Football: History, Origin and Facts Associated with the Tournament

Football, also known as soccer in various regions of the world, has a lengthy history. In the middle of the 19th century, football developed in its modern form in England. Alternative forms of the game did, however, exist far earlier and are documented in the history of football. According to the number of players and spectators, football is the most watched sport in the world. The sport can be played practically everywhere, from official football playing fields (pitches) to gymnasiums, streets, school playgrounds, parks, or beaches, because of its basic rules and necessary equipment.

Football was first documented in China in the third century BC, where military manuals make reference to a game that resembles football. In a game known as Tsu’ Chu, performed during the Han Dynasty, players kicked a ball into what would today be a goal made of canes with a net attached by passing it through a 30 to 40 cm opening. 

Modern Origin of Football

The history of modern football can be traced back to England in 1863, more than a century ago. The Football Association is said to come into existence as the first recognised regulating body for the sport, after rugby football and association football, which were long considered the same thing, split apart.

Based on records, the Lord Mayor of London outlawed football in the city in 1314 because it was producing “chaos.” Football was popular in Britain from the eighth to the nineteenth centuries despite opposition; nonetheless, a standardised version of the game remained uncommon because regional variations were frequently preferred. Eventually, these variations of the game were streamlined into association football, rugby football and Gaelic football, all of which helped create the modern approximation of the sport that is played today.

Later, the governing body of football, FIFA was founded in Paris in around 1904 by the Fédération Internationale de Football Association. Belgium, France, Denmark, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland were among its original members. After the Second World War, there were more than 73 FIFA members by the 1950s. 

Glimpse of the Football’s History in India

The introduction of football to the subcontinent by the British at the time before India gained its independence is considered to mark the beginning of the sport’s history in India.

As per reports, the Calcutta Club of Civilians, and the Gentlemen of Barrackpore conducted the first football match in India in 1854. Calcutta FC, the first football team in India, was established in 1872. In the years that followed, clubs like Dalhousie Club, Traders Club, and Naval Volunteers Club were also founded. Before the Women’s Football Federation of India (WFFI) handed over control of women’s soccer to the AIFF in the early 1990s, women’s football in India was governed by the WFFI. The early pioneers of the women’s game came from the state of West Bengal, just like the men’s game. To sum up, this sport has managed to gather excellent fan following since its inception. And is also expected to further witness much progress in the upcoming years. 

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