Getting into soccer? You’re in the right place.
Welcome to The Tap-Inn. We serve simple, witty, twice-weekly explainers to help you understand soccer, the world’s most popular sport. No assumed knowledge, no PhD-level tactics, no nonsense.
—Joe, your Irish bartender (no, really)
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“Release clause”
/rɪˈliːs klɔːz/
phrase · soccer
- Definition:
- A fixed buyout price written into a player's contract. Any club willing to pay that exact number can sign the player, with no negotiation and no permission needed from the selling club.
- Origin:
- Rooted in Spanish labor law: a 1985 royal decree that requires every professional contract in Spain to include one, as a legal protection so clubs can't trap players indefinitely.
“United didn't even have to negotiate. Tielemans had a release clause, they paid it, done deal.”
ASK THE BARTENDER
Games At The Bar
WHAT PL TEAM MATCHES YOUR PERSONALITY?
Find Your Premier League Club
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9
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30
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WHAT KIND OF FAN ARE YOU?
Want to get into soccer? Start here.
Answer ten questions about how the game works and we'll tell you what kind of fan you already are — and how to fill in the bits you don't know yet!
10
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2
Minutes
10,000+
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THINK YOU KNOW THE LANGUAGE OF SOCCER?
Understand soccer? Let’s find out.
Ten things we’ve overheard at the bar. Ten chances to prove you know what they mean. Plus: get your own personalised soccer 'style of play' at the end!
10
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2
Minutes
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