Читать книгу Now You Know Soccer онлайн

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Quickies

Did you know …

• FIFA has 208 football association members?

How many referees are there in a regulation soccer match?

There are three. One referee (sometimes called the centre referee), and two assistant referees (formerly called linesmen) who patrol the perimeter of the field and carry flags to signal to the referee. The referee, who is the only one of the three who conducts his duties in bounds on the pitch, is the ruling authority for any given soccer match. His word is law on the pitch.

What is the technical area?

The technical area is a marked-off zone at pitch-side where a team manager, other coaching personnel, and player substitutes are required to confine themselves during matches. According to the Laws of the Game, the technical area is marked by a white line, “1 metre (1 yard) on either side of the designated seated area and extend[ing] forward up to a distance of 1 metre (1 yard) from the touch line.” Substitutes are allowed to leave the technical area to warm up prior to entering a match. Managers and coaching staff may not cross the line during play, except in special cases, such as medical personnel attending to an injured player. The technical area falls under the supervision of the fourth official.