1.1 The Historical background of Football game – Wachemo University e-Learning Platform

INTRODUCTION •Football refers to a number of sports that involve, to changeable degrees, kicking a ball with the foot to score a goal. •The most popular of these sports worldwide is association football, more commonly known as just “Football” or “Soccer”. •Football is much loved sport event for millions of people throughout the world. •The objectives of the game is to score by getting the ball in to the opponents goal.

•Various forms of football can be identified in history, often as popular peasant games. •Modern codes of football can be traced back to the codification of these games at English public schools in the 18th and 19th centuries. •It is an exciting sport that provides many physical as well as mental challenges. •To truly derive the greatest fun and enjoyment from playing soccer, you should prepare for the demands that the game will require of you.

•China was the first country to actually write about a game that involving kicking around object in to a goal and that game was played more than 4,000 years ago. •The game was called Tue-Chu, and it was played for the Emperor’s birthday.

•As we know in today, Football was shaped during the 1960s and increased media coverage and TV broadcasting made the game far more popular than it ever was. 

1.1.1 Football in Ancient civilization

•In ancient civilization like China, Japan, Greek, Egypt, Rome and Mexico, there were people who used to play games like football. •It is important to stress that the evolution of games (B. Gillet; “The history of Sport”) is parallel to the history of civilization.

•The Ancient Greeks and Romans are known to have played many ball games, some of which involved the use of the feet.

•The Roman game harpastum is believed to have been adapted from a Greek team game known as “Episkyros” or “Phaininda”. •The Roman civilization with its games, which as it happened, contained the root of future football “Harpastum” which was transformed into “Soule” or “Choule” according to the difference of pronunciation in the region.

On April 13, 1314 King Edward II issued one of the first recorded prohibitions “This hustling over large balls”, supposed that the game of mob football had a bad impact on merchant life.

In England on 13th April, 1314, Edward II made the following declaration:-

”As there is a lot of noise due to the jostling around of the large balls, from which a lot of accident may occur, which God forbids. It is ordered and prohibited in the king’s name and with punishment by imprisonment that in future such games are played in the city”.

Edward II also tried to ban mob football in 1349, followed by Richard II, Henry IV, Henry VI and  There was also the prohibition by Edward II in 12th June,1349,which requested that,

“On feast days, bows and arrows and javelins should be used rather than playing stupid games like football”.

But it is in 1823 that football was finally established in its future form, it distinguishing itself from rugby.  There is an story told about a students who took the ball in his hand and threw it quickly into the opponents goal.   It was William Ellis who started to lay down the different rules for the different games football and rugby. Football therefore grew quickly in England.

In 1863 the English Football Association was founded. Outside Britain, the game was speared by sailors, soldiers, merchants, engineers and even priests. But football was gradually growing from 14th to 19th century thought the world and increased its attraction to the people

1.1.2 The development of football in modern history

During the second part of 19th century in England, rugby as well as most sports experienced a massive improvement in popularity. This was mostly the effect of the industrial revolution which draws people in cities and factories, depriving them from outdoor activity. Recreation become common and people turned to sport on Sundays, in addition to their religious activities.

British traders, sailors, and workers carried the sport all over the world (and especially their colonies). It is true that, if one refers to football for which laws have been grown up, then it is obvious that this modern football originated in England. It becomes even more evident when the dates are mentioned.

In England, since football support (accepted) by king Charles II, it takes 350 years to develop in the country. In 1680, football in England wins royal support (accepted) from king Charles II.

In 1823, that football was finally establishing in its future form, in distinguishing itself from rugby. At Cambridge University, where in 1848, rules of football game was formed  by William Webb Ellis (teacher) in England & it’s the beginning of football development in England.

In 1863, the first Football Association (FA) was founded in Great Britain (including; Wales, Scotland, Northern & Ireland).

In 1883, the four British associations agree on a uniform code & form the International Football Association Board (IFBA).

The IFAB (International Football Association Board) is the universal decision-making body for the Laws of the Game of association football. Its objectives are to safeguard, compile and amend the Laws of the game as organized by FIFA,

The IFAB was formed when two representatives from each of the football associations of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland met on 2nd June, 1886.

FIFA joined the IFAB in 1913.

Since 1913, Members of IFAB :-

• The England Football Association
• The Scottish Football Association
• The Football Association of Wales
• Irish Football Association
• Four members of FIFA totally 8 members.

Therefore, Football grew quickly in England.

Outside Britain, the game was spread by sailors, soldiers, merchants, engineers and even priests.  Denmark was the second country in Europe to have a national association.

In 1801 had been the first intercollegiate match between Oxford and Cambridge collages.  In 23 of October 1855, the first football club “shiffield united” was founded in England.  Modern history of football was started in October 23.1863.

This was the period which 14 representatives of football clubs from England and Scotland met to formally organize the game. The representatives did not agree on the use of hands and feet in the game. In this case, the two camps split. One founded Rugby Union the other established Football Association (FA).

FA quickly provides the first laws of football association in 1863 and the sport of modern football began. FA organized knock-out competition in 1872 “The Wonderers of London” won the first FA cup by defeating “The Royal Engineers of London”.

The first international football match was played in Glasgow, Scotland, on 30th of November, 1872 when an English all-star team met its Scottish counterpart. England played in an individualistic manner using the 1-1-8 formation, where as the Scots focused on combination play. Early professional footballers were paid little more than the average workers who would pay to watch them.

In 1888, league system invested, professional footballers allowed & Referees are given extensive power of control. 

 Football in Olympic Game   

When the first Olympic game in 1896 (Athens) conducted, all clubs of European nations and most countries of Latin America had football.

In the 1896, Olympic game did not include football as a medal sport, but demonstration match was played. On this demonstration game Denmark beat Greek 9-0.

Then in the 1900 Olympic in Paris, football introduced as official game and held a competition between three countries Belgium, Great Britain and France, Great Britain won the Gold medal.

In the 1904 Olympic, in St. Louis, the Canadian team won the Gold medal.

FIFA and Football

The first an international conference was held in Paris on May 21,1904 in which representatives of

• France,
• Belgium,
• Netherland,
• Denmark,
• Sweden,
• Switzerland and
• Spain

 Those representatives took part and founded Federation International De Football Association (FIFA), which joined the IFAB in 1913.

At that time, France had played its first international match only 20 days earlier, Spain and Denmark had never organized an international team, and three of the seven nations did not have international Football Association.

By 1906 agreement was reached between the FA and FIFA remaining the law making body and each country that made up Great Britain would be a separate four members of FIFA, allowing each to compete individually in any tournament organized by FIFA.

These countries are England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland.

FIFA grow from strength to strength;

• In 1904 have been 7 members,
• In 1914 ————– 14 countries,
• In 1924 ————– 46 members,
• Then, in 1938 —– 51 members,
• In 1950 ————– 73 countries,
• In 1962 ————– 102 countries,
• In 1974 ————– 141 countries,
• In 1987 ————– 158 members,
• In 1994 ————– 179 countries,
• In 1996 ————– 190 countries,
• In 1998 ————– 198 countries,
• Then, in 2012——-208 countries.

And now, 209 countries are affiliated to FIFA, making it the largest and most powerful sport body in the world. 

The first world cup competition organized by FIFA was held in Uruguay in 1930 and Uruguay won the first world cup. The world cup held every four years organized by FIFA is still the most organized competition that holds the attention of all peoples in the modern world.

FIFA based on Zurich, Switzerland has 280 employers from over 30 countries.

FIFA composed of:- 

• Congress (legislative body),
• Executive committee (Executive body),
• General secretariat (Administrative body), and
• Committee assisting the Executive committee (that includes Referee, Technique, Disciplinary, and Medical). 

FIFA organized seven major competitions;

These are:-

• World Cup (men’s, women’s);
• Olympic Football Tournament (men’s, women’s);
• FIFA U-20 World Cup (men’s, women’s);
• FIFA U-17 World Cup (men’s, women’s);
• FIFA confederation Cup;
• FIFA Futsal World Cup &
• FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup.    

The Continental confederations

The Confederation recognized by FIFA are:-

• The Asian football Confederation (AFC),
• The Confederation African de Football (CAF),
• The Confederation of North, Central and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF),
• The Confederation South American de Football (CONMEBOL),
• The Oceania Confederation of Football (OCF) &
• Union of European Football  Association (UEFA).

The first continental confederation of football association was CONMEBOL (confederation of South American Football) formed in 1916.  In 1917, the South American Confederation was set up to organize a continental competition- “The South American Champion”

In 1954, nearly half a century later when the demand arose else where for continental tournaments, that anther such confederation the Union of European Football Association (UEFA) was established.

The same year (1954) as its Asian counterpart Asian Football Confederation (AFC) formed.

And three years later in 1957, the Confederation de African Football (CAF) established.  These six continental football confederations and FIFA are working for the development of football in the world. 

National and International Competitions

Played every four years, the FIFA world cup remains the supreme event that is not to be missed in the world of football.

The following Championships are organized by the confederations on the different continents;

1. African Cup of Nation- CAF – Africa;
2. Asian Cup  – AFC –Asia;
3. Copa America – CONMEBOL – South America;
4. EURO – UEFA – Europe;
5. Gold Cup – CONCACAF – North, Central America and the Caribbean;
6. Nations Cup – OCF – Oceania.