Unit 5: The Rules of the Game | English for Football

Playing by the Book.

In the heat of a match, players will constantly dispute decisions. Did he get the ball? Was he offside? Was it a clear penalty? Understanding the laws of the game is crucial for communicating with the Ref. To argue your case (or understand why you are being sent off), you need to master Modals of Obligation and Prohibition. These verbs establish what you *must* do, and what you are strictly forbidden from doing.

📖 Tactical Glossary: Intro Edition

The Ref (noun): Short for Referee. The official in charge of enforcing the rules on the pitch.
VAR (noun): Video Assistant Referee. The technology and team used to review clear and obvious errors during the game.

1. The Tactical Vocabulary: 8 Words for Rule Breaking

Foul (noun/verb): An unfair or illegal physical challenge by a player.

Offside (adj/noun): An attacking player is positioned nearer to the opponent's goal line than both the ball and the second-last opponent when the pass is played.

Booking (noun): Receiving a yellow card for a cautionable offense.

Red card (noun): Immediate dismissal from the pitch for a serious foul or two yellow cards.

Penalty (noun): A free shot at goal from 12 yards, awarded for a foul committed inside the penalty box.

Advantage (noun): When the referee allows play to continue after a foul because the fouled team still has a good attacking opportunity.

Simulation (noun): "Diving." Pretending to be fouled to trick the referee into awarding a free kick or penalty.

Handball (noun): The illegal act of deliberately touching the ball with the hand or arm.

Practice: Drag the correct rule vocabulary into the sentences!

foul

offside

booking

red card

penalty

advantage

simulation

handball

1. The striker was one step ahead of the last defender when the pass was made, so the linesman flagged for .

2. He tripped the winger inside the box, so the referee immediately pointed to the spot for a .

3. Two-footed tackles from behind are incredibly dangerous and deserve a straight .

4. He went down easily in the penalty area without being touched, so he got a yellow card for .

5. The defender's arm was in an unnatural position when the ball hit it; that's a clear .

6. Even though he was fouled, the referee played because his teammate had a clear run at goal.

7. Pulling an opponent's shirt is a cynical that breaks up the play.

8. Taking your shirt off to celebrate a goal will result in an automatic .

2. Essential Expressions for Disputing Calls

Players and fans use these 6 expressions constantly to argue with the referee's decisions.

"He got the ball!" Simplified: It was a clean, legal tackle because the defender kicked the ball before touching the player.
"That's a soft penalty." Simplified: The foul was very minimal, and the referee probably shouldn't have awarded the spot-kick.
"You can't give that." Simplified: I strongly disagree with your decision; it is an unfair call.
"He's miles off!" Simplified: The attacking player was very clearly in an offside position.
"Play on!" Simplified: There was no foul; continue the game. (Often shouted by the referee or fans).
"VAR is checking it." Simplified: The Video Assistant Referees are reviewing the replay to see if an error was made.

3. Grammar Mechanics: Obligation & Prohibition

To explain the laws of the game, we use Modal Verbs. The difference between "don't have to" (it's optional) and "must not" (it's forbidden) is the difference between playing on and getting a red card.

Modal Verb	Meaning in Football	Rule Example
Must / Have to	Strong Obligation. It is a strict rule; there is no choice.	"You must wait for the whistle." "The keeper has to stay on his line for a penalty."
Must not (Mustn't) / Can't	Strict Prohibition. It is completely illegal and will be penalized.	"Outfield players must not touch the ball with their hands." "You can't tackle from behind."
Don't have to	No Obligation (Optional). It is not required by the rules.	"You don't have to retreat 10 yards for a throw-in."

Pro Tip: When arguing with the referee, players often use "can't" to express disbelief. ("Ref, you can't give a penalty for that!")

4. Reading: Disputing the Penalty

Notice how the Player and Referee use modals to argue whether a foul was committed.

Referee: *Blows whistle and points to the penalty spot* Penalty!

Player: Ref, you can't give that! That is a incredibly soft penalty. I barely touched him!

Referee: You must not challenge with your studs up. It's a reckless foul.

Player: But he got the ball! Look at the replay, I won the ball first! It was simulation; he dived!

Referee: Step back. VAR is checking it right now. You must stay outside the box while they review it.

Player: If VAR looks at it, they have to overturn it.

Referee: Review complete. The penalty stands. You must not argue further, or you will receive a booking.

5. Interactive Practice: The Ref's Notebook

Exercise A: Obligation or Prohibition?

1. "A player who receives a red card ___________ leave the pitch immediately."

2. "You ___________ take off your shirt when you celebrate a goal; it's an automatic yellow card."

Exercise B: Complete the Expressions

Type the missing words to complete these common pitch arguments.

1. That wasn't a foul, Ref! He got the cleanly!

2. He was completely when the pass was played; where is the linesman?

6. Dressing Room Speaking Practice 🎙️

Roleplay: You are the referee. Explain to an angry player why they received a booking for simulation using "must not".
Explain the offside rule to someone who has never watched football before. When must the attacker be behind the defender?
Why do fans get frustrated when the referee blows for a foul instead of playing advantage?
Practice delivering the phrase "That's a soft penalty, you can't give that!" with passion and frustration.

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