a match by each team alternately taking kicks until one team has scored one more goal and both teams have taken the same number of kicks (unless during the first 5 kicks for each team, one team could not equal the other team’s score even if they scored from all their remaining kicks)
Negligible
Insignificant, minimal
Offence
An action which breaks/violates the Laws of the Game
Offensive, insulting or abusive language
Verbal or physical behaviour which is rude, hurtful, disrespectful; punishable by a sending-off (red card)
Outside agent
Any person who is not a match official or on the team list (players, substitutes and team officials) or any animal, object, structure etc.
Penalise
To punish, usually by stopping play and awarding a free kick or penalty kick to the opposing team (see also Advantage)
Play
Action by a player which makes contact with the ball
Playing distance
Distance to the ball which allows a player to touch the ball by extending the foot/leg or jumping or, for goalkeepers, jumping with arms extended. Distance depends on the physical size of the player
Quick free kick
A free kick taken (with the referee’s permission) very quickly after play was stopped
Reckless
Any action (usually a tackle or challenge) by a player which disregards (ignores) the danger to, or consequences for, the opponent
Restart
Any method of resuming play after it has been stopped
Sanction
Disciplinary action taken by the referee
Save
An action by a player to stop or attempt to stop the ball when it is going into or very close to the goal using any part of the body except the hands/arms (unless a goalkeeper within their own penalty area)
Sending-off
Disciplinary action when a player is required to leave the field for the remainder of the match having committed a sending-off offence (indicated by a red card); if the match has started the player cannot be replaced.A team official may also be sent off.
Serious foul play
A tackle or challenge for the ball that endangers the safety of an opponent or uses excessive force or brutality; punishable by a sending-off (red card)
Signal
Physical indication from the referee or any match official; usually involves movement of the hand or arm or flag, or use of the whistle (referee only)
Simulation
An action which creates a wrong/false impression that something has occurred when it has not (see also deceive); committed by a player to gain an unfair advantage
Spirit of the game
The main/essential principles/ethos of football as a sport but also within a particular match(see Law 5)
Suspend
To stop a match for a period of time with the intention of eventually restarting play e.g. fog, heavy rain, thunderstorm, serious injury
Tackle
A challenge for the ball with the foot (on the ground or in the air)
Team list
Official team document usually listing the players, substitutes and team officials
Team official
Any non-player listed on the official team list e.g. coach, physiotherapist, doctor, etc.
Technical area
Defined area (in stadia) for the team officials which includes seating(see Law 1 for details)
Technical staff
Official non-playing team members listed on the official team list e.g. coach, physiotherapist, doctor, etc.
Temporary dismissal
A temporary suspension from the next part of the match for a player guilty of some/all cautionable offences (depending on competition rules)
Undue interference
Action/influence which is unnecessary
Unsporting behaviour
Unfair action/behaviour; punishable by a caution
Violent conduct
An action, which is not a challenge for the ball, which uses or attempts to use excessive force or brutality against an opponent or when a player deliberately strikes someone on the head or face unless the force used is negligible