Glossary of association football terms

For instance, the role of an inside forward in variants of a 5–3–2 formation has many parallels to that of an attacking midfielder, although the positions are nonetheless distinct.

In Europe, where British English is prevalent, the achievement of not conceding a goal for an entire match is known as a clean sheet.

Two notable examples are Diego Maradona's goals in Argentina's 1986 World Cup quarter-final win against England.

This glossary serves as a point of reference for terms which are commonly used within association football, and which have a sport-specific meaning.

Other phrases without entries are specific clubs, rivalries, media organisations or works, unless the name also has a more general meaning within football, as is the case with El Clásico and Roy of the Rovers stuff.

A man standing on one leg, with the knee of his other leg raised to waist height. A ball can be seen in midair, roughly 50cm above his knee.
A player doing a keepie-uppie
A diagram showing 11 players. The goalkeeper is situated at the bottom. The other ten players form a triangle: four defenders in front of the goalkeeper followed by rows of three central midfielders, two attacking midfielders and one striker.
The 4–3–2–1 ( Christmas Tree ) formation, a variant of the 4–5–1
Steven Gerrard wearing a football kit, about to strike a ball. On his forearm, he is wearing an armband; the letter "C" to represent "Captain" is visible.
Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard wearing an armband
A player in midair. He is looking at the ball; his leg is moving upwards towards the ball, and looks as though it will strike the ball above and behind the player's head.
A player ( Sergio Busquets of FC Barcelona ) attempting a bicycle kick
Wigan Athletic player Hugo Rodallega standing by the corner flag, about to take a corner kick
The player in the centre is dribbling.
Fans of Racing Club de Avellaneda , supporting their team before a match
A player (red/black) commits a foul by tripping her opponent (green/white).
A player (blue) about to take a free kick
Several players standing near a goal, attempting to reach the ball. Some of them are not touching the ground, and do not appear to be completely in control of their bodies
A goalmouth scramble
A player wearing a striped shirt, with his head close to the ball. Two players in yellow shirts are in very close proximity; one is jumping and making physical contact with him.
A player (black/white) being challenged by two defenders (yellow/blue), attempting to make a header
An indoor football facility
A large, single-tiered end of a stadium.
The famous Kop at Anfield , home of Liverpool F.C.
A man dressed in black. He is stretching his right arm forwards, holding a red and yellow chequered flag.
A linesman holds up his flag.
A man a red and black striped top.
One-club man Paolo Maldini appeared in more than 600 matches for AC Milan over 25 seasons.
A goalkeeper (black) defending a penalty kick
A large number of spectators running onto the field
A pitch invasion
A man holding up a red piece of card towards another man.
A referee (yellow/black) issuing a red card to a player (white/red)
Football boots with moulded studs at the bottom
On the left is shape consisting of perfectly flat pentagons and hexagons. The hexagons are coloured white; the pentagons black. On the right is a football; it is of the same basic design, but the pentagons and hexagons are curved to form a smoother sphere.
A truncated icosahedron (left) compared to a telstar football
Fans waving flags and unfurling a large green and blue banner behind a goal.
Seattle Sounders FC supporters displaying a tifo
A large number of supporters, waving flags, displaying banners and setting off flares.
Ultras in Poland
Vanishing spray in use
Six players standing in a line, being talked to by another man.
A referee (red) ensuring a wall is correctly lined up