ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL

Association football (soccer) field and the positions of players at the kickoff also called Soccer, game in which two 11-member teams try to propel a ball into the opposing team's goal, using any part of the body except the hands and arms. Only the goalkeeper, who is restricted to the penalty area in front of the goal (see illustration), is allowed to handle the ball. The team that scores the most goals is the winner. Soccer originated in England and was played by schoolboys under various rules. An attempt to standardize the rules was made at the University of Cambridge in 1843, but not until 1863, when the Football Association (FA) was created, was a uniform set of rules established. The FA Cup was started in 1871, and professional leagues emerged, beginning with the Football League in 1888. Other countries soon organized along similar lines. In 1904 the Fdration Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) was organized, and it remains the world governing body of amateur competition. Soccer was officially included in the Olympic Games in 1900, and since 1930 the FIFA has sponsored the quadrennial World Cup competition, which is held between the Olympic Games. The FIFA Women's World Cup was inaugurated in 1991, and women's Olympic competition began in 1996. Prior to the formation of the FIFA, international matches were played by European and South American countries, but there were rule differences between the continents, particularly regarding the obstruction of a player who did not have possession of the ball, tackling from behind, and shoulder charging. These differences were gradually resolved, and by the late 1960s universal application of the rules was achieved. Other major tournaments include the European Champions' Club Cup (begun 1956), the South American Libertadores de Amrica Cup (1960), and the European CupWinners' Cup (1963). An official club championship is also played by the winners of the South American and European champions' cups. also called soccer, game in which two 11-member teams try to propel a ball into the opposing team's goal, using any part of the body except the hands and arms. Only the goalkeeper, who is restricted to the penalty area in front of the goal, is allowed to handle the ball. The team that scores the most goals is the winner. Association football is the most widely played ball game in the world and the most popular as a spectator sport. The simplicity of the rules and the ability to play it practically everywhere has contributed to this popularity. It is played on all continents and in well over 150 countries. At the last census by the world governing body, there were 40,000,000 registered players at all levels. In addition, there are many thousands of others in numerous countries involved in pickup games in streets, on parking lots, on school playgrounds, in parks, and even, as in Brazil, on beaches. At the 1984 summer Olympic Games the football matches registered almost 1,500,000 spectators, the highest number for any Olympic sport. The world's largest football stadium, in Rio de Janeiro, holds crowds of up to 200,000 for football matches. Additional reading Norman Barrett (ed.), World Soccer from A to Z (1973), is a historical survey presented in dictionary form. Tony Mason, Association Football and English Society, 18631915 (1980), offers a history that shows the effect of the professional game on its spectators. Brian Glanville, A Book of Soccer (1979), is a source of general information, including history. For records, see Jack Rollin, The Guinness Book of Soccer Facts & Feats, 4th ed. (1981), and Soccer: The Records, Facts, and Champions, 2nd ed. (1988). Rothmans Football Yearbook (annual) provides a comprehensive record of the English and Scottish game as well as European and international details. Jacques Ryckmans Play of the game Equipment and field of play Figure 1: Soccer field and the positions of players at the kickoff. The object of the game is to propel the ball into the goal, using any part of the body except the hands and arms; the side scoring more goals wins. The ball is a round, leather-covered, inflated rubber bladder 2728 inches (about 6871 centimetres) in circumference and 1416 ounces (397454 grams) in weight. The players move the ball by hitting it with head or foot from one teammate to another or by dribblinga series of very short kicks, usually with the instep or side of the foot. Only the goalkeeper of the 11 players is allowed to handle the ball, and he is restricted to the penalty area, a rectangular area in front of the goal, 44 yards (40.2 metres) wide and extending 18 yards (16.5 metres) into the field. The goal is eight yards (7.3 metres) wide and eight feet (2.4 metres) high. The game is of 90 minutes' duration and is divided into halves. The teams change ends after a five-minute half-time interval. FIFA rules prescribe a playing field (pitch) 100 to 130 yards (90 to 120 metres) long and between 50 and 100 yards (45 and 90 metres) wide; however, for international matches, it must be 110120 yards (100110 metres) long and 7080 yards (6475 metres) wide (see Figure 1). Women and schoolchildren usually play a shorter game on a smaller field. The game is controlled by a referee, who is also the timekeeper, and two linesmen who patrol the touchlines, or sidelines, signaling when the ball goes out of play. The biggest changes have been in uniforms and equipment. Clothing has become attenuated, and heavy boots have given way to shoes. Many players have discarded shin guards. Conformity of dress is not essential, provided that the sides can be identified and the goalkeeper is distinguishable. Players may participate barefoot. Fouls Free kicks are awarded for fouls or violations of rules; all players of the offending side must be 10 yards (nine metres) from the ball. Free kicks may be either direct, from which a goal may be scored, for more serious fouls such as kicking an opponent, tripping, or handling the ball; or indirect, from which goals cannot be scored until after the ball has touched another player, awarded for lesser violations such as obstruction (interfering with an opponent while not playing the ball). A penalty kick, a direct free kick awarded to the attacking side in the penalty area, is taken from a spot 12 yards (11 metres) from the centre of the goal, with all players other than the defending goalkeeper and the kicker outside the penalty area. Variance in rule interpretations was notable from the 1960s. In South America, for example, shoulder charges, harassment of the goalkeeper, and tackling from behind were not viewed as seriously as they were elsewhere; but interfering with a player not playing the ball was strictly penalized. From 1970 a player guilty of a serious foul was given a warning yellow card, and a second such foul brought a red card and ejection from the game.