Ivan Perisic could do with some brushing up on his knowledge of the rulebook.
The Inter Milan winger wanted to guide the ball into his goalkeeper's hands against Roma on Sunday and thought he'd found the perfect way to circumvent the backpass rule.
We all know that goalkeepers can't simply pick up a ball if it's passed along the floor via a teammate's foot.
We all know that goalkeepers are allowed to catch the ball once it's been sent back via the head of an outfield player.
Perisic is also aware of both of those regulations but what he didn't know is that he was not allowed to flick the ball up so that he could create a scenario that would enable him to head the ball into the waiting gloves of 'keeper Samir Handanovic.
The Croatian found out via an early booking that Fifa law dictates that players are found to be guilty of "ungentlemanly conduct" if they try to get around the rules by using a trick to get the ball into the air before cushioning it to their own goalkeeper.
https://twitter.com/Coach_365/status/835942339931738112?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
Below is a pretty clear explanation for why Perisic was booked, according to Law 12: Fouls and Misconduct...
"No trickery may be used to get around the terms of the amendment to Law 12. A player may pass the ball to his own goalkeeper using his head, chest, knee, etc. However, if, in the opinion of the referee, the player uses a deliberate trick - such as flicking the ball to his head with his foot and heading it to the goalkeeper or kneeling and deliberately pushing the ball to the goalkeeper with his head or knee - he must be cautioned for ungentlemanly conduct.
"It makes no difference whether or not the goalkeeper touches the ball with his hands; the offence is committed by the player who is seeking to circumvent both the Spirit and Letter of the Law."
Inter suffered a 3-1 defeat to Roma in the game, meaning they are now 18 points off runaway Serie A leaders Juventus.
