Shocking History and Origin of Back Pass Rule in Football

There used to be a time in football when the game was extremely dull and boring. This was when the backpass rule did not exist.

When one team took the lead, they would rely on time-wasting by passing the ball back to the goalkeeper, who would hold onto it for ages, ensuring his team's lead was secure.

A prime example of this was the 1990 World Cup. The goals-per-game ratio here was at an all-time low of 2.2. In a game between Ireland and Egypt, Irish goalkeeper Packie Bonner held onto the ball for 6 minutes!

A similar pattern followed in the 1992 Euros as well, where Denmark exploited this rule and went on to win the trophy.

It was clear that a change was needed, and the Back Pass Rule was introduced in football in 1992. Football today is exciting and so much better for this rule, because it almost forced defenders to get better with the ball at their feet, opening up an eclectic band of tactics in the game.