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A little-known rule proved to be Crystal Palace midfielder Eberechi Eze's undoing on the opening weekend of the Premier League season. His free-kick was ruled out because a Palace player was standing too close to the Chelsea wall. The rule, which was introduced to the laws of the game in 2019-20, surprised many - but was ultimately the correct decision. But what other obscure laws are there in football? Send us your questions Iliman Ndiaye might hold the accolade for the strangest booking in Premier League history after imitating a seagull, but did you know this rule? A player can be cautioned for excessively celebrating a goal which includes covering their head or their face with a mask under International Football Association Board's (Ifab) Law 12. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is among those to have fallen foul of this niche section of the lawbook when he was cautioned for putting on a Black Panther mask after scoring against Rennes in the Europa League in 2019. Players who take off their shirt, jump on to a fence or boarding, enter the crowd, mock their opponents or cover their face will also be cautioned. Clubs in the English Football League (EFL) voted to ban players from using towels to dry the ball before taking a throw-in. They instead decided to bring in the multiball system that we see in the Premier League. Wycombe's Luke Leahy did not get the memo in 2024 when he was cautioned for drying a ball on a steward's jacket. The rule also prevents players from using items of clothing offered by fans, like when a Rotherham United supporter gave defender Wes Harding his jumper to wipe the ball before a throw-in in 2023. It is common knowledge that footballers cannot score directly from an indirect free-kick. But what would happen in the unusual event that a player kicked the ball into their own net from a free-kick? Fortunately for the offending team, it would not count as a goal. Law 13 states that if a direct or indirect free-kick is kicked directly into the team's own goal, a corner kick is awarded. You also cannot score directly from a thrown-in, not that Aston Villa's Peter Enckelman knew in 2002. The goalkeeper accidentally miscontrolled a throw-in from team-mate Olof Mellberg to inadvertently score an own goal. This article is the latest from BBC Sport's Ask Me Anything team. Ask Me Anything is a service dedicated to answering your questions. We want to reward your time by telling you things you do not know and reminding you of things you do. The team will find out everything you need to know and be able to call upon a network of contacts including our experts and pundits. We will be answering your questions from the heart of the BBC Sport newsroom, and going behind the scenes at some of the world's biggest sporting events. Our coverage will span the BBC Sport website, app, social media and You Tube accounts, plus BBC TV and radio. Why was Eze's free-kick disallowed against Chelsea? How can I watch Premier League highlights from 8pm on BBC Sport? Why does football have Saturday 3pm TV blackout in UK? What are the rules on double-touch penalties? Premier League: Leeds pushing for opener against Everton at raucous Elland Road Transfer window set to break all records 'Sad to see' - Newcastle and Villa fans unite against PSR Why are so many people taking ketamine? Why was this French film so controversial? Military drama starring Lacey Turner and Michelle Keegan A battle between two activists and a fast food giant The rule that disallowed Eze's free-kick - analysis. Video The rule that disallowed Eze's free-kick - analysis Perseverance through resistance - the history of the Women's Rugby World Cup Arsenal profit from Bayindir error to beat Man Utd. Video Arsenal profit from Bayindir error to beat Man Utd 'Back with a bang! ' - Hodgkinson wins 800m in world lead time. Video'Back with a bang! ' - Hodgkinson wins 800m in world lead time 'People think I'm uneducated' - getting to know Wayne Rooney Red Roses partner with Barbie before World Cup Watch: Mic'd up Livingstone captains team in real time. Video Watch: Mic'd up Livingstone captains team in real time 'He has made young players dream' - the making of Liverpool icon Salah Lewandowski, Man Utd and the transfer that got away. Video Lewandowski, Man Utd and the transfer that got away When England won by two runs - the greatest ever Test match? Video When England won by two runs - the greatest ever Test match? Becky Zerlentes - the first female boxer to die in fight in US Hansie Cronje, match-fixing and plane crash that left a complex legacy Copyright © 2025 BBC. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.