Football is a team sport played between two teams of eleven players, each with one player specializing in a specific position. The game is played on a rectangular field, with goals at each end. The object of the game is to score as many points as possible against the opponent. More than 250 million people in 200 countries play this game. It has roots in the English game Rugby. It is a popular sport worldwide, with many countries having more than one professional league.
Football has many rules, including a goal line, which is a marked line on the field. Two teams are allowed to have 11 players on the field, but the more players on one team, the more time the other team gets to score. However, a goal can only be scored if it crosses the goal line. A touchdown is worth six points. After a touchdown, the winning team can attempt to score an additional one or two points, known as extra points.
In addition to the referee, the game is controlled by two assistants. The assistants have the role of patrolling the touchlines and signaling when a player is offside or the ball has gone out of play. It is important to understand that these officials may not have seen every game, so it is essential to understand how they work. They are also a part of the team and must be respected in order to avoid problems during a game.
In addition, football players in developing countries have higher mobility than their European counterparts. They are often part of the ownership of the club they play for. This is one reason why clubs in Africa and Latin America often control players’ entire careers. The use of agents has also promoted player mobility. However, players in Latin America are part of the ownership, and their contracts are often long-term. The use of agents has caused the game to reflect inequality between developed and developing nations.
The history of the sport of football is rich and varied. During the Middle Ages, players played football on the grasslands in East Anglia. It was later adapted to the English countryside. In the 16th century, a play by John Day called The Blind Beggar of Bethnal Green was performed in Cambridge and published. The play depicted the violent nature of football in the region. It also features a poem by Michael Drayton, who is thought to have written it in 1613.
The popularity of football increased after the 19th century. In the 1880s, England was the first country to introduce professional football, with the Football League being set up three years later. In its first season, the League had twelve members. In time, the league grew, adding more divisions and clubs. For several decades, British clubs dominated the sport. European clubs, however, began to challenge British dominance. Women were historically excluded from the sport, but this changed in the late 19th century. In 1888, women played the first ever official game.