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.

It seeks to avoid defining common English words and phrases that have no special meaning within football.

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