Football phrases: 101 slang terms, idioms and meanings explained

Football has a language of its own and some of the words in the lexicon of The Beautiful Game can be confusing, particularly for the uninitiated.

There are lots of descriptive technical phrases and most terms have a logical explanation, though the origins of some are simply baffling.

If you're new to the game and trying to figure out the lingo or simply need a refresher, Goal brings you the meaning behind 101 football slang terms, idioms and phrases.

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The 3pm Blackout

The 3pm Blackout refers to a rule in Britain which prohibits the live broadcast of football matches on Saturdays between 2:45pm and 5:15pm.

Example: Is it time to lift the 3pm Blackout? Considering how much sport is on TV nowadays, there is no sense in keeping the rule.

The 12th man

The 12th man in football is a term of endearment for a team's supporters. Each team is made up of 11 players so, when supporters are so loud enough to influence the game, they are said to be the 12th player.

Example: Liverpool are up against it after losing the first leg 2-1 away from home, but the 12th man at Anfield is certainly significant and should help.

The 50+1 rule

The 50+1 rule refers to the clause in the German Football League (DFL) regulations which stipulates that clubs must be majority-owned by members, i.e. the fans, rather than commercial investors.

Example: Jurgen Klinsmann said: "I understand the 50+1 rule, it stems from the old club idea, but you can only get money from investors if they are allowed to have a say in the club, which is why the rule is a disadvantage for the Bundesliga on the international stage."

Fifty-fifty / 50/50

A fifty-fifty (sometimes stylised 50/50) is when two players compete for possession of a loose ball, usually coming together at the same time. In order to win a fifty-fifty, a player usually needs to be strong in the tackle.

Example: "Nine times out of 10 if you go into a 50/50 challenge hard and committed, you will win the ball, but if you go in half-heartedly, you have more chance of getting injured."

Against the run of play

When a goal is described as being scored "against the run of play" it means it was scored by a team that has not been in control of the match.

Example: "We were on top for the first 15 minutes and then conceded against the run of play. That really took the wind out of our sails, but we managed to get back into it and get the win."

Anti-football

Football is commonly referred to as 'The Beautiful Game', so anti-football is when a team's style of play is cynical, defensive and, in some cases, violent. The term is understood to have been first used to describe the performance of Argentine club Estudiantes in the 1968 Intercontinental Cup final against Manchester United.

Example: Commenting on the 2010 World Cup final between the Netherlands and Spain, Johan Cruyff said: "This ugly, vulgar, hard, hermetic, hardly eye-catching, hardly football style, yes it served the Dutch to unsettle Spain. If with this they got satisfaction, fine, but they ended up losing. They were playing anti-football."

Away goals rule

The 'away goals rule' is a method of deciding the winner of a two-legged tie in the event of an aggregate draw. If the tie finishes 2-2 on aggregate, the team with the most goals scored away from home wins.

Example: "Lucas Moura's incredible second-half hat-trick saw Tottenham snatch a 3-2 win at Ajax and a place in the Champions League final on away goals."

Back of the net

'Back of the net!' is an exclamation of excitement or joy used when a goal that is scored with such force that the ball not only crosses the line, but hits the net. The term was famously used as a catchphrase by Steve Coogan's character Alan Partridge in the sitcom I'm Alan Partridge.

Example: " That goal was buried into the back of the net!"

Behind closed doors

To play a match behind closed doors is to do so without spectators. It is commonly used as a punishment by football authorities as it denies a club the chance to earn money through gate receipts. However, it can also be used in the event of health concerns, such as an epidemic or global pandemic.

Example: "Following guidance from the Austrian government, Manchester United have been informed by UEFA and LASK that the Europa League game on Thursday will be played behind closed doors."

Bicycle kick

A bicycle kick is a method of shooting or passing which involves a player being airborne and usually playing the ball in the opposite direction to the way they are facing. Sometimes referred to as an 'overhead kick', the bicycle kick is so called because a player appears to cycle through the air upside down.

Example: Rio Ferdinand said: "The opposing fans in the stadium applauding the great Cristiano after the bicycle kick and rightly so. Keeps on upping the ante - relentless."

Big-game player

A big-game player is one who routinely performs well in a highly pressurised environment such as a final, a heated derby match or a decisive league fixture. Big-game players are not overwhelmed by nerves or the occasion and are capable of affecting the outcome of big games.

Example: "Lionel Messi is the all-time top scorer in the history of El Clasico. This guy is the ultimate big-game player for Barcelona."

Bosman ruling

The Bosman ruling was a decision made by the European Court of Justice in favour of Belgian footballer Jean-Marc Bosman against the Belgian Football Association, RFC Liege and UEFA in 1995, which protected the free movement of labour and altered the nature of football transfers.

Essentially, it allowed a footballer to leave a club and join another for no transfer fee - otherwise known as a free transfer - when their contract expired. A player who joins another club upon the expiry of their contract is said to have moved 'on a Bosman'.

Bottling / Bottled it

If a team is accused of 'bottling it' it means they have thrown away a game from a position of (usually significant) advantage. While the term 'to have a lot of bottle' refers to an individual possessing boldness of spirit, 'to bottle it' in football is to show a weakness of character.

Example: "The second Spurs get close to winning anything they go and bottle it. Biggest bottle-jobs in football!"

Brace

A brace in football is a term for two goals.

Example: "Mohamed Salah made the difference, bagging a brace to send Liverpool on their way to victory against Everton."

Busby Babes

The Busby Babes was a nickname for the Manchester United team managed by Matt Busby during the 1950s and 1960s. They were dubbed 'Babes' due to the relative youth of the team.

CR7

CR7 is a nickname for Cristiano Ronaldo which combines his initials and favoured number. The Portugal star has turned the nickname into a brand, selling underwear, fragrance and other items under the name.

Cap-tied

When a player is cap-tied in international football it means they have played a senior competitive game for one particular national team and cannot change to another for which they may have been eligible.

Example: Former Barcelona forward Munir El-Haddadi was eligible for Morocco, but cannot switch allegiance to them because he played for Spain once in a European Championship qualifier, meaning he is cap-tied to Spain.

Catenaccio

Catenaccio is an Italian term for a tactical system of play which uses a strong defensive system. The word means 'door bolt' or 'chain'. It was notably used by Inter in the 1960s as well as many of Giovanni Trapattoni's teams.

Caught sleeping

When a player or defence is described as having been "caught sleeping" it means they have not been concentrating enough on their job or paying attention to the player they are supposed to be marking. Variations of "caught sleeping" include "caught napping" and "switched off".

Example: "The Chelsea defence were caught sleeping when they failed to close down Ronaldinho, who used the space to pick his spot and send the ball sailing past Petr Cech."

Clean sheet

A clean sheet is when a team does not concede any goals in a match. Sometimes known as 'a shutout' in North America, it uses the image of an unblemished garment.

Example: "Despite the best efforts of Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez, Alisson managed to keep a clean sheet at Anfield."

Cruyff Turn

The Cruyff Turn is the name of a dribble technique which was popularised by Netherlands star Johan Cruyff when he used it to evade Sweden 's Jan Olsson at the 1974 World Cup. The move involves feigning a pass and switching the ball to the standing foot by performing a 180 degree turn.

Cup-tied

The rules of many cup competitions prohibit a player for playing for two different clubs in the same competition in the same season. If a player plays for one club in round one of a cup then transfers to another club which is competing in the same cup, they would be cup-tied for the remainder of the competition.

Dead-ball specialist

A dead-ball specialist is a player who is particularly skilled at striking a ball when it is stationary, such as during a free kick or corner kick.

Example: "Andrea Pirlo's sumptuous free kick was the difference between the teams and served as a reminder of why he is considered one of the game's greatest dead-ball specialists."

Designated Player

A Designated Player in Major League Soccer ( MLS ) is one who is not included in a team's salary cap, allowing them to be paid more. It was introduced in 2007 in order to facilitate the transfer of David Beckham from Real Madrid to LA Galaxy.

The Double

When a team wins two trophies it is described as a double. In most cases, 'the Double' refers to a league and cup triumph.

Dive

A dive in football is when a player deliberately attempts to hoodwink the referee into calling a foul by throwing themselves to the ground during a tackle. An attempt to deceive the referee is a yellow-card offence.