FIFA

Why People Get This Wrong

People often assume that the concussion substitution protocol is only for severe head injuries like concussions, when in fact it's designed to cover any situation where a player might be at risk of sustaining a concussion — from feeling dizzy after a fall to having a brief loss of consciousness. They overlook the broader interpretation and flexibility built into this rule to ensure player safety.

Why People Get This Wrong

People often assume that the 45-minute halves are strictly fixed periods without adjustments for time lost during matches, leading to misunderstandings about how much actual playing time will be covered if substitutions or injuries occur frequently. The confusion arises because the rule states the referee adds this time at the end of each half, not altering the initial 45-minute structure itself.

Why People Get This Wrong

People often assume that the green color requirement for artificial turf is purely aesthetic, forgetting that it's crucial for maintaining consistent ball bounce and roll across all playing conditions, including lightning strikes or extreme weather. They overlook how a non-green surface could drastically affect gameplay unpredictably, leading to confusion about its necessity beyond appearance.

Why People Get This Wrong

People often assume that substitutes can enter the field at any time during play when signaled by the referee, which leads to misunderstandings about when substitutions are actually allowed under FIFA rules. The confusion arises because they overlook the specific timing and location constraints for entering the pitch, as dictated by the rule requiring players to leave before new ones arrive.

Why People Get This Wrong

People often argue that they didn't mean to use 'excessive force,' so they shouldn't get a penalty kick when it's really about whether their action was careless or reckless enough to warrant such severe punishment. The confusion arises because 'excessive force' is subjective and judges can interpret it differently, leading to disputes over whether an incident falls under this category.

Why People Get This Wrong

People often assume that a direct free kick is only awarded for deliberate, obvious fouls like tripping or kicking an opponent. They forget about indirect offenses like sliding tackles that might seem careless but aren't always clearly defined as such by referees, leading to arguments over whether the offense was indeed reckless and forceful enough to warrant a direct free kick.

Why People Get This Wrong

People often assume that if a foul is committed in their favor, the referee will immediately punish it, thinking they're getting away with nothing. In reality, the "Advantage" rule gives referees leeway to let play continue when they believe the team committing the foul would benefit from doing so, as long as no significant negative consequence occurs within a short timeframe.

Why People Get This Wrong

People often assume that a team can only have 10 players out on the field at one time, forgetting about the goalkeeper who counts towards the total of 11. This leads to misunderstandings when they argue that their team should be allowed to start or continue playing if they think they just need 7 players available in reserve, not necessarily all on the pitch simultaneously.

Why People Get This Wrong

People often think that if a player is in an offside position, they can never be involved in play by being caught interfering with play, preventing an opponent, or winning the ball. However, this isn't true; a player in an offside position can still be penalized for these actions, even though their positioning makes them ineligible to receive the ball directly from a pass.

Why People Get This Wrong

People often assume that the green color requirement for artificial turf is purely aesthetic, forgetting that it's crucial for maintaining consistent ball bounce and roll, which are essential for fair play under FIFA standards. They overlook how uniform surface conditions help ensure all players receive a level playing field, regardless of their position or team.