Soccer: The sport that binds the world

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