Alvarez's penalty and other curious football rules: Is it allowed to climb the crossbar or score with a broken ball?

The rules of football are full of rules that many fans are unfamiliar with. Some of them may seem strange or surprising, but they are all included in the IFAB (International Football Association Board) Laws of the Game.

Julian Alvarez's penalty in the Champions League match against Real Madrid has highlighted the loopholes and interpretations of the rules that can lead to unusual situations.

Marca newspaper has published some of them and Telegrafi will bring them to you below:

Can there be an offside position from a corner kick? No. 'Offside' will never be called on a corner kick, regardless of where the players are positioned.

Read too From goalkeepers to captains, referees and ball-throwing - IFAB approves numerous rule changes

Can a player score after a rebound from the penalty spot? No, unless another player touches the ball first. If the kicker shoots, the ball hits the post and then he finishes it himself without first touching another player, the goal will be disallowed.

Can you score an own goal from a free kick? No. If a player takes a free kick and the ball goes into his own goal untouched, a corner kick will be awarded to the opposing team instead of an own goal. However, if the goalkeeper touches the ball before it goes in, it will count as an own goal.

What is the minimum number of players required to play a match? A team must have at least seven players on the field for the game to continue. If it falls below this number, the game is suspended and the team loses.

What happens if a team has fewer players in the penalty shootout? The team with more players must match the team with fewer by choosing a player who will not shoot. This allows for a fair penalty shootout.

Is a goal scored directly from a handball valid? No. If a player takes a throw-in and the ball goes into the goal untouched, the goal will be disallowed and a throw-in will be awarded to the opposing team.

Can a referee send off a player before or after the match? Yes, the referee's authority begins with the pre-match shirt inspection and extends until the players leave the field of play after the final whistle. He can issue a yellow card or send off a player for violent or unsportsmanlike conduct during that period.

Can a goalkeeper score a goal from goal to goal? Yes, but only if he uses his foot. If the goalkeeper throws the ball with his hand and it enters the opponent's goal without anyone touching it, the goal will be disallowed and a goal kick will be awarded.

What happens if a dog or other object obstructs a goal? If an animal, fan or any object not involved in the game prevents a clear goal, the referee may stop play and restart it with a neutral ball. If the ball has already crossed the goal line before the interference, the goal will stand.

What happens if a team scores a goal with 12 players on the field? If a team has an extra player on the field without the referee noticing and scores a goal, it will be disallowed and play will restart with an indirect free kick for the opposing team.

Can you score a goal and an own goal from a kick-off? A player can score a goal directly from the kick-off into the opponent's goal, but he cannot score an own goal. If for any reason the ball goes into your goal without anyone touching it, a corner kick will be awarded to the opposing team instead of an own goal.

Can a referee change a decision after the game has restarted? No. Once play restarts following a referee's decision, the referee cannot overturn it, even if he or she realizes he or she made a mistake.

Can you score a goal with two balls on the field? No. If there are two balls on the field and one interferes with the game, the referee must stop the game and restart it with a neutral ball, without the goal being counted.

What happens if the ball explodes in the middle of a shot? If the ball bursts or deflates in mid-flight before crossing the goal line, play must be stopped and restarted with a new ball from the spot where the incident occurred. However, if the ball completely crosses the goal line while still punctured, a goal will count, provided that the ball has retained its shape up to that point and has not significantly affected play.

A throw-in is taken and the ball leaves the area, but a gust of wind sends the ball into the goal without touching any player. Is it a goal?  No, the goal would not have been valid. According to the rules, for a goal to count from a throw-in, another player must touch the ball before it enters the opponent's goal. If the wind blew the ball directly into the goal without anyone touching it, the goal would be disallowed and a throw-in would be awarded to the opposing team.

Can a player climb the crossbar to prevent a goal? No. Any attempt to use external elements, such as the goalposts or net, to interfere with play is illegal. If a player climbs onto the crossbar to clear the ball, the referee can either award the goal or penalize the offender.

Can a player score a goal barefoot? Yes, if there is immediacy and the fact of being barefoot was coincidental.

Is it mandatory to play with flags in the corners? Yes, the purpose of the corner flag is to serve as a reference point for the referee to see if the ball is going out of bounds. It helps to distinguish corner kicks and goal kicks from throw-ins. /Telegraph/