The answer to every question
is FALSE.
1) An assistant referee (linesman) should signal if he sees a foul.
FALSE. The law says the assistant should signal for offences which occur "out of
the view of the referee". So if the assistant thinks the ref may have seen the
incident, he should not wave his flag. The ref may decide, for a number of
reasons, not to stop play for the incident and if the assistant flags, it will
confuse players and undermine the ref's authority.
2) There should be corner flags and flags at the half-way line.
FALSE. The flags at the halfway line (which should be a metre back from the
line) are optional but corner flags are compulsory.
3) At the start of a match, the team who win the toss decides which way to
kick or can opt to take the kick-off.
FALSE. The team who win the toss choose which way to play. The team who lose the
toss always kick off.
4) A player can be offside from his own team's goal-kick.
FALSE. No, he can't.
5) When a corner is taken, the ball must be placed completely inside the
arced line.
FALSE. As long as part of the ball is on or behind the line, that's okay.
6) If a player tackles an opponent and makes contact with the ball, it is not
a foul.
FALSE. It's a foul if he makes contact with the opponent before the ball. And
even if he gets the ball first, it can be an offence if the ref thinks he is
playing dangerously.
7) A goalkeeper cannot drop the ball and then pick it up again, but if he
parries a shot he can dribble the ball to the edge of the area and then pick it
up.
FALSE. If the goalkeeper deliberately parries the ball (rather than it
rebounding from him accidentally) he is said to have controlled the ball with
his hands and so cannot then use his hands again.
8) A goalkeeper who handles the ball outside his area must be booked or sent
off.
FALSE. He should be sent off only if the handball prevented a clear goal-scoring
chance. He should be booked if a free-kick is not sufficient punishment. A ref
can decide the offence is not serious enough to warrant a card of any colour.
9) You can be booked for spitting.
FALSE. If you spit at someone, you must be sent off. If you spit on the ground,
it's not an offence.
10) If you take a direct free-kick and the wind blows the ball into your own
goal, it's a goal.
FALSE. No, it's a corner.
11) If a dog runs onto the pitch and stops a penalty, you just play on.
FALSE. If any "outside agency" touches the ball after the penalty has been
taken, the kick has to be retaken. (Unless the ball has already hit the
goalkeeper or the woodwork before hitting the dog. In that case, it's a drop
ball).
12) It's a foul throw if the thrower stands with part of his foot on the
pitch.
FALSE. As long as parts of both feet are on or behind the line, it's okay.
13) You're not offside if there is a defender on the goal-line.
FALSE. There must be two opponents between you and the goal-line. One is
normally the goalkeeper, but if the goalkeeper has come out of his goal, there
must be two other opponents.
14) A player who has a blood wound should leave the field immediately.
FALSE. Any player leaving the field without the referee's knowledge or
permission should be booked.
15) A striker runs from an on-side position and takes the ball on his chest
with his back to goal. Before he can turn to shoot, the goalkeeper knocks him
over from behind. The keeper should be sent off for stopping a goal-scoring
chance.
FALSE. The striker has to be moving towards the goal for this to be a red-card
offence.