Football has been the most popular sport for over 100 years. And this is not surprising! Scientists who have analyzed a huge number of matches in team sports have found that the largest number of elements of surprise and unpredictability are found in football matches. Hockey, baseball and basketball have lagged far behind.
Football is a team sports game. There are two teams, each with 11 people: 10 field players and a goalkeeper. The main goal of the game is to score the ball into the opponents' goal. A round ball with a diameter of about 70 cm is used for the game. The match is divided into two periods of 45 minutes. If during the game there were any technical stops, the referee has the right to add extra playing time.
It is forbidden for all players to touch the ball with their hands except the goalkeeper. Violation of the rules can be punished with various fines. For unsportsmanlike behavior or the use of prohibited techniques, the referee has the right to issue a warning to the player (yellow card) or remove him from the game (red card). In addition, the referee can assign a free kick to the goal or a penalty kick. A free kick is taken from half of the field of the offending team. The penalty kick is taken at the goal from a distance of 11 meters, while only the goalkeeper is in defense.
Games that were remotely reminiscent of football were known at a very early stage in the development of human civilization. The ancient Incas played the ball, "football plots" were found on ancient Egyptian bas-reliefs, in the written sources of ancient China a game similar to football is also mentioned. Some historians believe that the reason for the origin of the game is cult, where a round ball symbolized the sun. At the very least, it is reliably known that football matches among the Aztecs had the meaning of religious service, and the losing team was entirely sacrificed to the gods.
During the Middle Ages, football was most widespread in the British Isles, France and Italy. It was allowed to play not only with feet, but also with hands, the number of participants was not limited, and there were few rules. As a result, matches very often turned into real bloody battles. The first document that mentions the word "football" is a decree banning the play of football in the streets.
Gradually, the game became more civilized, and at the beginning of the 19th century it was even included in the curriculum in the privileged educational institutions of Great Britain. As a result, the attitude towards the game has also changed. The first rules began to be developed. However, at first, each educational institution had its own rules. The fundamental question was whether you can play with your hands. Only in 1863 were uniform rules of the game adopted, and the final division into football and rugby took place. In the same year, the English Football Association was formed.
Thanks to English sailors and traders, football quickly spread throughout the world. First of all, Her Majesty's subjects in the colonies fell ill with football, then the football fever captured European countries and Latin America. The International Federation of Football Associations (FIFA) was founded in 1904. Football became an Olympic sport in 1900, and the first Olympic champions were, of course, the British, who won 4-0 against the French.
One of the most significant events in public life is the FIFA World Cup, which is held once every four years. The right to host the World Championship is considered an honor for any country. The 2018 World Cup will be held in Russia. The Russians won this honor in a stubborn struggle, including with the ancestors of football - the British.
Football is not only the most popular sport today, but also one of the most profitable. Some footballers' fees reach astronomical figures, many ball wizards are famous at the level of movie stars or leading world politicians. Leading media corporations are fighting for the rights to broadcast central football matches, because this promises huge profits.
Football has become more than just a sports game. For many, it is a cult, religion and way of life. In any case, this game leaves few people indifferent.
