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A football pitch

Association football is a worldwide team sport more commonly known as football or soccer. The sport was first codified in 1863 in England, although games that involved the kicking of a ball were evident considerably earlier.^[1] A large number of mostly unique terms has grown to describe aspects of the game and its culture.

The evolution of the sport has been mirrored by changes in this terminology. For instance, the role of an inside forward in variants of a 2–3–5 formation has many parallels to that of an attacking midfielder, although the positions are nonetheless distinct.^[2] Similarly, a 2–3–5 centre half can in many ways be compared to a holding midfielder in a 4–1–3–2.^[3]

In many cases, multiple terms exist for the same concept. One reason for this is the evolution of language over time. The sport itself, originally known as association football, is now more widely known by the shortened term football, or soccer, an abbreviation of the word association.^[4] Other duplicate terms can be attributed to the long-standing differences between the varieties of English. In Europe, where British English is prevalent, the achievement of not conceding a goal for an entire match is known as a clean sheet.^[5] In North America, where American and Canadian English dominate, the same achievement is referred to as a shutout.^[6]

Occasionally the actions of an individual have made their way into common football parlance. Two notable examples are Diego Maradona's goals in Argentina's 1986 World Cup quarter-final win against England. After the match, Maradona described his first goal—a handball that the referee missed—as having been scored "a little bit by the hand of God, another bit by the head of Maradona".^[7] His second goal was subsequently voted in a 2002 FIFA poll as the Goal of the century. Both phrases are now widely understood to refer to the goals in that match.^[8]

0–9[link]

The 2–3–2–3, or Metodo formation, a variant of a 2–3–5

• 12th man : An expression used to describe fans present at a football match, especially when the fans are in such large numbers or make such noise as to provide increased motivation for the team.^[9] The metaphor is based on the fact that a team numbers 11 active players.
• 2–3–5 : A common 19th- and early 20th-century formation consisting of two defensive players (previously known as full backs), three midfield players (half-backs), and five forward players. Also known as the pyramid formation. Variations include the 2–3–2–3 (the Metodo or WW formation), where the inside forwards take up deeper positions.^[3]
• 3-points-for-a-win : see Three points for a win.
• 39th game : See game 39.
• 4–4–2 : a common modern formation used with four defenders, four midfielders, and two attacking players. There are many variants of this formation, such as the 4–4–2 diamond, where the four midfielders are assembled in a diamond shape without wide midfielders, and the 4–1–3–2, where one midfielder is expected to adopt a defensive position, allowing the other three to concentrate on attacking.^[10]
• 4–5–1 : a common modern formation used with four defenders, five midfielders and one striker. By pushing the wingers forward, this formation can be adapted into a 4–3–3; teams frequently play 4–3–3 when they have the ball, and revert to 4–5–1 when they lose possession.^[11] Variants include the 4–4–1–1, where a striker drops deep or an attacking midfielder pushes forward to play in a supporting role to the main striker, and the 4–2–3–1, where two holding midfielders are used.^[3]
• 6+5 rule : a proposal adopted by FIFA in 2008. Designed to counter the effects of the Bosman ruling, which had greatly increased the number of foreign players fielded by European clubs, the rule required each club to field at least six players who are eligible to play for the national team of the country of the club.^[12] The rule has been challenged under EU law, and its future remains uncertain.^[13]

A[link]

• Academy : an element of a club where young players are contracted under the youth system and trained to an acceptable standard, with the option to progress within the game.^[14]
• Added time : see Stoppage time.
• Administration : a legal process where a business unable to pay its creditors seeks temporary legal protection from them, while it attempts to restructure its debt. Clubs going into administration usually incur a points deduction.^[15]
• Advantage : a decision made by the referee during a game, where a player is fouled, but play is allowed to continue because the team that suffered the foul is in a better position than they would have been had the referee stopped the game.^[16]
• AFC : an initialism for either the Asian Football Confederation,^[17] the governing body of the sport in Asia, or "association football club", used by teams such as Sunderland.^[18]
• Against the run of play : Describes a goal scored, or a win or draw achieved, by a side that was being clearly outplayed.^[19]
• Aggregate : The added score of two matches between the same clubs in a knockout competition.^[20]
• Anti-football : A dismissive term used to describe a particularly robust and defensive style of play.^[21]
• Apertura and Clausura : a league format employed by several football leagues in Latin America, in which the traditional August–May season is divided into two separate league tournaments, each with its own champion. Apertura and Clausura are Spanish for "opening" and "closing".^[22]
• Armband : worn by a team's captain, to signify their role.^[23] Black armbands are occasionally worn by an entire team in commemoration of a death or tragic event.^[24]
• Assist : a pass that leads to a goal being scored.^[25]
• Assistant referee : one of a number of officials who assist the referee in controlling a match.^[26]
• Attacker : see Striker.
• Away : see Home and away.
• Away goals rule : a tie-break applied in some competitions with two-legged matches. In cases where the scores finish level on aggregate, the team that has scored more goals away from home is deemed the winner.^[20]

B[link]

A player attempting a bicycle kick

• Back-pass rule : a rule introduced into the Laws of the Game in 1992 to help speed up play, specifying that goalkeepers are not allowed to pick up the ball if it was intentionally kicked back to them by a teammate.^[27]
• Backheel : a pass between team-mates in which one player uses their heel to propel the ball backwards to another player. Sometimes spelt back heel.^[28]
• Ball : a spherical object normally kicked around by football players. Balls used in official matches are standardised for size, weight, and material, and manufactured to the specifications set in the Laws of the Game.^[29]
• Ball boy : one of several children, male or female, stationed around the edge of the pitch, whose job is to help retrieve for players balls that go out of play.^[30]
• Ballon d'Or : (also known as the European Footballer of the Year Award) one of the most prestigious awards in European football.^[31]
• Barras Bravas : the name used to describe organised supporter/hooligan groups in Latin America, similar to the European term Ultras.^[32]
• Beach soccer : (also known as beach football or beasal) a variant of association football played on a beach or some form of sand.^[33]
• Behind closed doors : matches in which spectators are not allowed in the stadium—a form of sanction for clubs whose supporters have behaved inappropriately.^[34] Such matches are sometimes arranged to hasten a player's return to fitness.^[35]
• Bench : the area on the edge of the pitch where a team's substitutes and coaches sit, usually consisting an actual covered bench or a row of seats. More formally known as the substitutes' bench.^[36] Also sometimes called a dugout.^[37]
• Bend : a skill attribute in which players strike the ball in a manner that applies spin, resulting in the flight of the ball curving, or bending, in mid-air. Players who are especially adept at achieving this will often be their team's designated free kick taker, as they are able to bend the ball around walls while taking shots at goal. The phrase "bend it like Beckham" stems from English player David Beckham's ability in this regard.^[38]
• Bicycle kick : a physical move made by a player with their back to the goal. The player throws their body into the air, makes a shearing movement with the legs to get one leg in front of the other, and attempts to play the ball backwards over their own head, all before returning to the ground. Also known as an overhead kick.^[39]
• Booking : the act of noting the offender in a cautionable offence, which results in either a yellow card, or in the case of a "second booking", a red card.^[40]
• Boot boy : an apprentice who, among other menial tasks, is usually expected to clean the boots of professional players.^[41]
• Bosman ruling : a ruling by the European Court of Justice related to player transfers that allows professional football players in the European Union to move freely to another club at the end of their term of contract with their present team. Handed down in 1995, it also banned the restricted movement of EU members within the leagues of member states. Named after Jean-Marc Bosman, the plaintiff in that court case.^[42]
• Box : see Penalty area.
• Break : an attacking manoeuvre in which a several members of a defending team gain possession of the ball and suddenly counter-attack into their opponent's half of the pitch, overwhelming their opponents' defence in greater numbers, usually as a result of the opposing defenders' being out of position after having supported their attackers.^[43]
• Bung : a secret and unauthorised payment used as a financial incentive to help a transfer go through.^[44]
• Byline : the markings on the shortest side of the pitch, which run from the posts to the corners. Also known as the End line.^[45]

C[link]

A player standing by the corner flag, about to take a corner kick

• CAF : an initialism for the Confederation of African Football, the governing body of the sport in Africa.^[17]
• Cap : a metaphorical term for the appearance of a player for a national team, originating from the presentation of a cap to a player who made an international appearance.^[46]
• Captain : the player chosen to lead a team, and in a match to participate in the coin toss before the start of play.^[47] Also known as a skipper.^[45]
• Caretaker manager : a person chosen to perform managerial duties when no permanent manager is installed.^[48]
• Catenaccio : a tactical system that puts an emphasis on defence. In Italian, catenaccio means "door-bolt", implying a highly organised and effective backline defence to prevent goals.^[49]
• Caution : see yellow card.
• Centre circle : the 10-yard radius circle around the centre spot.^[50]
• Centre spot : the mark in the centre of the pitch from which play is started at the beginning of each half, and restarted following the scoring of a goal.^[50]
• Challenge : see tackle.
• Channel : broadly defined as strips of the playing pitch between the opposing goal line and towards the widest parts of the field in its middle section. Wide-playing strikers are said to operate "in the channels".^[51]
• Champions League : an annual confederation-wide tournament involving the champions and other successful teams from that confederation's domestic leagues. The term can refer to the tournaments held in the AFC,^[52] CAF,^[53] CONCACAF,^[54] or OFC,^[55] but is most commonly used in reference to the competition held by UEFA.^[56] The CONMEBOL equivalent is the Copa Libertadores.^[57]
• Chance : a situation where an attacker (striker) is through on goal and should score. Also known as an opportunity.^[58]
• Chip : a shot hit with the intention of the ball going over the goalkeeper and into the goal.^[59]
• Clausura : see Apertura and Clausura
• Clean sheet : when a goalkeeper concedes not a single goal during a match.^[5]
• Clearance : when a player kicks the ball strongly away from the goal they are defending.^[45]
• Club : A collective name for a football team, and the organisation that runs it. See also List of association football clubs.^[60]
• Co-ownership : a system whereby two football clubs own the contract of a player jointly, although the player is only registered to play for one club.^[61]
• CONCACAF : an acronym for the Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football, the governing body of the sport in North and Central America and the Caribbean; pronounced "kon-ka-kaff".^[17]
• CONMEBOL : an acronym for Confederación Sudamericana de Fútbol (Spanish) or Confederação Sul-Americana de Futebol (Portuguese) (CSF), the governing body of the sport in South America; pronounced "kon-me-bol".^[17]
• Corner flag : flags are placed in each of the four corners of the pitch to designate the boundaries of the playing area.^[50]
• Corner kick : a kick taken from within a one-yard radius of the corner flag; a method of restarting play when a player puts the ball behind their own goal line without a goal being scored.^[45]
• Corridor of uncertainty : a cross or pass which is delivered into the area in front of the goalkeeper and behind the last line of defence.^[62]
• Cross : the delivery of the ball into the penalty area by the attacking team, usually from the area between the penalty box and the touchline.^[45]
• Crossbar : the horizontal bar across the top of the goal.^[63]
• Cruyff turn : a move named after Dutchman Johan Cruyff designed to lose an opponent.^[64]
• Cuauhtemiña : a skill move attributed to Mexican player Cuauhtémoc Blanco,^[65] which he performed notably at the 1998 World Cup.^[66] When two or more players attempt to tackle him, he traps the ball between his feet and jumps through them, releasing the ball in the air and landing with it under control.^[66]
• Cup competition : a knockout competition in which teams compete for a trophy, the winners of each game eliminating the losers from the competition. A cup final sees the two remaining teams play a match, which can be two-legged, for the trophy.^[67]
• Cup tie : a match in a cup competition.^[68]
• Cup-tied : where a player is ineligible to play in a cup competition because they have played for a different team earlier in the same competition.^[69]
• Curl : see bend.
• Curva : curved stands behind the goals in a football stadium, usually home to fanatical fans, or "ultras".^[70][71]
• Custodian : a loose term used to describe a goalkeeper.^[72][73]

D[link]

A player dribbling the ball

• D : the semi-circular arc at the edge of the penalty area, used to indicate the portion of the 10-yard distance around the penalty spot that lies outside the penalty area. Referred to in the Laws of the Game as "the penalty arc".^[50]
• Dead ball situation : any of a number of instances when the game is restarted with the ball stationary, e.g. a free kick.^[74]
• Debut : the first appearance of a newly acquired or promoted player in a particular team, league or tournament.^[75]
• Defender : one of the four main positions in football. Defenders are positioned in front of the goalkeeper and have the principal role of keeping the opposition away from their goal.^[45]
• Derby : a match between two, usually local, rivals.^[76]
• Designated player rule : a rule in Major League Soccer that allows teams to nominate players who are paid either partially or completely outside the salary cap.^[77]
• Dirty work : an unofficial term for the type of play undertaken by a defensive midfielder – such as making tackles in midfield, playing short passes to the wing, and breaking up opponents' attacking moves – which is necessary for a team to be successful, but rarely receives recognition or acclaim, and is not considered "glamorous".^[78]
• Dissent : an illegal action whereby a player uses offensive language or gestures towards official(s). In extreme cases it can result in yellow or red cards being issued.^[79]
• Diving : a form of cheating, sometimes employed by an attacking player to win a free kick or penalty.^[74] When being challenged for the ball by an opponent, the player will throw themselves to the floor as though they has been fouled, in an attempt to deceive the referee into thinking a foul has been committed.^[80] Also known as a flop.
• Doing a Leeds : when a club incurs substantial debts through over-ambitious spending and subsequently drops down one or more divisions. Named after Leeds United, who reached the semi-finals of the UEFA Champions League in 2001 as a Premier League club but were playing in Football League One only six years later.^[81] The phrase is sometimes also used in relation to other clubs, for instance "Doing a Wimbledon".^[82]
• Double : most commonly used when a club wins both its domestic league and its country's major cup competition in the same season.^[74] Also used to describe a pair of victories, home and away, by one club over another in the same league season.^[83]
• Dribbling : when a player runs with the ball at their feet under close control, especially when this successfully outmanoeuvres one or more opponents in close proximity without losing possession.^[74]
• Drop ball : a method used to restart a game, sometimes when a player has been injured accidentally and the game is stopped while the ball is still in play.^[84]
• Dugout : see bench.
• Dummy : a skill move performed by a player receiving a pass from a teammate; the player receiving the ball will angle their body in such a way that the opponent thinks they are going to play the ball. The player will then intentionally allow the ball to run by them to a teammate close by without touching it, confusing the opponent as to which player has the ball.^[85]

E[link]

• El Clásico : the name given to matches between the leading Spanish clubs Real Madrid and Barcelona.^[86] The term is sometimes applied to other derby fixtures in Spanish-speaking countries such as Argentina^[87] and Mexico.^[88]
• Elevator team : see Yo-yo club.
• Equaliser : a goal that makes the score even.^[45]
• Exhibition match : see Friendly.
• Extra time : an additional period, normally two halves of 15 minutes, used to determine the winner in some tied cup matches.^[45]

F[link]

Fans of Racing Club de Avellaneda, supporting their team before a match.

A player commits a foul by tripping her opponent

• FA Cup : the oldest cup competition in the world.^[89]
• Fan : a follower of a football team or someone who simply enjoys watching the game. Also known as supporter.^[90]
• Fan park : an area away from grounds and often in city centres used to screen matches on large television screens for fans, normally for big tournaments such as the World Cup or important matches.^[91]
• Fans' favourite : a player that is extremely popular with fans of a club or nation.^[92]
• Favourite : a team that is expected to win a particular match or tournament.^[93] Opposite of underdog.
• Feeder club : a club whose role is to provide first-team experience for younger players with a formal or informal agreement that successful ones can move on to the bigger club.^[94]
• Feign injury : see play-acting
• Field of play : see pitch.
• FIFA : an acronym for Fédération Internationale de Football Association (International Federation of Association Football), the world governing body of the sport; pronounced "fee-fa".^[95]
• Final whistle : see full-time.
• First eleven : the eleven players who, when available, would be the ones usually chosen by the team's manager to start a game.^[96]
• First touch : a skill attribute for a player which signifies their ability to bring the ball completely under control immediately upon receiving it.^[97]
• Flag : a small rectangular flag attached to a handle, used by an assistant referee to signal that they have seen a foul or other infraction take place. One assistant referee's flag is a solid colour (often yellow), and their colleague's has a two-colour (often red and yellow) quartered pattern. Some flags have buttons on the handle, which will activate an alarm worn by the referee to attract their attention. Can also refer to the corner flag.^[98] The action of an assistant referee signalling with the flag is called flagging.^[99]
• Flat back four : a defensive positioning formation, in which the primary first position of each member of a four-man defense is in a straight line across the pitch; often used in conjunction with an offside trap. In formations with three centre backs, the phrase "flat back three" is sometimes used.^[100]
• Flick-on : when a player receives a pass from a teammate and, instead of controlling it, touches the ball with their head or foot while it is moving past them, with the intent of helping the ball reach another teammate.^[101]
• Football : a widely used name for association football.^[102] Can also refer to the ball.
• Football League : English league competition founded in 1888, the oldest such competition in the world.^[103]
• Football programme : also known as match programme; a booklet purchased by spectators prior to a football match containing information relevant to it, including lists of players, short articles penned by commentators and the like. Older programmes may have a considerable value as a collectable.^[104]
• Football pyramid : also known as league system, term used to describe a hierarchy of leagues which teams can be promoted or relegated between, depending on finishing positions or playoffs. They are often referred to as "pyramids" due to their tendency to have increasing number of divisions further down the tiers (or "steps"), leading to a pyramid-like structure.^[105]
• Formation : how the players in a team are positioned on the pitch.^[106]
• Forward: see Striker.
• Fourth official : additional assistant referee, who has various duties and can replace one of the other officials, in case of injury.^[107]
• Fox in the box : see Goal poacher.
• Foul: an illegal act as defined under the rules of the game, punished by a free-kick or penalty. Such acts can lead to yellow or red cards depending on their severity.^[74]
• Free kick: the result of a foul outside the penalty area, given against the offending team. Free kicks can be either direct (shot straight towards the goal) or indirect (the ball must touch another player before a goal can be scored).^[74]
• Freestyle football : is the art of expressing yourself with a football, while performing various tricks with any part of the body. Similar in style to keepie uppie and kemari, it has become a widespread sport across the world and is practised by many people.^[108]
• Friendly: a match arranged by two teams with no competitive value, such as a player's testimonial or a warm-up match before a season begins.^[74]
• Fullback: the position on either side of the defence, whose job is to try to prevent the opposing team attacking down the wings. Also spelt full back or full-back.^[109]
• Full-time: either (1) the end of the game, signalled by the referees whistle (also known as the final whistle), (2) a professional footballer or club i.e. their only profession or (3) a word used to describe a permanent coach.^[110]
• Futsal: variant of association football that is played on a smaller hard court surface and mainly played indoors.^[111] Involves two teams with five players each, one of whom is the goalkeeper, with an unlimited number of substitutes per permitted and is played in two periods each lasting 20 minutes.^[111] Similar, but not identical, to indoor soccer.

G[link]

A goalmouth scramble

• Game of two halves : an expression used by commentators to describe a close match where one team dominates each half.^[45]
• Game 39 : a proposed Premier League match played outside of the United Kingdom.^[112]
• Ghost goal: describes situations where a ball fairly crossed the goal line but did not result in a goal, as well as situations where a goal was awarded despite the ball not crossing the line.^[113][114]
• Giant-killing : a cliché used to describe a lower division team defeating another team from a much higher division in that country's league.^[115][116]
• Give-and-go : see One-two.
• Goal : the only method of scoring in football; for a goal to be awarded the ball must pass completely over the goal line in the area between the posts and beneath the crossbar.^[84]
• Goal average : the number of goals scored divided by the number of goals conceded. Used as a tie-breaking method before the introduction of goal difference.^[117]
• Goal difference : the net difference between goals scored and goals conceded.^[45] Used to differentiate league positions when clubs are tied on points.^[118]
• Goalkeeper : The goalkeeper is the player closest to their own goal and has the job of preventing the opposition from scoring. They are the only player on the pitch that can handle the ball in open play, but only in their own penalty area.^[45] Known informally as a keeper or a goalie.
• Goal kick : the method of restarting play when the ball is played over the goal-line without a goal being scored.^[45]
• Goal poacher : a type of striker primarily known for excellent scoring ability and movement inside the penalty area. Also known as "fox in the box".^[119]
• Goalmouth : the section of the pitch immediately in front of the goal.^[120]
• Goalmouth scramble : when multiple players from both teams attempt to gain control of a loose ball in the goalmouth. This often results in a short period of chaotic play involving attackers shooting towards goal and defenders blocking shots, balls ricocheting around the goalmouth, and players falling over.^[121] Also known as a scrimmage.^[122]
• Goal of the century : usually used to refer to Diego Maradona's second goal against England in the 1986 FIFA World Cup.^[8]
• Goalpost : the vertical bars at either side of the goal.^[123]
• Golden Generation : a term used to describe an exceptionally talented set of players who are expected to achieve a high level of success.^[124]
• Golden goal : a method of determining the winner of a match which is a draw after 90 minutes of play. Up to an additional 30 minutes are played in two 15-minute halves, the first team to score wins and the match ends immediately.^[125] See also Silver goal.
• Groundhopping : a hobby in which the objective is to visit as many football stadiums and grounds as possible. Participants are known as groundhoppers or simply hoppers.^[126]
• Group of death : a group which is unusually competitive, because the number of strong competitors in the group is greater than the number of qualifying places available for the next phase of the tournament.^[127]

H[link]

A player being challenged by two defenders, attempting to make a header

• Half-back: a position employed in a 2–3–5 formation, the half-back would play between the fullbacks and the outside forwards. Three half-backs were used, positioned to the left, right and centre of the full-backs. Similar to the modern holding midfielder.^[128]
• Half-time: break between the two halves of the match, usually lasts 15 minutes.^[129]
• Half-volley : a pass or shot in which the ball is struck just as, or just after, it touches the ground.^[102]
• Handbags : a colloquialism, especially in the United Kingdom, used to describe an event where two or more players from opposing teams square up to each other in a threatening manner, or push and jostle each other in an attempt to assert themselves, without any actual violent conduct taking place.^[72]
• Hand-ball: when a player other than a goalkeeper deliberately touches the ball with their hand in active play. A foul is given against the player if spotted.^[130]
• Hand of God : Diego Maradona's first goal against England in the 1986 FIFA World Cup.^[131]
• Hat-trick : when a player scores three goals in a single match.^[132]
• Header: using the head as a means of playing or controlling the ball.^[102]
• High foot: colloquialism for what is described in the Laws of the Game as "Playing in a dangerous manner".^[133] A foul is awarded if the referee determines that a player's foot has moved into a dangerous position while trying to play the ball, especially if the foot threatens or causes an injury to an opponent.^[134]
• Hit for six : From the cricketing term, scored when a batted ball exceeds the boundary of play on the fly. In professional English football, this exceedingly rare and demoralising event would be so described when the side concedes the unlikely total of six goals scored, as when Manchester United conceded such versus a rampant Manchester City side at Old Trafford on October the 23rd, 2011.^[135]
• Holding : holding a player is an offence, punishable by a free-kick.^[136]
• Holding role or Holding midfielder : a midfielder whose role is to protect the defence.^[137]
• Hold up the ball : when a player, usually a forward, receives a long ball from a teammate, and controls and shields it from the opposition, with the intent of slowing the play down to allow teammates to join the attack.^[138]
• Hole: the space on a pitch between the midfield and attack where attacking midfielders play. Sometimes known as "playing in the hole".^[72]
• Hollywood ball: a spectacular pass that rarely achieves what the passer intended.^[139]
• Home and away : terms used to describe a team's own ground and their opponent's, respectively. See also Neutral ground.^[140][141]
• Hooligans: fanatical supporters known for violence.^[142]
• Hospital ball: sometimes referred to as hospital pass, when a player plays a slightly under-strength pass to a teammate, to such an extent that it becomes likely that both the teammate and an opposing player will come into contact with the ball simultaneously, therefore increasing the likelihood of one or both players suffering an injury while challenging for the ball.^[143]
• Howler: term sometimes used by commentators to describe a glaring and possibly amusing blunder during a match.^[144]

I[link]

A indoor football facility

• IFAB : the International Football Association Board is the body that determines the Laws of the Game of association football.^[145]
• Indirect free kick : a type of free kick. Unlike in a direct free kick, a goal may not be scored directly from the indirect kick.^[146]
• Indoor soccer : also known as arena soccer, or six-a-side football. A variant of association football adapted for play in an arena such as a turf-covered hockey arena or a skating rink. Unlike in futsal the playing field is surrounded by a wall instead of touch lines, resembling more of a hockey rink than a soccer pitch.^[147] The ball can be played directly off the wall, which eliminates many frequent stoppages that would normally result in throw-ins, goal kicks and corner kicks. Played by two teams with 6 players each.
• Injury time : see stoppage time.
• Inside forward : a position employed in a 2–3–5 formation. The inside forwards played just behind the centre forward, similar to the modern attacking midfielder or second striker.^[148]
• Intercept : to prevent a pass from reaching its intended recipient.^[149]
• International break : period of time set aside by FIFA for scheduled international matches per their International Match Calendar. Also known as FIFA International Day/Date(s).^[150]
• Invincibles : name given to the Preston North End side of the 1888–89 season and the Arsenal team of 2003–04, which both went an entire English league season without defeat.^[151]

J[link]

• Journeyman : a player who has represented many different clubs over their career.^[152] Opposite of one-club man.
• Jumpers for goalposts : an informal name for a version of street football where players lay down items of clothing to mark out the two goals.^[153] The term also has a nostalgia factor, especially in England, intended to invoke memories of a more "innocent" and "pure" type of football from previous generations.^[154]

K[link]

A man performing keepie uppie

• Keeper : see goalkeeper.
• Keepie uppie : the skill of juggling a football, keeping it off the ground using the feet, the knees, the chest, the shoulders or the head.^[155]
• Kick and rush : A style of play.^[156] See also Long ball.
• Kick-off : the method of starting a match; the ball must be played forwards from the centre spot with all members of the opposing team at least 10 yards from the ball.^[157] Also used to restart the match when a goal has been scored.^[157]
• Kit : the football-specific clothing worn by players, consisting at the minimum of a shirt, shorts, socks, specialized footwear, and (for goalkeepers) specialized gloves.^[158] Also known as a uniform or a strip.
• Kop : a British colloquial name for terraced stands in stadiums, especially those immediately behind the goals. Most commonly associated with Liverpool, they are so named due to their steep nature, which resembles a hill in South Africa that was the scene of the Battle of Spion Kop in January 1900 during the Second Boer War.^[159]

L[link]

A linesman holds up his flag

• Last-man : a term used to describe a two-on-one situation where an attacker carries the ball towards the opposition goal with only one outfield defender nearby. If the defender commits a foul, a red card is usually shown.^[160]
• Lay-off pass : a short pass, usually lateral, played delicately into the space immediately in front of a teammate who is arriving at speed from behind the player making the pass; the player receiving the pass will then be able to take control of the ball without breaking stride, or (if they are close enough to the goal) attempt to score with a first-time shot.^[161]
• Laws of the Game :the codified rules that help define association football. These laws are published by the sport's governing body FIFA, with the approval of the International Football Association Board, the body that writes and maintains the laws. The laws mention: the number of players a team should have, the game length, the size of the field and ball, the type and nature of fouls that referees may penalize, the frequently misinterpreted Offside law, and many other laws that define the sport.^[162]
• League : a form of competition in which clubs are ranked by the number of points they accumulate over a series of matches.^[163] Often structured as round-robin tournaments.
• Libero : see Sweeper.
• Linesman : see Assistant referee.
• Loan : when a player temporarily plays for a club other than the one they are currently contracted to. Such a loan may last from a few weeks to one or more seasons. This often occurs with young players who are commonly loaned to lower league clubs in order to gain valuable experience. The loaning club often takes over the responsibility of paying the player's wages so it can also occur when the originating club seeks to cut down expenses.^[164]
• Long ball : term used in association football to describe an attempt, often speculative, to distribute the ball a long distance down the field via a cross, without the intention to pass it to the feet of the receiving player. Often used to speed up play, the technique can be especially effective for a team with either fast or tall strikers.^[165]
• Lost the dressing room : where a manager is deemed to have lost control and support of his players.^[166]

M[link]

Memorial to the Mighty Magyars in Szeged

• Magic sponge : a sponge filled with water which has a seemingly miraculously reviving effect on injured players.^[167]
• Manager : the individual in charge of the day-to-day running of the team. Duties of the manager usually include overseeing training sessions, designing tactical plays, choosing the team's formation, picking the starting eleven, and making tactical switches and substitutions during games. Some managers also take on backroom administrative responsibilities such as signing players, negotiating player contracts. Sometimes these tasks are also undertaken by a two separate individuals: a Head coach for on-field tasks, and a General manager or Director of Football for off-field administrative duties.^[168]
• Man of the match : an award, often decided by pundits or sponsors, given to the best player in a game.^[169][170]
• Man on! : a warning shout uttered by players (and fans) to a teammate with the ball to alert him of the presence of an opposing player behind him.^[45]
• Man-to-man marking : a system of marking in which each player is responsible for an opposing player rather than an area of the pitch. Compare with zonal marking.^[171]
• Match fixing : expression used to describe the situation when a match is played to a completely or partially pre-determined result motivated by financial incentives paid to players, team officials or referees in violation of the rules of the game.^[172]
• Mexican wave : a self-organized crowd activity in which spectators stand up, raise their hands in the air, and sit down in sequence, creating a ripple effect that moves around the stadium's stands. Despite having been carried out in stadia for many years previously, it was first brought to world-wide attention during the 1986 FIFA World Cup in Mexico, hence its name.^[173][174]
• Mickey Mouse cup : pejorative term used to describe a cup, league, or other competition as being of a lower standard, importance or significance.^[175]
• Midfielder : one of the four main positions in football. Midfielders are positioned between the defenders and strikers.^[176]
• Mighty Magyars : also known as the Magical Magyars or Aranycsapat in Hungarian (literally Golden team). Nickname given to the Hungary national football team squad of the early 1950s, considered pioneers of modern football tactics, and one of the greatest national teams of all time.^[177]
• Minnow : see underdog.^[178]
• Multiball system : the use of several balls during a game, intended to reduce the amount of time the ball is not in play. Historically, the same ball was used throughout the entire game, and had to be retrieved every time it went out of play. Under the multiball system, as soon as the ball goes out of play, a new ball is passed to the player by a ball boy, who then retrieves the other ball while the game continues.^[179]

N[link]

• Near post/Far post : a notional concept relating to the position of a goalkeeper in relation to the posts.^[102] If an attacker scores a goal by placing the ball between the goalkeeper and the post to which he is closest, the goalkeeper is said to have been "beaten at the near post".^[180]
• Neutral ground : a venue for a match that belongs to neither team.^[181]
• Nutmeg : when a player intentionally plays the ball between an opponent's legs, runs past the opponent, and collects their own pass.^[72]

O[link]

One-club man Paolo Maldini appeared in more than 600 matches for AC Milan over 25 seasons.

• Obstruction : an illegal defensive technique, in which a defensive player who does not have control of the ball positions their body between the ball and an attacking opponent, or otherwise blocks or checks an opponent, in order to prevent that opponent from reaching the ball.^[146] When the defensive player has control of the ball, this technique is known as shielding, and is permitted under the laws of the game.
• OFC : an initialism for the Oceania Football Confederation, the governing body of the sport in Oceania.^[17]
• Offside : Law 11 of the laws of football, relating to the positioning of defending players in relation to attacking players when the ball is played to an attacking player by a teammate. In its most basic form, a player is offside if they are in their opponent's half of the field, and is closer to the goal line than both the second-last defender and the ball at the moment the ball is played to them by a teammate.^[182]
• Offside trap : a defensive formation maneuver, in which each member of a team's defense will simultaneously step forward as the ball is played forward to an opponent, in an attempt to put that opponent in an offside position.^[183] An unsuccessful performance of this maneuver results in the opponent "beating the offside trap".^[184]
• Olympic goal : a goal scored directly from a corner kick.^[185]
• One touch : term used to describe a team's style of play in which the ball is passed around quickly using just one touch. Also used for the same type of training which aims to improve the speed of players' reaction when receiving the ball.^[186] See also Tiki-taka.
• One-club man : a player who spends their entire professional career at one club.^[187] Opposite of journeyman.
• One-on-one : a situation where the only player between an attacking player and the goal is the opponent's goalkeeper.^[188]
• One-two : a skill move between team mates to move the ball past an opponent. Player One passes the ball to Player Two and runs past the opponent, whereupon they immediately receive the ball back from Player Two, who has received, controlled, and passed the ball in one movement.^[183] Also known as a give-and-go.
• Opportunity : see chance.
• Outfield player : a term used to describe any player other than the goalkeeper.^[183]
• Outside forward : a position used in a 2–3–5 formation, in which they are the main attacking threat from the flanks. Similar to modern wingers.^[189]
• Overhead kick : see Bicycle kick.
• Overlap : a move between teammates. An attacking player (who has the ball) is shadowed by a single defender; the attacker's teammate runs past both players, forcing the defender to either continue to shadow the player on the ball, or attempt to prevent the teammate from receiving a pass. The first player can either pass the ball or keep possession, depending on which decision the defender makes.^[190]
• Over-the-top : a tackle, either deliberate or accidental, where one player makes contact with an opposition player rather than the ball.^[191]
• Own goal: where a player scores a goal against their own team, usually as the result of an error.^[183][192]

P[link]

A goalkeeper makes a save from a penalty kick

• Parachute payment : a series of payments made for four years, by the Premier League to every club relegated from that league.^[193]
• Paralympic football : consists of adaptations of the sport of association football for athletes with a disability.^[194] These sports are typically played using FIFA rules, with modifications to the field of play, equipment, numbers of players, and other rules as required to make the game suitable for the athletes. The two most prominent versions of Paralympic football are Football 5-a-side, for athletes with visual impairments, and Football 7-a-side, for athletes with cerebral palsy.^[195]
• "Parking the bus" : expression used when all the players on a team play defensively, usually when the team is winning by a narrow margin.^[196] See also Catenaccio.
• Pass : when a player kicks the ball to one of their teammates.^[45][183]
• "Passive" offside : an exception to the offside rule, wherein play may continue if a player in an offside position makes no attempt to involve himself in the game at the moment an offside call would usually be made, and allows an onside player to win control of the ball instead.^[197]
• Penalty area : the rectangular area measuring 44 yards (40.2 metres) by 18 yards (16.5 metres) in front of each goal.^[198]
• Penalty kick : a kick taken 12 yards (11 metres) from goal, awarded when a team commits a foul inside its own penalty area, and the infringement would usually be punishable by a direct free kick.^[199]

• Penalty shootout : a method of deciding a match in a knockout competition which has ended in a draw after full time and extra-time. Players from each side take it in turns to attempt to score a penalty against the opposition goalkeeper. Sudden death is introduced if scores are level after five penalties have been taken by either side.^[45]
• Perfect hat-trick : when a player scores three goals in a single match, one with the left foot, one with the right foot and one with a header.^[200]
• Phantom goal : see Ghost goal.
• Phoenix club : term sometimes used for a club which has been created following the demise of a pre-existing club. Phoenix clubs usually take on the same colours and fan base as those of the defunct club and may even be established by fans themselves.^[201]
• Pitch : the playing surface for the game, which is usually a specially prepared grass field. Referred to in the Laws of the Game as the field of play.^[50]

A pitch invasion

• Pitch invasion : when a crowd of people who are watching run onto the pitch to celebrate, protest about an incident or confront opposition fans. Known as rushing the field in the United States.^[202][203]
• Play-acting : similar to diving, play acting is deceiving the officials that a player is injured to try to gain an advantage or force the referee to punish the "aggressor". Also known as feigning injury or Diving.^[204]
• Play to the whistle : an informal phrase used to instruct players to keep on playing until the referee blows their whistle.^[205]
• Playing advantage : see advantage.
• Playmaker : an attacking player whose job is to control the flow of their team's play.^[206]
• Playoff : a series of matches towards the end of the season that determine clubs which are promoted and/or relegated, determine tied league positions or determine qualifiers for continental competitions.^[45][183]
• Points deduction : a method of punishing clubs for breaching the rules of a tournament by reducing the number of accumulated points during a league season. Points deductions can be applied for offences such as going into administration,^[207] financial irregularities,^[208] fielding ineligible players,^[209] match fixing,^[210] or violent conduct amongst club staff or supporters.^[211]
• Post : see goalpost.
• The Poznań : The Poznań Celebration involves fans turning their backs to the pitch, joining arms and jumping up and down in unison.^[212]
• Pre-season : the period leading up to the start of a league season. Clubs generally prepare for a new season with intensive training, playing various friendlies, and sometimes by attempting to sign new players.^[213][214]
• Premier League : the name of the top division of English football since 1992.^[215] The phrase can also be used generically, or as a translation for leagues in other countries.^[216][217]
• Professional : a player who is engaged by a club under a professional contract and who is paid a wage by the club to focus on their sport in lieu of other employment.^[218]
• Professional foul : a foul committed by a player who is aware that they are about to intentionally commit the foul, and who does so having calculated the risk, and determined that committing the foul and taking a yellow card or even a red card will be more beneficial to their team than if the player allowed their opponent to continue unimpeded.^[183]
• Promedios : a relegation system based on a points per game average over multiple seasons.^[219]
• Promotion : when a club moves up to a higher division in the league hierarchy as a result of being one of the best teams in their division at the end of a season.^[183]

Q[link]

• Qualifier: a match or series of matches played to determine the teams competing in an event, for instance the Africa Cup of Nations.^[220]

R[link]

A referee issuing a red card to a player

• Rabona : a skill move, indicating a method of kicking the football whereby the kicking leg is wrapped around the back of the standing leg.^[221]
• Red card : awarded to a player for either a single serious cautionable offence or following two yellow cards.^[183] The player receiving the red card is compelled to leave the game for the rest of its duration, and that player's team is not allowed to replace him with another player. A player receiving the red card is said to have been sent off or ejected.^[222]
• Reducer : term used mainly in the British football press for a hard tackle, usually early in a game, meant to intimidate an attacking player.^[223]
• Referee : the official who presides over a match, with the help of assistant referees and the fourth official.^[183]
• Replacement : see substitute
• Relegation : when a club moves down to a lower division in the league hierarchy as a result of gaining the least number of points in their division at the end of a season.^[224]
• Reserve team : A team which is considered supplimental to the club's senior team. Matches between reserve teams often include a combination of first team players, academy players and trial players.^[225]
• Retired number : a squad number which is no longer used as a form of recognising an individual player's loyal service to the club. Sometimes a number is retired as a memorial after their death.^[226][227]
• Ronglish : a dialect of English created by manager and pundit Ron Atkinson to describe action during a match using similes, expressions and verbal non sequiturs.^[228]
• Round-robin tournament : is a competition in which each contestant meets all other contestants in turn.^[229] A competition where each team plays the other teams twice is known as a double round-robin.^[230]
• Rounding the 'keeper  : an attacking move in which a player attempts to dribble the ball around the goalkeeper, leaving himself with an open net in which to score a goal.^[231]
• Route one : a direct, attacking style of football which generally involves taking the most direct route to goal.^[232]
• Roy of the Rovers stuff : an event during a game, or an entire game, in which a player or team is seen to have overcome some sort of extreme adversity prior to victory, or secured victory in an overtly spectacular or dramatic fashion, especially against a team generally considered to be "stronger".^[233] The term originates from the long-running football-themed English comic strip Roy of the Rovers, in which such events were commonplace.^[234]
• Row Z : a cliche phrase used by commentators to describe the hypothetical destination of a forceful clearance, on the assumption that rows in which spectators are seated are ordered alphabetically so that row Z is the furthest from the pitch. Also used to describe a shot which goes a long way over the crossbar.^[235]

S[link]

Football boots with moulded studs at the bottom

• Safety : see survival.
• Save : when a goalkeeper prevents the football from crossing the goal line.^[224]
• Scissor kick : see Bicycle kick.
• Scorpion kick : an acrobatic kick of the type first notably performed as a save by René Higuita in 1995 while playing for Colombia at Wembley stadium against England.^[236]
• Scrimmage : see goalmouth scramble.
• Seal dribble : a type of dribble in which a player flicks the ball up from the ground onto their head and then proceeds to run past opponents whilst bouncing the ball on top of their forehead, somewhat imitating a seal.^[237]
• Season : a term used to describe the time period during which primary competitions in a certain country are played. In most European countries the season starts around September and ends in May, with a winter break in December and January. In other countries the season is played within a single calendar year. It is often customary to use the Super Cup to mark the beginning of a season while the Cup final usually marks its end.
• Second season syndrome : phrase sometimes used by commentators in English football used to describe a downturn in fortunes for a football club two seasons after its promotion to the Premier League.^[238]
• Sending off : see red card.
• Set piece : a dead ball routine that the attacking team has specifically practised, such as a free kick taken close to the D.^[224]
• Shielding : a defensive technique, in which a defensive player positions their body between the ball and an attacking opponent, in order to prevent that opponent from reaching the ball.^[102] At all times while shielding the ball, the defender must maintain control of the ball within a nominal playing distance, otherwise the technique becomes obstruction, and a foul is called.^[239]
• Shin pads : a mandatory piece of equipment, usually made of plastic or rubber, worn underneath the socks in order to protect the shins.^[240]
• Shoot : to propel the ball goalwards in an attempt to score.^[45]
• Shootout : see penalty shootout.
• Shot : an attempt to score a goal.^[224]
• Shutout : see Clean sheet.
• Side netting : the outside of the net part of the goal, which stretches back from the goalpost to the stanchion.^[241]
• Silver goal : a rule which was briefly in use between 2002 and 2004 in some UEFA competitions when elimination matches happened to end in a draw. In extra time the team leading after the first fifteen minute half would win, but the game would not stop the instant a team scored, like with the golden goal.^[224]
• Simulation : see diving.
• Six-pointer : a game between teams both competing for a title, promotion or relegation, whereby the relative difference between winning and losing can be six points.^[242]
• Slide tackle : a type of tackle where the defending player slides along the ground to tackle their opponent.^[102]
• Soccer : an alternative word for the game of association football, used most commonly in countries where other codes of football are prominent, for instance American football in the United States,^[243] and Australian rules football and rugby league in Australia.^[244]
• Spion Kop : see Kop.
• Spot-kick : see penalty-kick.
• Squad numbers : numerical markings on players' shirts used to distinguish individual players in a game of football. First used in 1928^[245] and initially assigned to distinguish positions in a formation, they gradually became associated with individual players, irrespective of where they are positioned on the pitch.^[246] This gave rise to the custom of retiring numbers.
• Squad rotation system : a coaching system whereby the manager selects from a large number of players in first team games, rather than having a regular first eleven.^[247]
• Square ball : when a ball is passed between teammates laterally, across the field of play.^[248]
• Squeaky-bum time : a term coined by Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson to define the tense final stages of a league competition, especially from the point of view of the leaders or clubs facing promotion and relegation.^[249]
• Stanchion: part of the framework of the goal which holds the upper rear part of the net in the air and away from the crossbar.^[250]

The fourth official indicates stoppage time

• Stepover: a skill move performed by an attacking player in which the player with the ball will move their foot over the ball without making contact with it.^[224] The intent of the move is to confuse a defender into thinking that the attacking player is moving with the ball in a certain direction; when the defender changes direction, the attacker will quickly change direction. Also spelt step over.^[251]
• Stoppage time: an additional number of minutes at the end of each half, determined by the match officials, to compensate for time lost during the game. Informally known by various names, including injury time and added time.^[45]
• Street football : A loose term, describing informal variations of the sport. Games often forgoe many requirements of a formal game of football, such as a large field, field markings, goal apparatus and corner flags, eleven players per team, or match officials (referee and assistant referees). Synonymous with the term "jumpers for goalposts".^[252]
• Striker : one of the four main positions in football. Strikers are the players closest to the opposition goal, with the principal role of scoring goals. Also known as forward or attacker.^[45]
• Studs : small points on the underneath of a player's boots to help prevent slipping.^[253] A tackle in which a player directs his studs towards a player is referred to as a "studs-up" challenge, and is a foul punishable by a red card.^[254]
• Substitute : a player who is brought on to the pitch during a match in exchange for an existing player.^[45]
• Sudden death : a feature of penalty shootouts. If scores are level after each side has taken five penalties, the shootout continues until one side misses.^[255]
• Supporter : see fan.
• Survive : opposite of Relegation, when a struggling team secures enough points to guarantee their position in that league for the following season. Also known as securing safety.^[256]
• Suspension : players are forced to miss their team's next game(s) if they pick up an alloted number of bookings in league or tournament matches, or are sent off in a previous fixture.^[224]
• Sweeper : a defender whose role is to protect the space between the goalkeeper and the rest of the defence. Also referred to as libero.^[49]

T[link]

A truncated icosahedron (left) compared to a telstar football.

Seattle Sounders FC supporters displaying a tifo

• Tackle : a method of a player winning the ball back from their opponent (see also slide tackle). Unfair tackles are punished by free kicks, penalties and red/yellow cards.^[224] See also reducer.
• Target man : a type of striker.^[257] Usually tall, with a strong build and good heading ability, capable of controlling or attacking balls in the air. Target men give the forward line different options in how to attack the goal, and are often used to hold up the ball or play layoff passes to their teammates.^[258]
• Taylor Report : a document overseen by Lord Taylor concerning the aftermath and causes of the Hillsborough disaster in 1989. Best known for its recommendation that top division stadiums in England and Scotland phase out their concrete terraces and become all-seater.^[259]
• Technical area : the area within which the manager must remain while coaching their team during a match,^[260] marked by white lines at the side of the pitch.^[224]
• Telstar : match ball designed by Adidas for the 1970 FIFA World Cup. The first ball to use a truncated icosahedron design, with 12 black and 20 white patches intentionally used to improve visibility on black-and-white TV sets.^[261] The design remains common in club crests and decorations, even though modern match balls look considerably different. Known as bubamara (ladybug) in countries where Serbo-Croatian is spoken.^[262]
• Terrace : a standing area of a stadium, consisting of a series of concrete steps which are erected for spectators to stand on. Often occupied by ultras. Terraces have been phased out in some countries, over safety concerns.^[263]
• Testimonial match : an exhibition match organised in honour of a player before their retirement.^[264]
• Three points for a win : a point system, adopted in England in the 1980s, in which three points are awarded to the team winning a match, with no points to the losing team. If the game is drawn, each team receives one point. The system is intended to encourage teams to attack in search of a win, rather than settle for a draw.^[265]
• Through-ball : a pass from the attacking team that goes straight through the opposition's defence to a teammate.^{[citation needed]}
• Throw-in : a method of restarting play. Involves a player throwing the ball from behind a touchline after it has been kicked out by an opponent.^[266]
• Tifo : originally the Italian word for the phenomenon of supporting a football team, today mainly used for any spectacular choreography displayed by supporters on the terraces of a stadium in connection with an association football match.^[267] Primarily arranged by ultras.
• Tiki-taka : a style of play characterised by short passing and movement, working the ball through various channels and maintaining possession. The style is primarily associated with Spanish club FC Barcelona and the Spanish national team.^[268] See also One touch.
• Timewasting : a tactic used by teams to run down the clock, usually when they are in a winning position and the game is close to finishing. Teams drawing can also utilise this tactic if they are content to avoid defeat. Common timewasting tactics include making last-minute substitutions, running the ball towards the corner flag and shielding it from opponents, passing the ball laterally along the line of defence while making no attempt to move the ball forwards, and diving and feigning injury such that the referee stops the game and has the medical staff enter the field to check on the "injured" player.^[269]
• Toe punt : a method of kicking the ball with the tip of the foot. Also known as a toe poke.^[270]
• Too good to go down : belief, often misguided, that the ability within a team will preclude it from relegation.^[271]
• Top corner : the parts of the goal immediately below the two 90° angles where the crossbar and posts intersect. Generally considered the most difficult part of the goal for a goalkeeper to reach.^[272]
• Total Football : the label given to an influential tactical theory in which any outfield player can take over the role of any other player in a team. It was invented by the Dutch coach Rinus Michels and was popularised by AFC Ajax and the Netherlands national team in the early 1970s.^[273]
• Touch-line : the markings along the side of the pitch, indicating the boundaries of the playing area. Throw-ins are taken from behind this line.^[50]
• Tracksuit manager : a phrase used by commentators to describe a manager who has a hands-on approach, meaning that they have a tendency to work with players on the training ground, spending a significant amount of time on improving players' abilities.^[274]
• Transfer window : the period during the year in which a football club can transfer players from other countries into their playing staff.^[275]
• Trap : a skill performed by a player, whereupon the player uses their foot (or, less commonly, their chest or thigh) to bring an airborne or falling ball under control.^[224]
• Travelling army : an expression used by commentators for any set of away fans – that is, fans who travelled to the match to support their team.^[276] Often a team's travelling army are referred to as the 12th man.^[277][278]
• Treble : achieved by a club that wins three major trophies in a single season. Competitions generally considered as part of a treble include the top tier domestic league, domestic cup and continental cup.^[279] Trebles achieved without winning a continental competition are known as domestic trebles.^[280]
• Trialist : a player who represents a club on a trial basis, most often to gain a contract with the club.^[281]
• Two-footed : a challenge, normally an illegal one, where a player, often a defender, tackles their opponent with both feet.^[282]

U[link]

Ultras in Poland

• UEFA : an acronym for Union of European Football Associations, the governing body of the sport in Europe; pronounced "you-eh-fa".^[17]
• Underdog : the team who is not expected to win a particular game.^[283]
• Under the cosh : a team's defence experiences a period of concerted or unrelenting attacking play.^[284]
• Ultras : type of football fans predominantly found in Europe renowned for their fanatical support and elaborate displays at football matches. These displays often include the use of flares, vocal support in large groups, displays of banners at stadium terraces and other forms of tifo choreography.^[285]
• Upset : a game where the underdog defeats a higher ranked team.^[286]
• Utility player : a player who can be used in different positions or for different roles transcending the traditional division of outfield players into defenders, midfielders and strikers.^[287]

V[link]

	Noisy Vuvuzelas cause concern Voice of America report on the impact of vuvuzelas at the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
Problems listening to this file? See media help.

• Vanishing spray: short-lasting aerosol paint applied to the grass by the referee to mark the 10 yard exclusion area at a free kick.^[288]
• Video technology: a long-campaigned for method of determining close decisions, such as whether a ball crosses the goalline, using instant replays provided by television cameras. It is yet to be introduced by the world governing body FIFA.^[289]
• Volley: a pass or shot in which the ball is struck before it touches the ground.^[72]
• Vuvuzela : plastic horn-shaped instruments popularised by supporters at the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa.^[290]

W[link]

A referee ensuring a wall is correctly lined up

• Wall : a row of defensive players who line up 10 yards away from a free kick, covering a portion of the goal, with the intent making it more difficult for an attacking player to have a shot on goal direct from the free kick.^[72]
• Want-away : a player who has made public their intentions to leave their current club.^[291]
• Webster ruling : a 2006 court case which stipulated that players are able to unilaterally walk away from a contract after a fixed period, regardless of the duration of the contract itself. Named after Andy Webster.^[292] Compare Bosman ruling.
• Whistle : see play to the whistle.
• Wing : the area of the pitch that runs parallel to the sidelines.^[293]
• Winger : a wide midfield player whose primary focus is to provide crosses into the penalty area.^[72] Alternatively known as a wide midfielder.^[293]
• Wingless wonders: a term used to describe the formation deployed by England manager Sir Alf Ramsey in latter stages of the 1966 FIFA World Cup, the basis for the modern 4–4–2 system.^[294]
• Winter break : the period between December and January in which competitive football is suspended and which cuts some national or continental seasons in half. Also known as "year-end" or "summer break" in the Southern Hemisphere.^[295]
• Woodwork: a common description of the posts and the crossbar, as in "the ball came back off the woodwork", meaning a shot at goal struck either the post or the crossbar and remained in play.^[72] The expression is still widely used even though goals are no longer made of wood.^[296]
• Work rate: the extent to which a player contributes to running and chasing in a match while not in possession of the ball.^[297]
• World Cup: mostly associated with the men's FIFA World Cup.^[298] FIFA also organises the FIFA Women's World Cup,^[299] international tournaments for youth football (such as the FIFA U-20 World Cup),^[300] and also the FIFA Club World Cup.^[301]
• Wunderteam : nickname for the Austria national football team of the 1930s captained by Matthias Sindelar.^[302]

X[link]

• X-rated challenge : slang term for a malicious tackle when a player has possible motivation to injure an opponent.^[303]

Y[link]

• Yellow card: shown by the referee to a player who commits a cautionable offence. If a player commits two cautionable offences in a match, they are shown a second yellow card, followed by a red card, and is sent off.^[304] Also known as a caution or a booking.^[45]
• Youth: a player (or team of players) contracted under the youth system, generally under the age of 18 and not playing professionally although youth players can appear for the first-team.^[305][306]
• Yo-yo club: a club that is regularly promoted and relegated between higher and lower league levels.^[307] Also known in other languages as elevator team, for instance Fahrstuhlmannschaften in German.^[308]

Z[link]

• Zonal marking : a system of marking in which each player is responsible for an area of the pitch, rather than an opposing player.^[171]

See also[link]

References[link]

General

• "Laws of the Game" (PDF). International Federation of Association Football (FIFA). http://www.fifa.com/mm/document/affederation/federation/81/42/36/lawsofthegameen.pdf. Retrieved 18 May 2011. 
• Leigh, John; Woodhouse, David (2004). Football Lexicon. London: Faber and Faber. ISBN 0-571-22797-X. 
• Glossary of Football Words and Expressions

Specific