Football, also known as soccer in some regions, is a widely popular sport played and enjoyed by millions around the world. The rules of football are governed by the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA).
The field: The field is rectangular in shape and measures 100-120 yards (90-110 meters) long and 50-80 yards (45-75 meters) wide. There are goals at each end of the field, which are 8 yards (7.32 meters) wide and 8 feet (2.44 meters) high.
The players: Each team consists of eleven players on the field at a time, one of whom must be the goalkeeper. The goalkeeper is the only player who is allowed to use their hands to touch the ball inside their own penalty area
The game: The game is divided into two halves of 45 minutes each, with a 15-minute break in between. The team that scores more goals at the end of the game wins.
Scoring: A goal is scored when the ball is kicked over the goal line and into the opponent's goal. The ball must cross the line completely for a goal to be awarded.
Objective:
The primary objective of football is to score more goals than the opposing team. A goal is scored when the entire ball crosses the goal line between the goalposts and beneath the crossbar.
Teams: Each team consists of 11 players, including one goalkeeper.
Duration of the Game: A standard football match is divided into two halves, each lasting 45 minutes, with a 15-minute halftime break.
Offside Rule: A player is in an offside position if they are nearer to the opponent's goal line than both the ball and the second-to-last defender when the ball is played to them. It's important to note that being in an offside position is not an offense in itself; a player is only penalized for being offside if, at the moment the ball touches or is played by a teammate, they are actively involved in the play.
Clarification on the offside rule: A player in an offside position can now become onside if they touch the ball before an opponent deliberately plays it.
Fouls: A foul is a rule infraction that can result in a free kick, penalty kick, or yellow or red card, depending on the location and severity of the foul. Some common fouls include handball, offside, tripping, and kicking an opponent.
Players are not allowed to use their hands or arms to play the ball (except for the goalkeeper within their penalty area).
Fouls result in free kicks or penalty kicks,
Yellow and Red Cards: Players can receive yellow cards for cautionable offenses and red cards for sending-off offenses. Two yellow cards in the same game lead to a red card and ejection from the match.
Yellow card amnesty for accidental fouls: Players who make a genuine attempt to play the ball but commit a foul may be spared a yellow card.
Free Kicks: Awarded after fouls. The opposing team is allowed to kick the ball without interference from the defending team.
Penalty Kicks: Awarded if a defensive player commits a foul in their penalty area. The ball is placed on the penalty spot, and the kicker attempts to score against only the goalkeeper.
Throw-ins: Awarded when the ball goes out of play over the touchline. The team that did not touch the ball last is awarded a throw-in.
Goal Kicks: Awarded to the defending team when the attacking team kicks the ball out of play over the goal line.
Corner Kicks: Awarded to the attacking team when the defending team kicks the ball out of play over the goal line.
Extended injury time: Referees are encouraged to add more stoppage time to compensate for delays caused by celebrations, substitutions, and injuries
These are some of the fundamental rules of football, but there are more nuanced regulations and guidelines. It's advisable to refer to the official FIFA Laws of the Game for a comprehensive understanding of football rules.