Association football

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

(Redirected from Football (soccer))
"Soccer" redirects here. For other uses, see Soccer (disambiguation).
This article is about the sport of Association football. For the English Football Association,
see The Football Association. For the term Football association, see Football association.
Association football
An attacking player (No. 10) attempts to kick the ball past the
opposing team's goalkeeper and between the goalposts to
score a goal.
Highestgoverning
body
FIFA
Nickname(s) Football, soccer, ooty!ootie, the
bea"ti"l game
First played 1# $ecember 1%&', (ngland
Characteristics
Contact )es
Team members 11 per side
Mixed gender )es, separate competitions
Type *eam sport, ball sport
!"ipment Football (or soccer ball)
#en"e Football pitch (also known as +ootball
ield+ +ootball gro"nd+, +soccer ield+,
+soccer pitch+, or simply +pitch+)
$resence
Co"ntry or region ,orldwide
%lympic )es, since the 1#00 -lympics
$aralympic )es, ./a/side since 0001 and 2/a/
sidesince 1#%1
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer,
[1]
is a sport played
between two teams of eleven players with a sphericalball. t is played by !"# million players
in over !## co$ntries, makin% it the world&s most pop$lar sport.
[!]['][(]["]
)he %ame is played on
a rectan%$lar field with a %oal at each end. )he ob*ect of the %ame is to score by $sin% any
part of the body besides the arms and hands to %et the ball into the opposin% %oal.
)he %oalkeepers are the only players allowed to to$ch the ball with their hands or arms while
it is in play and then only in their penalty area. +$tfield players mostly $se their feet to strike
or pass the ball, b$t may $se their head or torso to strike the ball instead. )he team that
scores the most %oals by the end of the match wins. f the score is level at the end of the
%ame, either a draw is declared or the %ame %oes into e,tra time and-or a penalty
shooto$t dependin% on the format of the competition. )he .aws of the /ame were ori%inally
codified in 0n%land by )he Football 1ssociation in 123'. 1ssociation football is %overned
internationally by the nternational Federation of 1ssociation
Football(FF14 French5 Fdration Internationale de Football Association) which or%anises
a World 6$p every fo$r years.
[3]
Contents
[hide]
1 7istory
! 0tymolo%y and names
' /ameplay
( .aws
o (.1 8layers, e9$ipment, and officials
o (.! 8itch
o (.' :$ration and tie;breakin% methods
o (.( <all in and o$t of play
o (." =iscond$ct
(.".1 +n;field
(.".! +ff;field
" /overnin% bodies
3 nternational competitions
> :omestic competitions
2 Women&s association football
? @ariants and cas$al play
1# Aee also
11 References
1! 0,ternal links
History
ain article! "istor# of association football
1ncient /reek Football 8layer on an 1ttic lekythos
6hildren playin% c$*$ in Aon% :ynasty 6hina
)wo of the earliest recorded football type %ames from 0$rope incl$de 0piskyros
[>]
[2]
from 1ncient /reece and the Roman version 7arpast$m,
[>]
which similar to pre;codified
B=ob FootballB the forer$nner of all modern football codes involved more handlin% the ball
than kickin%.
[?][1#]
)he earliest competitive %ame to involve kickin% a ball (rather than handlin%
it) was 6$*$, which emer%ed in 6hina d$rin% the 7an dynasty (!#3 <6;!!# 1:).
[11]
8layers
were tasked with kickin% a ball into a net affi,ed to bamboo poles, $sin% only their feet,
chest, back or sho$lders.
[1!]
Con;competitive %ames incl$ded kemari in Dapan
and wo%%abaliri in 1$stralia.
1ssociation football in itself does not have a classical history.
[1']
Cotwithstandin% any
similarities to other ball %ames played aro$nd the world FF1 have reco%nised that no
historical connection e,ists with any %ame played in anti9$ity o$tside 0$rope.
[1(]
)he modern
r$les of association football are based on the mid;1?th cent$ry efforts to standardise the
widely varyin% forms of football played in the p$blic schools of 0n%land. )he history of
football in 0n%land dates back to at least the ei%hth cent$ry 1:.
[1"]
)he 6ambrid%e R$les, first drawn $p at 6ambrid%e Eniversity in 12(2, were partic$larly
infl$ential in the development of s$bse9$ent codes, incl$din% association football. )he
6ambrid%e R$les were written at )rinity 6olle%e, 6ambrid%e, at a meetin% attended by
representatives from 0ton, 7arrow, R$%by, Winchester andAhrewsb$ry schools. )hey were
not $niversally adopted. :$rin% the 12"#s, many cl$bs $nconnected to schools or
$niversities were formed thro$%ho$t the 0n%lish;speakin% world, to play vario$s forms of
football. Aome came $p with their own distinct codes of r$les, most notably the Aheffield
Football 6l$b, formed by former p$blic school p$pils in 12">,
[13]
which led to formation of
a Aheffield F1 in 123>. n 123!, Dohn 6harles )hrin% of Eppin%ham Achool also devised an
infl$ential set of r$les.
[1>]
)hese on%oin% efforts contrib$ted to the formation of )he Football 1ssociation ()he F1) in
123', which first met on the mornin% of !3 +ctober 123' at the Freemasons& )avern in /reat
F$een Atreet, .ondon.
[12]
)he only school to be represented on this occasion
was 6harterho$se. )he Freemason&s )avern was the settin% for five more meetin%s between
+ctober and :ecember, which event$ally prod$ced the first comprehensive set of r$les. 1t
the final meetin%, the first F1 treas$rer, the representative from <lackheath, withdrew his
cl$b from the F1 over the removal of two draft r$les at the previo$s meetin%5 the first allowed
for r$nnin% with the ball in hand4 the second for obstr$ctin% s$ch a r$n by hackin% (kickin% an
opponent in the shins), trippin% and holdin%. +ther 0n%lish r$%by cl$bs followed this lead and
did not *oin the F1 and instead in 12>1 formed the R$%by Football Enion. )he eleven
remainin% cl$bs, $nder the char%e of 0beneGer 6obb =orley, went on to ratify the ori%inal
thirteen laws of the %ame.
[12]
)hese r$les incl$ded handlin% of the ball by BmarksB and the
lack of a crossbar, r$les which made it remarkably similar to @ictorian r$les football bein%
developed at that time in 1$stralia. )he Aheffield F1 played by its own r$les $ntil the 12>#s
with the F1 absorbin% some of its r$les $ntil there was little difference between the %ames.
[1?]
)he Royal 0n%ineers team who reached the first F1 6$p final in 12>!
)he world&s oldest football competition is the F1 6$p, which was fo$nded by 6. W.
1lcock and has been contested by 0n%lish teams since 12>!. )he first official international
football match also took place in 12>!, between Acotland and 0n%land in /las%ow, a%ain at
the insti%ation of 6. W. 1lcock. 0n%land is also home to the world&s first football lea%$e,
which was fo$nded in <irmin%ham in 1222 by 1ston @illadirector William =c/re%or.
[!#]
)he
ori%inal format contained 1! cl$bs from the=idlands and Corthern 0n%land.
)he laws of the %ame are determined by the nternational Football 1ssociation <oard (F1<).
[!1]
)he <oard was formed in 1223
[!!]
after a meetin% in =anchester of )he Football
1ssociation, the Acottish Football 1ssociation, the Football 1ssociation of Wales, and
the rish Football 1ssociation. FF1, the international football body, was formed in 8aris in
1?#( and declared that they wo$ld adhere to .aws of the /ame of the Football 1ssociation.
[!']
)he %rowin% pop$larity of the international %ame led to the admittance of FF1
representatives to the nternational Football 1ssociation <oard in 1?1'. )he board consists
of fo$r representatives from FF1 and one representative from each of the fo$r <ritish
associations.
[!(]
)oday, football is played at a professional level all over the world. =illions of people re%$larly
%o to football stadi$ms to follow their favo$rite teams,
[!"]
while billions more watch the %ame
on television or on the internet.
[!3]
1 very lar%e n$mber of people also play football at an
amate$r level. 1ccordin% to a s$rvey cond$cted by FF1 p$blished in !##1, over !(# million
people from more than !## co$ntries re%$larly play football.
[!>]
Football has the hi%hest
%lobal television a$dience in sport.
[!2]
n many parts of the world football evokes %reat passions and plays an important role in the
life of individ$al fans, local comm$nities, and even nations. R. Hap$scinski says that people
who are polite, modest or even h$mble in 0$rope fall easily into ra%e with playin% or
watchin% soccer %ames.
[!?]
)he 6Ite d&voire national football team helped sec$re a tr$ce to
the nation&s civil war in !##3
['#]
and it helped f$rther red$ce tensions between %overnment
and rebel forces in !##> by playin% a match in the rebel capital of <o$akJ, an occasion that
bro$%ht both armies to%ether peacef$lly for the first time.
['1]
<y contrast, football is widely
considered to have been the final pro,imate ca$se for the Football War in D$ne 1?3?
between 0l Aalvador and 7ond$ras.
['!]
)he sport also e,acerbated tensions at the be%innin%
of the K$%oslav Wars of the 1??#s, when a match between :inamo La%reb and Red Atar
<el%rade de%enerated into riotin% in =ay 1??#.
['']
Etymology and names
ain article! $ames for association football
)he r$les of association football were codified in 0n%land by the Football 1ssociation in 123'
and the name association football was coined to distin%$ish the %ame from the other forms
of football played at the time, specifically r$%by football. )he term soccer ori%inated in
0n%land, first appearin% in the 122#s as an +,ford B;erB abbreviation of the word
BassociationB.
['(]
Within the 0n%lish;speakin% world, association football is now $s$ally called football in the
Enited Hin%dom, and mainlysoccer in 6anada and the Enited Atates. +ther co$ntries, s$ch
as 1$stralia, reland and Cew Lealand, may $se either or both terms interchan%eably.
Gameplay
1 %oalkeeper savin% a close;ran%e shot from inside the penalty area
1ssociation football is played in accordance with a set of r$les known as the .aws of the
/ame. )he %ame is played $sin% a spherical ball (of >1 cm (!2 in) circ$mference in FF1
play), known as the football (or soccer ball). )wo teams of eleven players each compete to
%et the ball into the other team&s %oal (between the posts and $nder the bar), thereby scorin%
a %oal. )he team that has scored more %oals at the end of the %ame is the winner4 if both
teams have scored an e9$al n$mber of %oals then the %ame is a draw. 0ach team is led by
a captain who has only one official responsibility as mandated by the .aws of the /ame5 to
be involved in the coin toss prior to kick;off or penalty kicks.
['"]
)he primary law is that players other than %oalkeepers may not deliberately handle the ball
with their hands or arms d$rin% play, tho$%h they do $se their hands d$rin% a throw;
in restart. 1ltho$%h players $s$ally $se their feet to move the ball aro$nd, they may $se any
part of their body (notably, Bheadin%B with the forehead)
['3]
other than their hands or arms.
['>]
Within normal play, all players are free to play the ball in any direction and move
thro$%ho$t the pitch, tho$%h the ball cannot be received in an offside position.
['2]
1 player e,ec$tin% a slide tackle to dispossess an opponent
n %ame play, players attempt to create %oal;scorin% opport$nities thro$%h individ$al control
of the ball, s$ch as by dribblin%, passin% the ball to a team;mate, and by takin% shots at the
%oal, which is %$arded by the opposin% %oalkeeper. +pposin% players may try to re%ain
control of the ball by interceptin% a pass or thro$%htacklin% the opponent in possession of the
ball4 however, physical contact between opponents is restricted. Football is %enerally a free;
flowin% %ame, with play stoppin% only when the ball has left the field of play or when play is
stopped by the referee for an infrin%ement of the r$les. 1fter a stoppa%e, play recommences
with a specified restart.
['?]
1t a professional level, most matches prod$ce only a few %oals. For e,ample, the!##"M#3
season of the 0n%lish 8remier .ea%$e prod$ced an avera%e of !.(2 %oals per match.
[(#]
)he
.aws of the /ame do not specify any player positions other than %oalkeeper,
[(1]
b$t a n$mber
of specialised roles have evolved. <roadly, these incl$de three main cate%ories5 strikers, or
forwards, whose main task is to score %oals4 defenders, who specialise in preventin% their
opponents from scorin%4 and midfielders, who dispossess the opposition and keep
possession of the ball to pass it to the forwards on their team. 8layers in these positions are
referred to as o$tfield players, to distin%$ish them from the %oalkeeper. )hese positions are
f$rther s$bdivided accordin% to the area of the field in which the player spends most time.
For e,ample, there are central defenders, and left and ri%ht midfielders. )he ten o$tfield
players may be arran%ed in any combination. )he n$mber of players in each position
determines the style of the team&s play4 more forwards and fewer defenders creates a more
a%%ressive and offensive;minded %ame, while the reverse creates a slower, more defensive
style of play. While players typically spend most of the %ame in a specific position, there are
few restrictions on player movement, and players can switch positions at any time.
[(!]
)he
layo$t of a team&s players is known as a formation. :efinin% the team&s formation and tactics
is $s$ally the prero%ative of the team&s mana%er.
[(']
Laws
"%ules of football" redirects here. For the rules of other football games, see Football.
ain article! &a's of the (ame (association football)
)here are 1> laws in the official .aws of the /ame, each containin% a collection of stip$lation
and %$idelines. )he same laws are desi%ned to apply to all levels of football, altho$%h certain
modifications for %ro$ps s$ch as *$niors, seniors, women and people with physical
disabilities are permitted. )he laws are often framed in broad terms, which allow fle,ibility in
their application dependin% on the nat$re of the %ame. )he .aws of the /ame are p$blished
by FF1, b$t are maintained by thenternational Football 1ssociation <oard (F1<).
[((]
n
addition to the seventeen laws, n$mero$s F1< decisions and other directives contrib$te to
the re%$lation of football.
Players, equipment, and officials
See also! Association football positions, Formation (association football) and )it (association
football)
)he referee officiates in a football match
0ach team consists of a ma,im$m of eleven players (e,cl$din% s$bstit$tes), one of whom
m$st be the %oalkeeper. 6ompetition r$les may state a minim$m n$mber of players re9$ired
to constit$te a team, which is $s$ally seven. /oalkeepers are the only players allowed to
play the ball with their hands or arms, provided they do so within the penalty area in front of
their own %oal. )ho$%h there are a variety ofpositions in which the o$tfield (non;%oalkeeper)
players are strate%ically placed by a coach, these positions are not defined or re9$ired by
the .aws.
[(1]
)he basic e9$ipment or *it players are re9$ired to wear incl$des a shirt, shorts, socks,
footwear and ade9$ate shin %$ards. 1n athletic s$pporter and protective c$p is hi%hly
recommended for male players by medical e,perts and professionals.
[("][(3]
7ead%ear is not a
re9$ired piece of basic e9$ipment, b$t players today may choose to wear it to protect
themselves from head in*$ry. 8layers are forbidden to wear or $se anythin% that is
dan%ero$s to themselves or another player, s$ch as *ewellery or watches. )he %oalkeeper
m$st wear clothin% that is easily distin%$ishable from that worn by the other players and the
match officials.
[(>]
1 n$mber of players may be replaced by s$bstit$tes d$rin% the co$rse of the %ame. )he
ma,im$m n$mber of s$bstit$tions permitted in most competitive international and domestic
lea%$e %ames is three, tho$%h the permitted n$mber may vary in other competitions or
in friendly matches. 6ommon reasons for a s$bstit$tion incl$de in*$ry, tiredness,
ineffectiveness, a tactical switch, or timewastin% at the end of a finely poised %ame. n
standard ad$lt matches, a player who has been s$bstit$ted may not take f$rther part in a
match.
[(2]
F1< recommends that Bthat a match sho$ld not contin$e if there are fewer than
seven players in either team.B 1ny decision re%ardin% points awarded for abandoned %ames
is left to the individ$al football associations.
[(?]
1 %ame is officiated by a referee, who has Bf$ll a$thority to enforce the .aws of the /ame in
connection with the match to which he has been appointedB (.aw "), and whose decisions
are final. )he referee is assisted by two assistant referees. n many hi%h;level %ames there is
also a fo$rth official who assists the referee and may replace another official sho$ld the need
arise.
["#]
Pitch
ain article! Association football pitch
Atandard pitch meas$rements (Aee mperial version)
1s the .aws were form$lated in 0n%land, and were initially administered solely by the fo$r
<ritish football associations within F1<, the standard dimensions of a football pitch were
ori%inally e,pressed in imperial $nits. )he .aws now e,press dimensions with
appro,imatemetric e9$ivalents (followed by traditional $nits in brackets), tho$%h pop$lar $se
tends to contin$e to $se traditional $nits in 0n%lish;speakin% co$ntries with a relatively recent
history of metrication (or only partial metrication), s$ch as <ritain.
["1]
)he len%th of the pitch for international ad$lt matches is in the ran%e of 1##M11# m (11#M
1!# yd) and the width is in the ran%e of 3(M>" m (>#M2# yd). Fields for non;international
matches may be ?#M1!# m (1##M1'# yd) len%th and ("M?# m ("#M1## yd) in width, provided
that the pitch does not become s9$are. n !##2, the F1< initially approved a fi,ed siGe of
1#" m ('(( ft) lon% and 32 m (!!' ft) wide as a standard pitch dimension for international
matches4
["!]
however, this decision was later p$t on hold and was never act$ally
implemented.
["']
)he lon%er bo$ndary lines are touchlines, while the shorter bo$ndaries (on which the %oals
are placed) are goal lines. 1 rectan%$lar %oal is positioned at the middle of each %oal line.
["(]
)he inner ed%es of the vertical %oal posts m$st be >.'! m (2 yd) apart, and the lower
ed%e of the horiGontal crossbar s$pported by the %oal posts m$st be !.(( m (2 ft) above the
%ro$nd. Cets are $s$ally placed behind the %oal, b$t are not re9$ired by the .aws.
[""]
n front of the %oal is the penalty area. )his area is marked by the %oal line, two lines startin%
on the %oal line 13." m (12 yd) from the %oalposts and e,tendin% 13." m (12 yd) into the
pitch perpendic$lar to the %oal line, and a line *oinin% them. )his area has a n$mber of
f$nctions, the most prominent bein% to mark where the %oalkeeper may handle the ball and
where a penalty fo$l by a member of the defendin% team becomes p$nishable by a penalty
kick. +ther markin%s define the position of the ball or players at kick;offs, %oal kicks, penalty
kicks and corner kicks.
["3]
Duration and tie-breaking methods
1 standard ad$lt football match consists of two periods of (" min$tes each, known as
halves. 0ach half r$ns contin$o$sly, meanin% that the clock is not stopped when the ball is
o$t of play. )here is $s$ally a 1";min$te half;time break between halves. )he end of the
match is known as f$ll;time.
[">]
)he referee is the official timekeeper for the match, and may
make an allowance for time lost thro$%h s$bstit$tions, in*$red players re9$irin% attention, or
other stoppa%es. )his added time is called additional time in FF1 doc$ments,
["2]["?]
b$t most
commonly referred to as stoppage time or in+ur# time, while loss time can also be $sed as a
synonym. )he d$ration of stoppa%e time is at the sole discretion of the referee. )he referee
alone si%nals the end of the match. n matches where a fo$rth official is appointed, toward
the end of the half the referee si%nals how many min$tes of stoppa%e time he intends to add.
)he fo$rth official then informs the players and spectators by holdin% $p a board showin%
this n$mber. )he si%nalled stoppa%e time may be f$rther e,tended by the referee.
[">]
1dded
time was introd$ced beca$se of an incident which happened in 12?1 d$rin% a match
between Atoke and 1ston @illa. )railin% 1M# and with *$st two min$tes remainin%, Atoke were
awarded a penalty. @illa&s %oalkeeper kicked the ball o$t of the %ro$nd, and by the time the
ball had been recovered, the ?# min$tes had elapsed and the %ame was over.
[3#]
)he same
law also stands that the d$ration of either half is e,tended $ntil the penalty kick to be taken
or retaken is completed, th$s no %ame shall end with a penalty to be taken.
[31]
Aome football competitions $se apenalty shooto$t to decide the winner if a match ends as a
draw
n lea%$e competitions, %ames may end in a draw. n knocko$t competitions where a winner
is re9$ired vario$s methods may be employed to break s$ch a deadlock, some competitions
may invoke replays.
[3!]
1 %ame tied at the end of re%$lation time may %o into e,tra time,
which consists of two f$rther 1";min$te periods. f the score is still tied after e,tra time, some
competitions allow the $se of penalty shooto$ts(known officially in the .aws of the /ame as
Bkicks from the penalty markB) to determine which team will pro%ress to the ne,t sta%e of the
to$rnament. /oals scored d$rin% e,tra time periods co$nt toward the final score of the
%ame, b$t kicks from the penalty mark are only $sed to decide the team that pro%resses to
the ne,t part of the to$rnament (with %oals scored in a penalty shooto$t not makin% $p part
of the final score).
['"]
n competitions $sin% two;le%%ed matches, each team competes at home once, with an
a%%re%ate score from the two matches decidin% which team pro%resses. Where a%%re%ates
are e9$al, the away %oals r$le may be $sed to determine the winners, in which case the
winner is the team that scored the most %oals in the le% they played away from home. f the
res$lt is still e9$al, e,tra time and potentially a penalty shooto$t are re9$ired.
['"]
n the late 1??#s and early !###s, the F1< e,perimented with ways of creatin% a winner
witho$t re9$irin% a penalty shooto$t, which was often seen as an $ndesirable way to end a
match. )hese involved r$les endin% a %ame in e,tra time early, either when the first %oal in
e,tra time was scored (golden goal), or if one team held a lead at the end of the first period
of e,tra time (sil,er goal). /olden %oal was $sed at the World 6$p in 1??2 and !##!. )he
first World 6$p %ame decided by a %olden %oal was France&s victory over 8ara%$ay in
1??2. /ermany was the first nation to score a %olden %oal in a ma*or competition,
beatin% 6Gech Rep$blic in the final of 0$ro 1??3. Ailver %oal was $sed in 0$ro !##(. <oth
these e,periments have been discontin$ed by F1<.
[3']
Ball in and out of play
ain article! -all in and out of pla#
Ender the .aws, the two basic states of play d$rin% a %ame are ball in pla# and ball out of
pla#. From the be%innin% of each playin% period with a kick;off $ntil the end of the playin%
period, the ball is in play at all times, e,cept when either the ball leaves the field of play, or
play is stopped by the referee. When the ball becomes o$t of play, play is restarted by one of
ei%ht restart methods dependin% on how it went o$t of play5
1 player takes a free kick, while the opposition form a BwallB to try to block the ball
Hick;off5 followin% a %oal by the opposin% team, or to be%in each period of play.
['?]
)hrow;in5 when the ball has crossed the to$chline4 awarded to opposin% team to that
which last to$ched the ball.
[3(]
/oal kick5 when the ball has wholly crossed the %oal line witho$t a %oal havin% been
scored and havin% last been to$ched by a player of the attackin% team4 awarded to
defendin% team.
[3"]
6orner kick5 when the ball has wholly crossed the %oal line witho$t a %oal havin%
been scored and havin% last been to$ched by a player of the defendin% team4 awarded
to attackin% team.
[33]
ndirect free kick5 awarded to the opposin% team followin% Bnon;penalB fo$ls, certain
technical infrin%ements, or when play is stopped to ca$tion or dismiss an opponent
witho$t a specific fo$l havin% occ$rred. 1 %oal may not be scored directly (witho$t the
ball first to$chin% another player) from an indirect free kick.
[3>]
:irect free kick5 awarded to fo$led team followin% certain listed BpenalB fo$ls.
[3>]
1
%oal may be scored directly from a direct free kick.
8enalty kick5 awarded to the fo$led team followin% a fo$l $s$ally p$nishable by a
direct free kick b$t that has occ$rred within their opponent&s penalty area.
[32]
:ropped;ball5 occ$rs when the referee has stopped play for any other reason, s$ch
as a serio$s in*$ry to a player, interference by an e,ternal party, or a ball becomin%
defective.
['?]
Misconduct
ain article! Foul (association football)
On-field
8layers are ca$tioned with a yellow card, and dismissed from the %ame with a red card.
)hese colo$rs were first introd$ced at the1?># FF1 World 6$pand $sed consistently since.
1 player scores a penalty kick %iven after an offence is committed inside the penalty area
1 fo$l occ$rs when a player commits an offence listed in the .aws of the /ame while the ball
is in play. )he offences that constit$te a fo$l are listed in .aw 1!. 7andlin% the ball
deliberately, trippin% an opponent, or p$shin% an opponent, are e,amples of Bpenal fo$lsB,
p$nishable by a direct free kick or penalty kick dependin% on where the offence occ$rred.
+ther fo$ls are p$nishable by an indirect free kick.
['>]
)he referee may p$nish a player&s or s$bstit$te&smiscond$ct by a ca$tion (yellow card) or
dismissal (red card). 1 second yellow card at the same %ame leads to a red card, and
therefore to a dismissal. 1 player %iven a yellow card is said to have been BbookedB, the
referee writin% the player&s name in his official notebook. f a player has been dismissed, no
s$bstit$te can be bro$%ht on in their place. =iscond$ct may occ$r at any time, and while the
offences that constit$te miscond$ct are listed, the definitions are broad. n partic$lar, the
offence of B$nsportin% behavio$rB may be $sed to deal with most events that violate the spirit
of the %ame, even if they are not listed as specific offences. 1 referee can show a yellow or
red card to a player, s$bstit$te or s$bstit$ted player. Con;players s$ch as mana%ers and
s$pport staff cannot be shown the yellow or red card, b$t may be e,pelled from the technical
area if they fail to cond$ct themselves in a responsible manner.
['>]
Rather than stoppin% play, the referee may allow play to contin$e if doin% so will benefit the
team a%ainst which an offence has been committed. )his is known as Bplayin% an
advanta%eB.
[3?]
)he referee may Bcall backB play and penalise the ori%inal offence if the
anticipated advanta%e does not ens$e within Ba few secondsB. 0ven if an offence is not
penalised d$e to advanta%e bein% played, the offender may still be sanctioned for
miscond$ct at the ne,t stoppa%e of play.
[>#]
)he referee&s decision in all on;pitch matters is considered final.
[>1]
)he score of a match
cannot be altered after the %ame, even if later evidence shows that decisions (incl$din%
awards-non;awards of %oals) were incorrect.
Off-field
See also! Foul (association football) . /ost0match
1lon% with the %eneral administration of the sport, football associations and competition
or%anisers also enforce %ood cond$ct in wider aspects of the %ame, dealin% with iss$es s$ch
as comments to the press, cl$bs& financial mana%ement,dopin%, a%e fra$d and match fi,in%.
=ost competitions enforce mandatory s$spensions for players which are sent off in a %ame.
[>!]
Aome on;field incidents, if considered very serio$s (s$ch as alle%ations of racial ab$se),
may res$lt in competitions decidin% to impose heavier sanctions than those normally
associated with a red card.
[>']
Aome associations allow for appeals a%ainst player
s$spensions inc$rred on;field if cl$bs feel a referee was incorrect or $nd$ly harsh.
[>!]
Aanctions for s$ch infractions may be levied on individ$als or on to cl$bs as a whole.
8enalties may incl$de fines, points ded$ctions (in lea%$e competitions) or even e,p$lsion
from competitions. For e,ample, the 0n%lish and Acottish lea%$es will often ded$ct 1# points
from a team that enters financial administration. 1mon% other administrative sanctions are
penalties a%ainst %ame forfeit$re. )eams that had forfeited a %ame or had been forfeited
a%ainst wo$ld be awarded a technical loss or win.
Governing bodies
See also! Association football around the 'orld
7ead9$arters of FF1, the world %overnin% body of football
)he reco%nised international %overnin% body of football (and associated %ames, s$ch
as f$tsal and beach soccer) is FF1. )he FF1 head9$arters are located inLNrich,
AwitGerland. Ai, re%ional confederations are associated with FF14 these are5
[>(]
1sia5 1sian Football 6onfederation (1F6)
1frica5 6onfederation of 1frican Football (61F)
0$rope5 Enion of 0$ropean Football 1ssociations (E0F1)
Corth-6entral 1merica O 6aribbean5 6onfederation of Corth, 6entral 1merican and
6aribbean 1ssociation Football (6+C6161F)
+ceania5 +ceania Football 6onfederation (+F6)
Ao$th 1merica5 6onfederaciPn A$damericana de FQtbol-6onfederaRSo A$l;
americana de F$tebol (Ao$th 1merican Football 6onfederation4 6+C=0<+.)
Cational associations oversee football within individ$al co$ntries. )hese are %enerally
synonymo$s with soverei%n states, (for e,ample5 the FJdJration 6amero$naise de
Football in 6ameroon) b$t also incl$de a smaller n$mber of associations responsible for s$b;
national entities or a$tonomo$s re%ions (for e,ample the Acottish Football 1ssociation in
Acotland). !#2 national associations are affiliated both with FF1 and with their respective
continental confederations.
[>(]
While FF1 is responsible for arran%in% competitions and most r$les related to international
competition, the act$al .aws of the /ame are set by the nternational Football 1ssociation
<oard, where each of the EH 1ssociations has one vote, while FF1 collectively has fo$r
votes.
[!(]
International competitions
ain article! &ist of association football competitions
1 min$te&s silence before an international match
)he ma*or international competition in football is the World 6$p, or%anised by FF1. )his
competition takes place over every fo$r years. 1ppro,imately 1?#M!## national teams
compete in 9$alifyin% to$rnaments within the scope of continental confederations for a place
in the finals. )he finals to$rnament, which is held every fo$r years, involves '! national
teams competin% over a fo$r;week period.
[>"]
)he most recent edition of the to$rnament is
the !#1( FF1 World 6$p, which is bein% held in <raGil from 1! D$ne to 1' D$ly !#1(.
)here has been a football to$rnament at every A$mmer +lympic /ames since 1?##, e,cept
at the 1?'! %ames in .os 1n%eles.
[>3]
<efore the inception of the World 6$p, the +lympics
(especially d$rin% the 1?!#s) had the same stat$s as the World 6$p. +ri%inally, the event
was for amate$rs only4
[!']
however, since the 1?2( A$mmer +lympics, professional players
have been permitted, albeit with certain restrictions which prevent co$ntries from fieldin%
their stron%est sides. )he +lympic men&s to$rnament is played at Ender;!' level. n the past
the +lympics have allowed a restricted n$mber of over;a%e players per team4.
[>>]
1 women&s
to$rnament was added in 1??34 in contrast to the men&s event, f$ll international sides witho$t
a%e restrictions play the women&s +lympic to$rnament.
[>2]
Apanish footballers celebratin% winnin% the E0F1 0$ropean 6hampionship
1fter the World 6$p, the most important international football competitions are the
continental championships, which are or%anised by each continental confederation and
contested between national teams. )hese are the 0$ropean 6hampionship(E0F1),
the 6opa 1mJrica (6+C=0<+.), 1frican 6$p of Cations (61F), the 1sian 6$p (1F6),
the 6+C6161F /old 6$p (6+C6161F) and the +F6 Cations 6$p(+F6). )he FF1
6onfederations 6$p is contested by the winners of all si, continental championships, the
c$rrent FF1 World 6$p champions and the co$ntry which is hostin% the 6onfederations
6$p. )his is %enerally re%arded as a warm;$p to$rnament for the $pcomin% FF1 World 6$p
and does not carry the same presti%e as the World 6$p itself. )he most presti%io$s
competitions in cl$b football are the respective continental championships, which are
%enerally contested between national champions, for e,ample the E0F1 6hampions
.ea%$e in 0$rope and the6opa .ibertadores in Ao$th 1merica. )he winners of each
continental competition contest the FF1 6l$b World 6$p.
[>?]
Domestic competitions
ain article! Association football around the 'orld
<or$ssia :ortm$nd a%ainstAchalke in the <$ndesli%a, the top football lea%$e in /ermany
)he %overnin% bodies in each co$ntry operate lea%$e systems in a domestic season,
normally comprisin% several divisions, in which the teams %ain points thro$%ho$t the season
dependin% on res$lts. )eams are placed into tables, placin% them in order accordin% to
points accr$ed. =ost commonly, each team plays every other team in its lea%$e at home
and away in each season, in a ro$nd;robin to$rnament. 1t the end of a season, the top team
is declared the champion. )he top few teams may be promoted to a hi%her division, and one
or more of the teams finishin% at the bottom are rele%ated to a lower division.
[2#]
)he teams finishin% at the top of a co$ntry&s lea%$e may be eli%ible also to play in
international cl$b competitions in the followin% season. )he main e,ceptions to this system
occ$r in some .atin 1merican lea%$es, which divide football championships into two sections
named 1pert$ra and 6la$s$ra (Apanish for 1pening and 2losing), awardin% a champion for
each.
[21]
)he ma*ority of co$ntries s$pplement the lea%$e system with one or more Bc$pB
competitions or%anised on a knock;o$t basis.
Aome co$ntries& top divisions feat$re hi%hly paid star players4 in smaller co$ntries and lower
divisions, players may be part;timers with a second *ob, or amate$rs. )he five top 0$ropean
lea%$es M the <$ndesli%a (/ermany), 8remier .ea%$e(0n%land),
[2!]
.a .i%a (Apain), Aerie
1 (taly), and .i%$e 1 (France) M attract most of the world&s best players and each of the
lea%$es has a total wa%e cost in e,cess of T3## million-U>3' million-EAV1.12" billion.
[2']
Women's association football
ain article! 3omen4s association football
)wo players tryin% to %ain control of the ball in the Fra$en;<$ndesli%a
Women have been playin% association football since the first recorded women&s %ames in
the late 1?th cent$ry.
[2(][2"]
t has traditionally been associated with charity %ames and
physical e,ercise, partic$larly in the Enited Hin%dom.
[2"]
)his perception be%an to chan%e in
the 1?>#s with the breakthro$%h of or%anised women&s association football. 1ssociation
football is the most prominent team sport for women in several co$ntries, and one of the few
women&s team sports with professional lea%$es.
[citation needed]
)he %rowth in women&s football has seen ma*or competitions bein% la$nched at
bothnational and international level mirrorin% the male competitions. Women&s football has
faced many str$%%les. t had a B%olden a%eB in the Enited Hin%dom in the early 1?!#s when
crowds reached "#,### at some matches4
[23]
this was stopped on " :ecember 1?!1 when
0n%land&s Football 1ssociation voted to ban the %ame from %ro$nds $sed by its member
cl$bs. )he F1&s ban was rescinded in :ecember 1?3? with E0F1 votin% to officially
reco%nise women&s football in 1?>1.
[2"]
)he FF1 Women&s World 6$p was ina$%$rated in
1??1 and has been held every fo$r years since.
[2>]
Variants and casual play
See also! 5ariants of association football and Street football
6hildren in =orocco playin% an informal football match in a p$blic space
@ariants of football have been codified for red$ced;siGed teams (i.e. five;a;side football) play
in non;field environments (i.e. beach soccer, indoor soccer, and f$tsal) and for teams with
disabilities (i.e. paralympic association football).
<andy is a variant of hockey played on ice the siGe of a football pitch, to r$les which are very
m$ch like the r$les of association football. t is often nicknamed Bthe football of winterB and is
played professionally in R$ssia and in Aweden.
+ne of the attractions of association football is that a cas$al %ame can be played with only
minimal e9$ipment M a basic %ame can be played on almost any open area of reasonable
siGe with *$st a ball and items to mark the positions of two sets of %oalposts. A$ch %ames
can often have team siGes that vary considerably from 11;a;side, $se a limited and-or
modified s$bset of the official r$les, and are likely to be self;officiated by the players.