8 crazy mathematical rules that will make you scratch your head

The sport is full of rules, regulations and protocol that players must adhere to. But some of these rules are more vague than others. While everyone on the pitch will object to another footballer's warning for taking off his shirt in celebration of a goal he scored, only a handful of them will be shocked by the same reaction to kicking above the waist. Some rules make sense, seeking to make sport fairer, faster, and safer; they apply to everyone, from players to fans.

But there are those crazy old rules that you thought time had forgotten. From tennis caps to the ill-fated "towel mistake", here are some strange sports rules that you may have ignored...

Football: Preventive expulsion

In football, it is possible for a player to be sent off before the start of a match. Football fans will realise that a red card can be lifted quickly, with the first few minutes sometimes being sent off. But did you know that a player can actually be expelled before anything begins, by verbally or physically abusing an opposing player?

If this happens during the pre-match warm-up, the referee can eject the offensive play before kicking the ball.

Golf: Towel Error

One of the old golf rules states that a golfer should not "build a pause", which means putting a towel over the green zone to avoid getting their pants dirty when hitting the ball. It's actually something that can lead to a golfer's disqualification if he doesn't put the penalty on his scorecard; although few people realize that this towel pause shouldn't happen in the first place.

Basketball: Prevent Free Throw

If a basketball player tries to prevent a free throw, it may result in a technical foul. The reason is that this prevention can be classified as a strategic weapon against the opposing team. If a player makes this illegal move and stops the ball on its way to the goal, the team will lose the points corresponding to the attack (as if the goal had been scored), even if their players manage to recover the ball.

Tennis: Hat Fall

In tennis, if a player's hat falls during the middle of a match, his opponent can actually ask for a re-hit, citing this as an obstacle or illegal nuisance. If the referee allows, the player whose hat has slipped must repeat the strike. This bizarre rule was already applied in the 2008 Wimbledon match between Natalie Deschy and Anna Ivanovic, which was a close and exciting match that lasted almost three and a half hours. As soon as Deshi fired her winning shot, her hat fell and the referee called for a replay, nullifying the point and leading to Ivanovic later winning the match.

Kyokushin Karate: Kicking Only

In Kyokushin style karate, you are not allowed to punch people in the head, but you are allowed to kick them in the head.

Yes, we know that the goal is to protect the player's bare punch hands. But if we're very worried about hurting ourselves, what about the other man's head when he's kicked? Shouldn't that also be protected?

Duel: Don't leave the platform track

If one of the competitors leaves the fencing zone (beast pronounces "peest") - the platform on which the match takes place - he admits defeat. In one famous incident, a South Korean duelist named Shin A Lam disagreed with the referees when they ruled that she had lost her Olympic match, and demanded that the results be reconsidered. While waiting for the final verdict, Lam had to stay on track for 45 minutes. She sat on the playing deck in front of the audience and cried. In the end, the referees' decision remained the same, and Lam lost the match.

Diving: Be confident

Divers must be bold with high spirits and confident as they set out to dive. If not, judges can deduct up to two points. Can you believe that there is a sport in which you can lose points for not being confident?

Basketball: Technical Foul No-Unsportsmanlike

If a player deliberately attaches to the basket collar after a violent blow inside the basket, they receive a foul. In case you're curious, the official name for violating the rule is "Non-Mathematical Technical Foul." In professional football, a foul will also result in a fine of $500 for the player. Wow!