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All you need to know about FIFA Futsal World Cup Rules

A goalkeeper must release the ball within four seconds while in his own half. If he doesn’t, an indirect free-kick will be awarded to the opposition team

Published

3 weeks ago

September 16, 2024

Ariana News

Futsal has continued to grow in global popularity over the past few decades with one source estimating 12 million players across the world play the game.

Due to its easy setup and enhanced accessibility futsal has become an essential resource for coaches aiming to develop players.

But futsal’s rules are intricate - especially those applicable to this year’s FIFA Futsal World Cup.

Here’s what you need to know.

A match lasts 40 minutes. That is, in fact, 40 minutes of the ball in play, because when the whistle blows – when, say, the ball goes out or a foul is called – the timekeeper stops the clock until play restarts.

The two 20-minute halves are split by a 15-minute half-time break. If a knockout-phase game is level after 40 minutes, two five-minute periods of extra-time will be played.

Teams

Uzbekistan 2024 squads consist of 14 players. Each team has five players – four out-court and one goalkeeper – on court simultaneously, unless a sending off has occurred.

Substitutions

Coaches can make unlimited substitutions. There is no limit to how many times a player can be substituted on and off.

Four-second rule

A goalkeeper must release the ball within four seconds while in his own half. If he doesn’t, an indirect free-kick will be awarded to the opposition team. Set-pieces – kick-ins, corners and free-kicks – must be taken within four seconds or the opposition team will be awarded an indirect free-kick.

Goalkeepers in possession

Once a goalkeeper has touched the ball in his own half, he is not permitted to touch it again inside his own half until the opposition have had possession.

Kick-ins

There are no throw-ins. When the ball goes out via the side-line, or for a corner, it must be kicked back in.

Accumulated fouls

When a team has made five fouls in one half, every subsequent foul will result in their opponents being awarded a free shot at goal, with no wall permitted in between, from the second penalty spot (10 metres out). If the foul occurred closer to goal, it can be taken from where it occurred. First-half fouls are wiped at half-time, but second-half fouls are carried into extra-time if it is required.

Red cards

Players are sent off for two yellow cards or a straight red. Their team must then play with only four players on the court until the opposition scores or for two minutes. If the opposition scores, or once two minutes is up if not, a replacement can be sent on. The sent-off player is not permitted to return to the game.

Flying goalkeepers

A flying goalkeeper is when an out-court player temporarily assumes the role of a goalkeeper. This is invariably done when a team is behind and trying to outnumber the opposition in attack. A flying goalkeeper must wear a goalkeeper’s jersey with his own number on the back.

Time-outs

Each head coach has one time-out, whereby play is stopped for 60 seconds for him to speak to his players, in each half. A head coach can only call a time-out when the ball goes out of play and his team will restart it. There are no time-outs in extra-time.

Penalty shootouts

If a knockout-phase game is level after extra-time, a penalty shootout will decide the outcome. Whichever team is leading after each has taken five penalties will go through. If it’s level after five penalties apiece, sudden death will ensue. Players who have withdrawn from the game injured or been sent off are not permitted to take penalties.

An outfield player is permitted to act as a goalkeeper during penalties. Teams are permitted to alternate their goalkeepers during the shootout.

Related Topics:Afghanistan Futsal featured FIFA Futsal Futsal rules Futsal World Cup Uzbekistan Uzbekistan 2024

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Brazil, Ukraine, Argentina and France through to Futsal World Cup semi-finals

The tournament’s most successful team so far has been Brazil, with Marcel the top scorer.

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Ariana News

Brazil, Ukraine, Argentina and debutants France are all through to this year’s FIFA Futsal World Cup in Uzbekistan after having come out tops through the groups stage, round of 16 and the quarterfinals.

Semis will kick off on Wednesday, October 2, when Brazil face Ukraine in Tashkent.

On Thursday, October 3, Argentina will face France.

Third-place match will be played on Sunday, October 6 in Tashkent.

The final will follow later in the day.

The tournament’s most successful team so far has been Brazil with Marcel the top scorer.

There have been 341 goals scored in 48 matches, averaging 7.1 goals per match up to the quarterfinals. Leading the pack is Brazil’s Marcel, who has scored an impressive 10 goals.

Close behind is Argentina’s Alan Brandi with 7 goals.

Iran’s Salar Aghapour follows with 6 goals and several players are tied with 5 goals each, including Argentina’s Kevin Arrieta and Matías Rosa, Brazil’s Pito, Kazakhstan’s Arnold Knaub, and Venezuela’s Kevin Briceño.

Francis Lokoka, Abdessamad Mohammed and Raphael Reynaud discuss France beating Paraguay and reaching the FIFA Futsal World Cup Uzbekistan 2024 quarter-finals.

For France however, making it to the semi-finals is a dream come true. Making their first ever appearance at this global event, team member Abdessamad Mohammed summed it up after they beat Paraguay. “I’m not sure we could have dreamt for more than this,” he said.

Fellow teammate Francis Lokoka added: “It is absolutely amazing. If somebody had told me this was going to happen, I would not have believed them in my wildest dreams.”

“It is unbelievable,” said coach Raphael Reynaud. “When we came here our aim was to make it through the group stage. But we are competitors so once we’d achieved that, we told ourselves that anything was possible. We believe that we can go far in this tournament.

“What is happening here is a dream come true, but we have worked hard to get here, putting the pieces together one step at a time. It is no accident that we have come this far. You do not beat Paraguay in a World Cup quarter-final by chance.”

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Ukraine secures spot in FIFA Futsal World Cup semi-final

Kazakhstan meanwhile take on Argentina on Monday night, after eliminating reigning world and European champions Portugal. Argentina defeated Croatia in their round of 16 match.

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3 days ago

September 30, 2024

Ariana News

Ukraine has reached their first Futsal World Cup semi-final since 1996 after beating Venezuela 9-4 on Sunday to set up a Wednesday tie with Brazil, who knocked out Morocco.

The final two quarter-finals matches are on Monday and first up will be France and Paraguay. This comes after France beat Thailand 5-2 in the round of 16.

Kazakhstan meanwhile take on Argentina on Monday night, after eliminating reigning world and European champions Portugal. Argentina defeated Croatia in their round of 16 match.

Quarter-finals

30 September: France vs Paraguay (14:30, Bukhara)
30 September: Kazakhstan vs Argentina (17:00, Tashkent)

Semi-finals

Semis will get underway on Wednesday, October 2, when Ukraine face Brazil in Tashkent.

On Thursday, October 3, Kazakhstan or Argentina will face France of Paraguay.

Third-place match
This match will be played on Sunday, 6 October in Tashkent.
The final will follow later in the day.

Don’t forget to tune in to Ariana Television to watch these exciting matches - which are being broadcast live by Ariana Television Network.

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Afghanistan to play three ODIs against Bangladesh in November

The three-match ODI series will begin on the 6th of November, with the 2nd and 3rd ODIs scheduled to be played on the 9th and 11th of November, respectively. The exact venue is yet to be finalized.

Published

4 days ago

September 29, 2024

Ariana News

The Afghanistan Cricket Board (ACB) on Sunday confirmed that it will host Bangladesh for a series of three One Day International (ODI) matches from November 06 – 11 in the United Arab Emirates.

The three-match ODI series will begin on the 6th of November, with the 2nd and 3rd ODIs scheduled to be played on the 9th and 11th of November, respectively. The exact venue is yet to be finalized.

These three ODIs, along with three T20Is and two Tests, were originally part of Afghanistan’s Future Tour Program (FTP) and scheduled for July-August this year. However, the series was postponed due to extreme heat in the UAE and India, where ACB usually hosts its home events, ACB said in a statement.

Following extensive discussions, both boards have agreed to proceed with just the ODI leg, which will be crucial in both teams' preparations for the ICC Champions Trophy which is set to take place in Pakistan in February next year, the statement said.

Afghanistan recently secured a historic 2-1 series victory over South Africa and are set to tour Zimbabwe in December for an all-format series against the home side.