Ignorance of the law excuses no man...
John Selden
English historian
Frequently Asked Questions
We, as referees, are routinely asked questions about laws of the game. This normally comes in the form of someone screaming from the sideline. This page is designed to help answer some of those questions.
Q: Why is it that a "handball" violation
is only sometimes whistled by the referee?
A: This is perhaps the most popular question. The laws of the
game actually do not address "handballs." The laws do
however address "handling." The federation has
released a memo to cover this topic which explains the
nuances very well.
Q: What is offside?
A: Offside is one of the laws that perplexes many individuals
including some referees. USSF posted a memo entitled
Offside Myths which shows different scenarios in which
a player should or should not be penalized for offside. Also
see the related resources section for other links to offside
discussions which include videos.