- The goal is the frame through which the ball must pass to score a goal. It is made up of two parallel posts, another upper post that joins them together, commonly known as the crossbar, and a net that stops the ball once it is inside the goal. Even if the ball touches one of the three posts during a match, it will not be stopped as they are elements of the game.
In order to determine whether or not the ball enters the goal, there must be a line marked on the surface of the ground just below the crossbar, which is the same width as the goalposts. This line is also considered to be an element of play.
On the other hand, other accessories that are part of the goal, such as hooks, rings and even the net, are not part of the game. This means that if the ball touches any part of the goal other than the three goalposts, play is stopped immediately and the ball is put back into play from the appropriate place.
Dimensions of the goal
The regulations of the Fédération Internationale de Football Association and the Royal Spanish Football Association stipulate that the dimensions of a professional football goal must be 7.32 metres wide by 2.44 metres high.
However, there are many variants of this sport, so the size of the goal is different in many of them. This is the case with 7-a-side football. In this type of football, the goal must be 6 metres wide by 2 metres high, and must also meet the requirements established in the regulations of the Royal Spanish Football Federation in terms of stability and resistance.
Another measure to take into account is the depth of the fixed goal, which has to be 1.50 metres. This type of goal is the most commonly used in professional football stadiums. It should also be taken into account that this measurement can vary depending on the type of football, and that the goals used in some of them can be folding and portable.
Colour and shape of the goal
The goalposts that form the goalkeeper’s goal are white in colour and are located at equal distance from the corner flags. They are usually made of high quality steel or aluminium, although in the past they were made of wood.
Football goals are rectangular in shape. It is worth mentioning that in the past the shape of the goalposts was quadrangular, but due to its dangerousness they decided to change it and nowadays it is round.
Types of networks
Despite popular belief, the rules of the game as laid down by FIFA leave it up to national jurisdictions to decide whether or not to use goal nets, as long as they are securely fastened and do not get in the way of the goalkeeper. This means that their use is not compulsory. In Spanish professional football there are always goal nets because the RFEF has established this rule within its competences.
- Football nets are made of square mesh, which cannot exceed 12 centimetres. In addition, the diameter of the braid must be at least 2 millimetres.