In this football language post for learners of English we look at the football expression ‘to be ruled out‘ which is used when a player is injured and cannot play. You can read the transcript for this post below, while you can also check out our glossary of footballing phrases here and visit our site to access all our previous posts and podcasts. If you have any suggestions or questions then you can contact us at admin@languagecaster.com.
To be ruled out
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The Spanish captain and current Ballon d’Or holder Alexia Putellas has been ruled out of the upcoming 2022 Women’s European Championships after injuring her ACL (anterior cruciate ligament). This means that the Barcelona player will not play in this summer’s tournament in England as this is a serious injury – in fact, there is a chance that she will be ruled out for some months.
To be ruled out is used to explain when something or someone is stopped from doing something. So, in this case Putellas has been prevented from playing in the 2022 Women’s Euros because of her injury. We can say that a player has been ruled out of the next game or tournament through injury (because of injury) or through suspension (maybe they have received too many yellow cards).
Sometimes this expression is used to describe when a goal has not been allowed – it has been disallowed – and so we say that the goal has been ruled out. Maybe the goal has been ruled out for offside or that the attacking side have fouled the defenders. Another way of saying ruled out would be chalked off; the goal has been chalked off for offside.
- Example: Alexia Putellas ruled out of Euro 2022 in devastating blow to Spain (Guardian.co.uk, July 5 2022)
- Example: Cristiano Ronaldo ruled out of Manchester derby through injury (The Athletic, March 6th 2022)
- Example: Ireland fans in disbelief as FOUR goals are ruled out for offside versus Lithuania (Mirror 29 March 2022)
Related Vocabulary
- The language of injuries
- To be out injured
- Injury crisis
- Injury
- To rule out
- To be ruled out (2008)
- Disallowed goal
- Chalked off
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