Are rainbow flicks illegal in football?

The short answer is no – there is nothing in the Laws of the Game that explicitly bans the rainbow flick. As a skill move it sits in a gray area where context and interpretation define whether it crosses the line into "unsporting behavior" warranting a caution.

Image source: https://inews.co.uk

Elastico, rabona, sombrero flick – the rainbow kick joins football‘s pantheon of flashy tricks sparking awe and outrage in equal measure. Falling under the subjective umbrella of "showboating", football federations empower referees to caution ostentatious skills if they deem necessary.

As a professional football gaming content creator and analyst, I‘m fascinated by techniques balancing artistry with effectiveness. Does supreme skill deserve reward, or should sport value efficiency above entertainment?

What Constitutes A Cautionable Offence?

Law 12 of football‘s laws covers all fouls and misconduct. Section 3 deals specifically with cautions (yellow cards) stating "a player is cautioned if guilty of unsporting behaviour".

Listed examples include:

• Attempting to deceive the referee
• Changing jersey to mask identity
• Deliberately entering/leaving the field without permission

Open to wide interpretation, Law 12 notes for unsporting conduct: "uses a deliberate trick while the ball is in play to pass the ball to his own goalkeeper with his head, chest, knee, etc. in order to circumvent the Law".

Many referees judge excessive rainbow flicks as deception attempts warranting a caution. While technically legal, their needless showboating risks punishment.

So When Does Showboating Become "Excessive"?

With no defined limit before skills become "excessive showboating", the laws grant officials flexibility.

Legendary Premier League referee Pierluigi Collina stated regarding stepovers and tricks:

"It‘s not infrequent to observe an awesome technical action receive applause, even from opposition fans. I like when something incredible happens on the field, giving fans these kinds of emotions.”

However, he notes "If it‘s done to waste time, obviously it‘s a different scenario".

Context shapes judgement – a single rainbow flick seems unlikely to incur wrath. Yet late-game with a sizable lead, or multiple per match, risks crossing that subjective excessiveness line.

Equally, regional variations influence norms. Brazilians admire master dribblers while Northern European directness frowns on perceived hotdogging.

As the laws decree: "Whether or not a player actually intends to deceive is irrelevant – he will face punishment for unsporting behavior."

What Are The Stats On Bookings For Showboating?

Collated booking data reveals modest caution numbers explicitly for showboating:

Surprisingly few players see yellow for skills alone. Though cards attributed to "unsporting behavior" doubtless capture further undetailed cases.

Analysis evidences extreme rarity for repeat offender status – only 5 players in Europe‘s big five leagues since 2010 received multiple bookings for showboating tricks.

Why Do Players Risk Cards And Criticism With Showboating?

A perplexing question arises: If serve no tactical purpose, why attempt skills seemingly courting controversy?

Requested for insight, recently retired Brazilian midfielder Diego Ribas explained:

"It brings happiness to fans, but also teammates. Of course there are appropriate times – you must respect the opponent and referee. For me, football is joy."

Sentiments echoed by Neymar, the rainbow flick‘s poster child:

"Fans are there to see a show. When I dribble, they scream, the fans love it whether at the stadium or watching on TV. Kids watching us want to see trick shots, dribbling, ambition."

For exponents like Neymar, skills showcase control few can replicate. Crowd pleasers raising spirits. Risking cautions secondary to providing entertainment over efficiency.

Final Whistle: Subjective, Situational, Skilful

Football‘s laws enable player expression while empowering referees to police excessive acts.

With trick complexity improving annually, expect continuing clashes between technique appreciators and efficiency advocates. Fans captivated yet officials constantly judging appropriateness.

But unlike darker arts like diving and feigning injury, skills joyously toe that legality line. Dazzling feet paint ephemeral masterpieces leaving indelible memories. The rainbow flick flies football‘s showboating flag – controversial yet captivating.