The Development Of Football Rules

The regulations governing the sport of association football, commonly known as soccer, underwent a protracted developmental process. Initially, there was a lack of standardized rules, resulting in the existence of various rule variations depending on the location of play. Today, the game has achieved a level of uniformity regarding the laws governing it, but this took a considerable amount of time. The inception of this process can be traced back to a pivotal meeting held in Cambridge in 1848. However, it wasn't until a subsequent gathering in London, fifteen years later, that a satisfactory set of regulations was finally reached. These rules, however, were markedly different from the contemporary ones we are familiar with today.

The Early Stages

During the nascent stages of football, distinguishing between the two teams was challenging, as there were no standardized team jerseys or player numbering. The dimensions of the playing field and the number of participants could also vary significantly.

In the 1800s

The initial efforts to compile a comprehensive set of regulations applicable universally in all areas where the sport was played were initiated during a meeting in Cambridge in 1848. Representatives from various British educational institutions attended, and this event led to the creation of the "Cambridge Rules," representing the first attempt to unify the sport's rules.

Nevertheless, a prolonged debate ensued regarding the fundamental nature of the game. It took several more assemblies to conclusively establish that football should be a sport exclusively played with the feet, focusing on dribbling and kicking, as opposed to involving the use of hands for catching and running. This distinction ultimately led to the divergence between association football and rugby. Up until 1863, it was still commonplace for players to use their hands in some schools.

Beyond the schism between association football and rugby, those who chose not to adhere to the new code led to the development of various forms of football in America and Australia.

The early evolution of the rules also served to make football less violent and brutal. While today's game may be perceived as intense, it pales in comparison to its early incarnation. Prior to 1863, actions such as "hacking" (forcefully kicking an opponent) were considered an integral part of the sport, reflecting the game's rugged and macho character.

The standardization achieved in 1863 was still a far cry from the modern version of the game. Here are some regulations that were in effect:

- The absence of a crossbar, with goals lacking a specific height limitation.

- A player catching a high ball was awarded a free kick.

- If the ball went out of bounds, the player who first touched it was granted a throw-in.

- Throw-ins were performed with one hand (except in Scotland).

- The Role of the Referee

Notably, referees did not become a fixture of football until 1871. Instead, team captains were responsible for maintaining order on the field, reflecting the sport's origins as a gentlemen's pastime. It was only in 1871, with the establishment of the FA Cup, that the use of two referees to mediate disputes between captains was officially mandated. Seven years later, referees began using whistles, providing players and spectators with auditory cues for the first time.

Prior to the 2018 FIFA World Cup, the use of cameras to assist referees was introduced for the first time. Video assistant referees, also known as VAR, were exclusively employed for decisions related to goals, penalties, and red cards.

The Role of the Goalkeeper

In the early days of football, the position of goalkeeper was not distinctly defined. It was not until 1909 that the last player on the team began wearing a distinctively colored shirt. Three years later, the rule stipulated that the goalkeeper could only use their hands within the penalty area near their own goal. Before this, the rules regarding goalkeepers were less stringent.

Corner Kicks

Corner kicks were introduced in 1872. In 1924, a rule change allowed corner kicks to be directly scored as goals. This change was swiftly implemented, as demonstrated in a match between Argentina and Uruguay that same year. Argentine player Ceáreo Onzari scored the only goal in the match directly from a corner kick, earning it the title "el gol olímpico" due to being executed against the reigning Olympic champions, Uruguay. The term "gol olímpico" is sometimes used in Spanish-speaking regions to refer to a goal scored directly from a corner kick.

Penalties

Penalties were introduced in 1891, marking a significant change from the previous practice of indirect free kicks. At the time, penalty areas were not marked on the pitch (a change implemented in 1902), and penalties were awarded if a referee deemed a rule violation to have occurred within twelve yards of the goal line.

In 1970, penalty shootouts were officially introduced to decide matches that remained tied after regulation time. The inaugural penalty shootout in a World Cup match (excluding qualification matches) took place in 1982 during the semi-final between West Germany and France.

Offside

Over the past century, various iterations of the offside rule have existed. In the game's earliest form, which centered on dribbling rather than passing, an offside rule was initially considered unnecessary.

The initial offside rule stipulated that passes had to be made sideways or backward. While this principle became the standard in rugby, football took a different path when the rule was modified in 1866. According to the revised rule, a player could pass the ball forward if three players from the opposing team were positioned between the ball and the opponent's goal.

This rule change resulted in a dearth of goals and necessitated several adjustments in the early 1900s. The first alteration occurred in 1907 when it was decreed that a player could not be offside in their own half. In 1921, another rule was introduced to favor attackers by eliminating the possibility of being offside during a throw-in. Subsequently, the requirement for only two defenders, as opposed to three, to be positioned between the ball and the opponent's goal further tilted the balance in favor of attackers.

Extra Time

Before the standardization of rules, there was no uniform regulation for extra time. In knockout tournaments, a match that ended in a draw after 90 minutes could either proceed to extra time or result in a replay. Extra time was not governed by formal rules and could extend until a decisive goal was scored (as penalty shootouts were not introduced until 1970), or it could continue for hours until darkness necessitated an interruption.

FAQs

1. When were standardized football rules first established?

Standardized football rules were first established in 1863 during a meeting in London.

2. Who was responsible for maintaining order on the field before referees were introduced?

Before referees were introduced in 1871, the captains of both teams were responsible for maintaining order on the field.

3. When were penalty shoot-outs officially introduced in football?

Penalty shoot-outs were officially introduced in 1970 to decide drawn matches after full time.

4. How did the offside rule change over the years?

The offside rule underwent several changes, but one significant change allowed forward passes as long as three opposing players were between the passer and the opponent's goal.

5. When were corner-kicks allowed to be scored directly as goals?

In 1924, a rule change allowed corner-kicks to be scored directly as goals, resulting in famous goals like "el gol olímpico."