Common Soccer Acronyms

Soccer Acronyms: Common Soccer Acronyms

AB (Abandoned Match)
AD (Away Draw)
AL (Away Loss)
AL (using offensive, insulting or abusive language and/or gestures)
AW (Away Win)
A.E.T. (After extra time)
AIG (Additional Instructions and Guidelines)
AR (Assistant Referee)
ATR (Advice to Referees)
3C''''''''''''''''s (Courage, Character, Conviction)
C (Caution)
2CT (receiving a second caution in the same match)
5Cs ( Clear view, Concentration, Co-operation, Confidence, Courage.)
CEN (Centre)
CMI (Critical Match Incident or MOT)
CF (Centre-forward)
CPT (Captain)
CRUEF (Carless Reckless using Excessive Force)
CS (Clean Sheets)
CSA (Canadian Soccer Association)
CT Careless Tackle
D (Draw)
DEF (Defender)
2LD (2nd to Last Defender)
4D''''''''''''''''s (Distance to Ball, Distance to Goal, Direction of Play, # Defenders)
DB (Dropped Ball)
DFK ( Direct Free Kick )
DIS (Discipline)
DP ( Disciplinary Panel )
DOGSO (Deny Obvious Goal Scoring Opportunity)
DOGSO H (Handling)
DGH (denying the opposing team a goal or an obvious goal scoring opportunity by deliberately handling the ball (this does not apply to a goalkeeper within his own penalty area)
DGF (denying an obvious goal scoring opportunity to an opponent moving towards the player’s goal by an offence punishable by a free kick or a penalty kick)
DOGSO F (Foul)
DR (delaying the restart of play)
DT (dissent by word or action)
E (Expulsion)
E. (entering or re-entering the field of play without the referee’s permission)
E.T. (Extra Time)
ET (Excessive Tackle)
4th or 4O (fourth official)
F (Friendly)
F (Goals Scored For)
FB (Fullback)
FIFA ( Federation International de Football Association )
FIRE (Frustration, Intimidation, Retaliation, Established territory of space
FK (Free Kick)
FOP ( Field Of Play )
F.T. or FT( Full Time )
FRD ( failure to respect the required distance when play is restarted with a corner kick, free kick or throw-in)
FTS (Failed to Score)
GA (Goal Against)
GD (Goal Difference)
G or GK ( Goal Keeper )
GTP (Guide to Procedures)
HB (Halfback)
HT ( Half Time )
HT (home team)
IBD (International Board Decisions - FIFA Q&A, IFAB Decisions, USSF Advice to Refs)
IFAB (International Football Association Board)
ILGGR ( Interpretation of the Laws of the Game and Guidelines for Referees )
INDFK or IDFK or IDK or IFK( Indirect Free Kick )
ITOOTR ( In The Opinion Of The Referee )
JAR (Jr Asst. Ref)
KFTPM (Kicks From the Penalty Mark)
Law 18 (Common Sense)
Law 19 (Spirit of the Game)
L (Loss)
L (Left)
L (deliberately leaving the field of play without the referee’s permission)
LTFOPWOTRP (leaving the field of play without the referee''''''''''''''''s permission)
LOAF (Laws Of Association Football - old terminology)
LOTG (Laws Of The Game)
MM (minute in the match)
M (Midfielder)
MIN (Minutes)
MIS (Misconduct)
MOT (Moment of Truth or CMI)
N (Neutral)
NFHS (National Federation - High School [Association of State High School Associations] )
O (Outside)
O.G. (Own Goal)
OGSO ( Obvious Goal Scoring Opportunity )
OOB (Out of Bounds)
OP (Offside Player)
ORP (Offside Restricted Player)
3P''''''''''''''''s (Public, Private, Profane)(Public, Personal, Persistent)
4P''''''''''''''''s (Possession, Potential, Personnel and Proximity)
PI (persistent infringement of the Laws of the Game)
PIADM (Playing in a Dangerous Manner
PIOP (Player In Offside Position)
PA (Penalty Area)
PK (Penalty Kick)
PRO (Professional Referee Organization (independent organization responsible for the ion and assignments of referees for MLS and certain lower professional leagues)
PTS (Points)
R (Right)
ROC (Rules of Competition set of rules or guidelines specific to a competition that may deviate from or offer more specific detail than the Laws or other instructions)
ROPP or ROP (Restricted Offside Positioned Player)
RC ( Red Card )
RT Reckless Tackle
SFP (serious foul play)
VC (violent conduct)
S (spitting at an opponent or any other person)
ST (Striker)
SA (Situational Awareness)
SAR (Senior Asst. Ref)
SIAPOA (Speed of play & tackle, Intent, Aggressive nature, Position of tackler, Opportunity to play the ball, Atmosphere)
SFP (serious foul play)
SOTL ( Spirit Of The Law )
SO (send off)
SPA (Stopping a promising attack)
SUB (Substitution
TI (Throw In)
UB ( unsporting behaviour)
USB ( Unsporting Behavior )
USSF ( United States Soccer Federation )
VAR (video assistant referee)
VC (violent conduct)
VT (visiting team)
W (Winger)
WISL ( World Indoor Soccer League )
WTF (What The Hey)
YSL ( Youth Soccer League )
YC (Yellow card)
Additional Soccer Acronyms
MLS: Major League Soccer
EPL: English Premier League
UCL: UEFA Champions League
WC: World Cup
CAF: Confederation of African Football
CONCACAF: Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football
AFC: Asian Football Confederation
OFC: Oceania Football Confederation
UEFA: Union of European Football Associations
Player and Match Statistics
AP: Appearances
YC: Yellow Card
RC: Red Card
MOTM: Man of the Match
POTM: Player of the Match
GPG: Goals Per Game
APG: Assists Per Game
Tactics and Formations
DM: Defensive Midfielder
AM: Attacking Midfielder
WB: Wing Back
SS: Second Striker

IFK: Indirect Free Kick
DFK: Direct Free Kick
POTY: Player of the Year
YPOTY: Young Player of the Year
MVP: Most Valuable Player
GAA: Goals Against Average
PFA: Professional Footballers’ Association
FA: Football Association
NWSL: National Women’s Soccer League; AskTheref.com Educating and Amusing The Soccer Referee Since October 11, 1999

Common Soccer Acronyms

AskTheref.com Educating and Amusing The Soccer Referee Since October 11, 1999