| Soccer: The sport that binds the world
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| | forms of football have a common base and
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| Soccer is famous among the layman by the
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| | both have a long and intricately branched
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| name of 'Football'. The term 'Soccer' has
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| | ancestral tree. After the English
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| been derived from the word 'assoc' that
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| | Football Association, the next oldest are
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| in turn originated from 'Association'.
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| | the Scottish FA (1873), the FA of Wales
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| The game is basically about 'playing ball
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| | (1875) and the Irish FA (1880). Strictly
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| with the foot'.
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| | speaking, at the time of the first
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| Today, football is played at a
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| | international match, England had no other
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| professional level all over the world,
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| | partner association against which to
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| and millions of people regularly go to
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| | play. The spread of soccer outside of
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| football stadium to follow their
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| | Great Britain, mainly due to the British
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| favourite team, whilst billions more
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| | influence abroad, started slow, but it
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| watch the game on television. Since,
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| | soon gathered momentum and spread rapidly
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| soccer evokes great passions and plays an
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| | to all parts of the world and today it is
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| important role in the life of individual
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| | an undeniable truth that the game has
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| fans, local communities, and even
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| | die-hard fans all over the globe.
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| nations; it is therefore often claimed to
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| | Scholars might have conflicting views on
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| be one of the most popular sports in the
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| | the origins of the game and the
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| world.
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| | influences that certain cults may have
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| The game of soccer, played between two
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| | had on its evolution, but one thing is
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| teams of 11 players each, is by far the
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| | absolute truth: football has flourished
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| most popular sports in the world. The
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| | for over a thousand years in diverse
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| game is played with a ball on a
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| | rudimentary forms, in the very region
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| rectangular grass field with a goal at
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| | which we describe as its home, England
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| each end of the field. The object of the
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| | and the British Isles.
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| game is to score by manoeuvring the ball
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| | Football is governed internationally by
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| into the opposing goal. The team that
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| | the International Federation of
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| scores the most goals by the end of the
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| | Association Football (FIFA). The most
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| match wins. A game is officiated by a
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| | prestigious international football
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| referee, who has "full authority to
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| | competition is the World Cup, held every
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| enforce the Laws of the Game in
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| | four years. More than 190 national teams
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| connection with the match to which he has
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| | compete in qualifying tournaments within
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| been appointed" and whose decisions are
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| | the scope of continental confederations
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| final. The referee is assisted by two
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| | for a place in the finals. Since 1900,
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| assistant referees. A standard adult
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| | Summer Olympic Games also holds a
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| football match consists of two periods of
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| | football tournamnet. After the World Cup,
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| 45 minutes each, known as halves. There
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| | the most important football competitions
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| is usually a 15-minute "half-time" break
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| | are the continental championships, which
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| between halves. The end of the match is
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| | are organised by each continental
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| known as "full-time."
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| | confederation and contested between
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| The contemporary history of soccer dates
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| | national teams. These are the European
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| back to more than 100 years. It all began
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| | Championship (UEFA), the Copa América
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| in 1863 in England, when rugby football
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| | (CONMEBOL), African Cup of Nations (CAF),
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| and association football branched off on
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| | the Asian Cup (AFC), the CONCACAF Gold
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| their different courses and the world's
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| | Cup (CONCACAF) and the OFC Nations Cup
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| first football association was founded -
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| | (OFC).
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| The Football Association in England. Both
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