Idol :
A player loved by fans and revered by the media. Idols are established thanks to their consistently outstanding performances, flashes of brilliance, strong personality or that mysterious gift known as charisma.
Immovable :
Applied to players, managers, officials considered indispensable.
Indirect Free Kick :
Method of restarting a game after it has been stopped in order to penalize a team for a foul or other infringement as outlined in the Laws of the Game. A goal cannot be scored from an indirect kick unless another player from either team contacts the ball before it crosses the goal-line.
Injury :
Muscular, bone or ligament damage suffered while playing. If caused by an opponent, the referee may consider the action intentional and apply the corresponding sanctions. The risk of injury is the chief worry of all footballers, particularly forwards since, depending on how serious it is, an injury can force a player out of the game. The legs of some stars have been insured for millions against this risk.
Injury Time :
Minutes accumulated at the end of a match that compensate for time lost due to interruptions or stops in the game. This time used to be determined by the criteria of the referee and not by the actual amount of time acquired. It is now the fourth referee with an electronic score board that announces this extension of play.
Inside Right (or Left) :
Also known as inside forwards, these players took up their position on either side of the centre forward, forming two wings. With the introduction of the WM system, these were pulled back deeper and now act more as midfielders.
Instep :
Upper part of the foot, between the ankle and the start of the toes. This is the part most used in the game of football, both for unleashing powerful, well-aimed shots and for controlling the ball.
International :
A footballer who plays or has played for his countrys national side.
International Board :
This is the sole world authority regarding rules and regulations, founded in Manchester in 1886. The International Board has 20 members, 4 from each of the four British federations and the other four appointed by FIFA. The Board meets annually and its decisions are binding on all national football associations. No association can make any alterations to the rules of the game until the Board has passed them.
