Football Glossary, Letter U
UEFA
Union of European Football Associations, the administrative football body of Europe
UEFA Champions League
An annual international club competition featuring the top clubs in Europe; UEFA Champions League winners are considered the best clubs in the world
UEFA Cup
Former name for the UEFA Europa League, an annual competition for clubs that did not qualify to the Champions League
Under the Ball
An idiom which describes a player juggling the ball; called so because the player who keeps the ball in the air is always under it
Under-soil heating
In cold countries, this is the method of keeping natural grass from freezing or spoiling; electrical systems that generate heat are buried under the grass; stadiums that use artificial grass may not use under-soil heating
Ungentlemanly conduct
Alternate term for unsportsmanlike conduct, actions that are unruly, overly-arrogant, or deceitful (such as faking fouls); punishable with a yellow card or red card
Unplayable conditions
Conditions where playing football is not suitable: in some countries, it can get so hot or so cold that playing must be postponed or abandoned; also, venues that are above 2,750m (9,022 ft) are ruled by FIFA as unplayable
Unsettled
A term used to describe free agents who have not decided yet which club to play for
Unsportsmanlike conduct
Actions or behavior that are against the fair rules of play, especially the unwritten rules; these include faking fouls, arrogance towards other players, or dangerous actions on the field; also called ungentlemanly conduct
Upfield
The direction towards the opponent’s goal
Upper 90
Synonymous with upper vee, the part of the goal where the crossbar and goalposts meet: shots towards the upper 90 are nearly unstoppable
Upper V
The part of the goal where the cross bar and the post meet; shots at the upper V are the most difficult to stop
USASA
An officially recognized governing body of amateur soccer in America; stands for United States Adult Soccer Association
USSF
The official governing body of soccer in the United States of America, founded in 1913; stands for United States Soccer Federation