General
clearance
What does clearance mean?
A defensive action where a player boots or heads the ball clear of the danger area.
"A brave last-ditch clearance off the line saved them."
Origin
Descriptive; the defender 'clears' the danger.
Frequently asked questions
What is a clearance in football?
A clearance is a defensive action in which a player kicks or heads the ball away from the danger area around their own goal to relieve pressure.
What is a goal-line clearance?
It's a clearance made right on or just in front of the goal line, often by a defender getting a boot or head to the ball to stop it crossing for a goal.
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