Football news, live scores, fixtures and league tables from around the world

A player is offside if they are in the opponent's half and closer to the goal line than both the ball and the second-last opponent (usually the last defender) when the ball is played to them, unless they are level. Being offside is not an offence in itself; the player must become involved in active play by receiving the ball, interfering with an opponent, or gaining an advantage.

The word 'soccer' comes from 'association football', distinguished from rugby football. In England, players shortened 'association' to 'assoc', then added '-er' to form 'soccer'. It was used to avoid confusion with other football codes, and while it fell out of use in Britain, it remained common in countries with their own popular football, like the United States.

VAR (Video Assistant Referee) is a system where video officials review decisions made by the on-field referee. It is used for clear and obvious errors in four game-changing situations: goals, penalty awards, direct red cards, and mistaken identity. The referee can review on a pitchside monitor, and the final decision always remains with the on-field referee.

League tables are typically ordered by total points, with three points for a win and one for a draw. If points are equal, teams are separated by goal difference (goals scored minus goals conceded), then goals scored, then head-to-head records. The exact tiebreakers vary per competition, but points remain the primary ranking criteria.

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