Little-known football rule leaves Portugal and Scotland fans baffled

CRISTIANO RONALDO broke Scottish hearts with his late winner for Portugal in Sunday’s Nations League clash.

But both countries’ fans have at least been able to share in something!

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Scott McTominay headed Scotland into a dramatic early lead in Lisbon before Bruno Fernandes levelled in the second-half.

Steve Clarke‘s men defended superbly to keep Portugal at bay until Ronaldo popped-up in the 88th minute.

But with the dust settling on the results, both sets of supporters have been left stunned after a little-known football rule was spotted in action during the Nations League clash.

One eagle-eyed punter spotted the moment and shared it on social media.

And it left both Portuguese and Scottish fans remarking ‘every day is a school day.’

Football’s Laws of the Game are full of all kinds of weird and wonderful quirks that you don’t often see in action.

This was very much one of them and was a largely unassuming moment.

Portugal boss Roberto Martinez decided to make a substitution during a break in play in the 76th minute of the match.

It saw him make a like-for-like switch at right-back with Diogo Dalot coming on in place of Nelson Semedo.

Man Utd star Dalot was thrust instantly – literally – into the action with the ball immediately put in his hands for a throw-in.

But as he was about to throw the ball back into play to restart the game, the fourth official could be seen intervening and gesturing for Dalot to stop.

The official could be seen motioning for Dalot to go onto the pitch – before instantly waving him back OFF of the field of play.

But why?

Well, as a former referee pointed out on his X account DG Referee, Dalot had to officially enter the field of play before he could take the throw-in.

The referee posted: “Did you know, if a player being subbed on is taking the throw in he still has to enter the pitch first… as demonstrated a moment ago in the Portugal game!”

Dalot would not have officially been substituted on had he not literally stepped onto the field of play first.

Only at that point does the substitution officially take place.

So that explains why in somewhat bizarre fashion he had to briefly walk on to the pitch before instantly walking off again to take the throw to restart the match.

It seems like the rule certainly wasn’t one that was well known to fans until it was highlighted!

One fan joked: “I love s***e rules like this. Like what’s the point, but love he was made to do it at the same time!”

Another joked: “That’s handball then!”

Obviously that’s not the case as the ball was not in play at the time.

Another fan said: “I didn’t know about this rule but it seems as useful as the dropped ball.”

Another posted: “Every day’s a school day.”

While a Portuguese fan said: “I’ve learned something today!”

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