Football laws have been refined over time to preserve the integrity and beauty of the game. Below are some rarely applied yet fascinating rules.

1. If the Ball Explodes on Its Way to the Goal, the Goal Does Not Count

Lawmakers believe the ball must remain intact during play, leading to the creation of this rule. If the ball is no longer intact, the match must be paused to replace it with a new one.

In a Champions League match, a situation arose where a ball exploded, yet the goal was still awarded. This may have been because it was too difficult for the referee to detect the ball's explosion, and even the players were unaware of this rule.

2. A Yellow Card for Inappropriate Celebration Stands, Even If the Goal Is Disallowed

For example, if you score a goal and celebrate by removing your jersey, but VAR disallows the goal, you will still receive a yellow card for the inappropriate celebration.

Lawmakers explain that even though the goal is disallowed, the impact of the celebration on spectators remains the same as if the goal were valid. So, don’t be surprised if you are penalized with a yellow card despite the goal being ruled out.

3. A Player Can Be Shown a Red Card Even Before the Match Starts

If a player commits a foolish act before the match begins, the referee has full authority to issue a red card, disqualifying the player from the game. Misconduct can include insulting the referee, abusing colleagues, or assaulting fans.

In November 2017, football tips star Patrice Evra, while playing for Marseille (France), delivered a kung-fu kick to a fan during the warm-up before a match. The referee immediately issued a red card, barring Evra from playing in that game.

4. In Penalty Shootouts, Both Teams Must Have the Same Number of Eligible Players

Simply put, if Team A has a player sent off during the 120 minutes of regular and extra time, leaving them with 10 players, only 10 players from Team B can take part in the penalty shootout. This means one player from Team B will be “eliminated” from the penalty lineup.

For example, in the 2006 World Cup Final between France and Italy, legendary French player Zinedine Zidane was sent off during extra time. As a result, one Italian player was excluded from the penalty lineup. That player was midfielder Gennaro Gattuso, who had played 420 minutes throughout the tournament but couldn’t join his teammates in the penalty shootout.

5. A Match Can Start With Just 7 Players Per Team

While we know betting tips app matches involve two teams of 11 players each, if technical issues arise, a team can start the match with only 7 players.

Seven players is the minimum requirement for a team to begin a match. This also means a team can receive up to 4 red cards in a game. If a fifth player is sent off, the match is automatically terminated.

Note that this rule does not apply to substitutes. If all substitutes receive red cards, it’s fine, as long as there are 7 players on the field.

6. No player from the team awarded the free kick is allowed to stand closer than 1 meter to the defensive wall.

This is an official rule implemented on June 1, 2019. When the defensive wall consists of three or more players from Team A (the team conceding the free kick), players from Team B are not permitted to stand within 1 meter of the wall.

According to the lawmakers, Team B players standing within Team A’s wall often create challenges for referees in maintaining order, leading to wasted time:

“There is no concrete evidence to prove that Team B players gain any significant advantage by standing within Team A’s wall. On the contrary, their presence goes against the 'Spirit of the Game' initiative promoted by FIFA, tarnishing the image of the match.”

If a Team A player notices a Team B player infiltrating the wall, they can report it to the referee for appropriate sanctions.

7. A player cannot score an own goal from a corner kick or throw-in.

Indeed, if a player kicks a corner directly or throws the ball straight into their own goal without anyone else touching it, it will not be counted as an own goal. In such cases, the opposing team will be awarded a corner kick.

However, it is extremely rare for spectators to witness this rule being enforced.

8. The team winning the coin toss can now choose to kick off or pick a side.

Previously, the team winning the coin toss could only choose their side of the field. Now, they have the option to either kick off first or select their preferred side.

9. During penalty kicks, the goalkeeper is not allowed to touch the net, goalposts, or crossbar.

The referee will not allow a penalty kick to be taken if they notice the goalkeeper touching the goalposts or crossbar as a way to intimidate the opponent. This rule is genuine, although it is rare to see a referee delay a penalty kick for such behavior.

See more: Learn about the top 10 unknown rules in football

10. The maximum time a goalkeeper can hold the ball is 6 seconds.

After catching the ball, the goalkeeper must return it to play within 6 seconds. However, this rule is not always strictly enforced, as seen in certain situations.

If caught violating this rule, the goalkeeper may receive a yellow card or cause their team to concede an indirect free kick.