Fact File: Who invented Soccer? Invention: Soccer *** Date of Invention: c. 206 BC *** Name of Inventor: Unknown *** Historical Period: Ancient China Han dynasty (206 BC–220 AD) *** Category: Sport *** Country of Origin: Ancient China *** The Invention of
Soccer ***
Fact 1: Who invented Soccer? The name of the inventor of Soccer is unknown but it is believed to have been invented in c. 206 BC during the Ancient China Han dynasty (206 BC–220 AD) era of inventions.
Fact 2: Who invented Soccer? The Ancient Chinese game was called "Cuju" and
like the modern game was played using the feet with no hands permitted. The name
"cuju" is roughly translated as "kick the ball with foot". The Ancient Chinese
ball was made from leather that was stuffed with fur and the goals consisted of
a piece of cloth hung between two poles.
Fact 3: Who invented Soccer?
The simplicity of the game resulted in different versions being invented in
other ancient cultures. In Ancient Egypt footballs, covered with linen or animal
intestines, have been found in the tomb of Baqet III, an ancient Egyptian
official who served Pharaoh Mentuhotep II (reigned c. 2061 BC – 2010 BC).
Fact 4: Who invented Soccer? The ancient Japanese played a version of
soccer called 'Kemari' that was played by 2 - 12 players using a ball stuffed
with sawdust. The Japanese had a designated fields in which to play the game.
There were no rules, strategies, or tactics to the game which often resulted in
numerous injuries
Fact 5: Who invented
Soccer? The Roman Empire also had their own version of soccer, also similar
to rugby, called Harpastum in which the only aim was to get the ball to
the opposing team’s goal. The Roman game of soccer was played by various numbers
of players and resulted in players acquiring many injuries including broken
bones. It was played on a designated field or in the streets of Rome. Different
types of balls were used including a hand-ball (pila), a bladder-ball (follis)
and a feather-stuffed ball (paganica).
Fact 6: Who invented Soccer? In the Dark Ages a gruesome form of soccer was
invented when a Viking lord was decapitated during a battle in Britain. His head
was used as a 'football' to celebrate the victory.
Fact 7: Who invented Soccer? Another early version of British soccer was
called "Mob Football". As indicated by the name it was played by an unlimited
number of players, sometimes up to 500, between neighboring towns and villages.
An inflated pig's bladder was used as the football. An early Medieval version of
the game called 'Shrovetide football' in which matches were traditionally played
on on Shrove Tuesday and Ash Wednesday. The only rules were that 'murder and
manslaughter are prohibited' during games.
Fact 8: Who invented Soccer? The popularity of the dangerous and riotous
games of Mob Football, and damage to property during matches, grew to such an
extent that a succession of English Medieval kings including King Edward II and
King Edward IV banned the game. In 1409 King Henry IV provided the first
documented use of the English word "football" when he issued a
proclamation forbidding the levying of money for "foteball".
Fact 9: Who invented Soccer? Queen
Elizabeth I took the law further imposing a penalty of one week in jail for
playing mob football. However it was to no avail and by the end of the 14th
Century, the game of soccer had become deeply embedded in the English culture.
Fact 10: Who invented Soccer? The Beginning of Modern-Day Football began
in the mid 1800's when in 1848 the Cambridge Rules for football were drawn up at
Cambridge University, England. Official referees were to supervise matches
ensuring that the new codes and rules for allowing goal kicks, throw-ins and for
preventing running whilst holding the ball were enforced.
Fact 11: Who invented Soccer? In 1857 the first football club in the
world, Sheffield F.C., was founded and the club created the Sheffield rules
introducing the concepts of corners, throw-ins, and free kicks for fouls.
Fact 12: Who invented Soccer? In 1863 the Football Association was
founded and rules were created, heavily based on the Sheffield rules and
defining the point of divergence from rugby. In 1871 rules were introduced
specifying the position of the goalkeeper and in 1891 the penalty kick was
introduced.
Fact 13: Who invented Soccer? The first Football Association (FA) game
was between Scotland and England in 1872. The popularity of the sport increased
still further and great football stadiums were built to accommodate the growing
numbers of spectators. Between 1870 - 1880 many other European countries formed
club teams.
Fact 14: Who invented Soccer? In 1891 the word 'socca', (later soccer),
was first invented as a slang word in England to distinguish between rugby
football and association football. The slang word 'socca' derived from a
shortened form of Assoc. as in Football Association.
Fact 15: Who invented Soccer? In May 1904 the soccer governing body for
worldwide countries was established and named FIFA (International Federation of
Association Football). FIFA was formed to regulate and promote association
football.
Fact 16: Who invented Soccer? New rules were introduced to enhance and
regulate the game. In 1925 the offside rule is reduced from three to two
defending players between the player and the opponent's goal line.
Fact 17: Who invented Soccer? The FIFA World Cup international
association football competition was established in 1930. The tournament takes
place every four years and attracts millions of spectators via TV. The World Cup
final match is the last of the competition and the winners are awarded the much
coveted, solid 18-carat gold, Jules Rimet Trophy.
Fact 18: Who invented Soccer? Substitutes were introduced in 1958. In
1970 the system of penalization with red and yellow cards was introduced and the
back-pass rule came in 1992.
Fact 19: Who invented Soccer? In 1967 two professional soccer leagues
were started in the United States; the United Soccer Association and the
National Professional Soccer League, which merged to form the North American
Soccer League in 1968.
Fact 20: Who invented Soccer? In 1981 Us professional cheerleader "Krazy"
George Henderson invented the "Wave" which reached reached Global proportions in
1986 during the FIFA World Cup in Mexico - hence its alternative name, the
Mexican Wave.
Fact 21: Who invented Soccer? In 2012 Goal-line technology, aka Goal
Decision System, was first used in competition at the 2012 FIFA Club World Cup. |