How the Back Pass Rule Changed Football Forever
The early 1990s were a period of enormous disruption and transformation in culture, economics, and geopolitics. The collapse of the Berlin Wall would trigger the dissolution of the Soviet Union and the subsequent end of the Cold War, signifying a new world order and a change in the global political landscape.
The Maastricht Treaty would see the European Union’s 12 member states announce a new stage of European integration, providing provisions for a shared European citizenship and the eventual introduction of a single currency. And all around the planet, the advent of the World Wide Web would lead to a rapid increase in internet usage as well as online communication and commerce.
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Another sweeping change would come in 1992, with the introduction of the back pass rule. Suddenly, goalkeepers had to adapt to an entirely new different way of playing — they could no longer pick up a pass with their hands, unless it came from a headed pass. Instead, they had to play the ball with their feet. In 1997, it was amended so that goalkeepers couldn’t pick up passes from a throw-in.
“It’s definitely changed the game for the better and sped things up,” said Mark Bosnich of the back pass rule. “I remember when teams used to just score a goal and then turn around from the halfway line and whack it back to their goalkeeper. It’s definitely improved the game’s entertainment value. I always tell young goalkeepers, ‘You’ve got to be in charge when the ball comes to you, whether that’s to your hands or to your feet, and you’ve got to quickly make up your mind. It’s fine if you want to play out from the back, but be sensible – there’s no need to try to play a one-two in front of your own box when a long ball will suffice.”
When Bosnich was growing up in Australia, goalkeepers were solely focused on keeping the ball out of the back of the net. However, the summer of 1992 would produce a seismic transformation in the way football was played — during that same time, Bosnich was leaving Australia and joining Premier League side Aston Villa, where he would spend nearly a decade in goal before eventually making the move to Manchester United in 1999.
It became clear that football needed to change in the 1990 FIFA World Cup. Regarded as one of the worst tournaments ever, the World Cup generated an average of 2.21 goals per game, a record low that still stands. Teams would grow accustomed to going up 1-0 and booting the ball back to the goalkeeper, or dishing it off to him via a throw-in, enabling him to hang onto it for as long as possible. These overly defensive tactics would lead to the introduction of the back-pass rule, which has since incentivized attacking play and increased spectator interest in the sport.
“The back-pass rule is an example of how rules are created in a community and the positive influence they have on everyone involved,” stated Germany and Bayern Munich legend Philipp Lahm. “The new rule made the game faster, more interesting, more offensive. It still has an effect today. At no World Cup were fewer goals scored on average than in 1990, and since then the rate has risen, with almost half a goal more scored per game at each of the past two World Cup tournaments. The rule also redefined the goalkeeper’s position and integrated them more into the game.”
“The back-pass rule was also significant because it highlights a central element of football, namely the talent of the players. Those who used to lead 1-0 were able to slow down the action. Teams have long since solved it differently in order to secure a lead. Today, the best manage to keep and possess the ball, free themselves from tight situations through combinations and attack anew.”
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Initially, the back-pass rule caused confusion and resulted in costly punishment for violators. On May 19, 2001, the Bundesliga title race was reaching a fiery conclusion. Schalke needed to beat Unterhaching at home, and they needed to hope that Bayern would lose on the final day. Schalke were able to erase a 3-2 deficit and win 5-3; suddenly, it looked like the title might be coming home to Gelsenkirchen for the first time since 1958.
Despair started to settle in to the Bayern fans as Sergej Barbarez headed home from a Marek Heinz cross to give Hamburg the lead in the 90th minute. It seemed that Bayern’s title hopes were done and dusted. However, at the very last second, Hamburg goalkeeper Mathias Schober handled a back pass, giving Bayern an indirect free kick inside the box. Patrik Andersson slotted home from close range to secure the title for the Bavarians, and just a few weeks later, Bayern prevailed with their first Champions League title in a quarter-century.
One decade after that last-gasp championship win, Bayern Munich would sign Manuel Neuer from Schalke on the recommendation of goalkeeping coach Frans Hoek. Over the next 14 years, Neuer would play a vital role in Bayern’s domestic and international dominance as well as Germany’s World Cup-winning side alongside Lahm, but he also helped revolutionize the game forever.
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Regarded as one of the greatest goalkeepers of all time, Neuer didn’t just boast exceptional reflexes and shot-stopping abilities. He was also a sweeper keeper who knew when to come off his line and anticipate an opposing attack, allowing his team to maintain their defensive line. What’s more, he boasted the footwork, ball control, and distribution to dribble out of the press and launch swift counter-attacks with an inch-perfect pass. He is the ultimate ‘modern goalkeeper’, a position that has been evolving ever since the introduction of the back-pass rule.
By: Zach Lowy / @ZachLowy
Featured Image: @GabFoligno / Luciano Lima / Getty Images