Fans left confused by football rule question on The Chase, Bradley Walsh couldn't believe the answer

Viewers of hit ITV show The Chase were left confused by a football-related rule question during the game show - and even host Bradley Walsh couldn't believe the answer.

Walsh was a professional football player for Brentford in the 1970s before his career was ended at the age of 22 due to ankle fractures.

But even he was stumped when a question came up about an 'archaic' football rule on an episode of the programme, which was re-aired on Thursday, November 26.

You can watch the clip from the ITV show below.

The question was as follows: 'In football, if a direct free-kick goes straight into a team's own goal, what is awarded to the opposing team?"

Chaser Shaun Wallace, who is an avid Chelsea fan and all-round sports expert, looked a little confused as the answer countdown began.

And when after Wallace and contestant Francesca had submitted their answers, Walsh was convinced that the answer to the question was that a goal would be awarded.

When Francesca admitted she didn't watch football, Walsh replied: "You don't have to! If a direct free-kick goes into its team's own goal, then it's got to be a goal, because it's an own goal."

The 63-year-old's logic certainly made some sense, and he was baffled by the contestant's decision to choose 'corner' as the answer.

He exclaimed: "You've put a corner? Why have you done that?"

But to everyone's surprise, the answer was, in fact, a corner that is awarded to the opposing team if the bizarre event occurs.

And Wallace, who also got the answer correct, told a stunned Walsh: "It's one of those archaic rules..."

But much like the host, some viewers also had no idea that such a rule existed in football.

Taking to X (Twitter), one wrote: "Who else got this question wrong on The Chase? Brad and I can't be the only ones..."

Another agreed: "Me and I've been going for nearly 50 years."

A third added: "OK that was a stinker of a question."

One fan, though, revealed he had actually seen a direct free kick go into the other team's goal: "I've actually seen that happen. A back poss to a keeper from a free kick, the ball bobbled and went in to the goal, the ref gave a goal."

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