The modern game of football was codified in England in 1863 with the formation of the Football Association. The Football Association then drafted the Laws of the Game, laying the foundations for modern football. Football is governed internationally by the Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA). The World Cup is the most important international competition and the most popular sport in the world, with an audience twice as large as that of the Summer Olympics. To see how football came to be a universal pastime, read on.
Originally, football was played for the entertainment of the British working class. In the late nineteenth century, there were big football games attracting 30,000 spectators. As British people migrated to other parts of the world, the game spread. In addition to England, football soon found a global following in India and South America. Today, football is one of the most popular sports in the world and has hundreds of thousands of clubs across the globe. If you have a competitive streak, football is an excellent choice.
There are many laws governing football. The Laws of the Game are the rules that are followed by players on the field. The referee is the chief official of a football game and has full authority to enforce the Laws of the Game. He makes final decisions regarding the game, with the assistance of two assistant referees. A fifth official is present in many high-level games, including the World Cup. For more information about the Laws of the Game, visit the official FIFA website.
The earliest known form of football was played in China in the second or third century B.C., although there is evidence that some ancient Roman games, such as Harpastum, were distantly related to modern football. The rules of medieval European football varied considerably depending on the time and place of origin. Nonetheless, the origin of modern football is unknown. However, the sport did have many influences throughout history. Many writers have written about the game.
In order to win a game of football, teams must advance the ball ten yards or more on their first four plays. If the offense fails to do so, they turn the ball over to the defense. If they succeed, they are awarded a new set of four downs. Attempts to advance the ball to the end zone or kick it through the goalposts score points. The team with the most points wins. It is an exciting game, but it’s also highly competitive.
A standard football game consists of two periods of 45 minutes each. The clock does not stop when the ball goes out of play, but referees are supposed to account for time lost due to significant stops. During the first period, half-time, which lasts for fifteen minutes, the teams take a short break and the game resumes. This repeats itself at the end of the second period. Eventually, the winning team is the one with more goals.