Football – was it really invented in England?

Football is the most popular sport in the world, especially among younger generations. Due to its simplicity and lack of equipment, it is played by a large number of people, of all age groups, and in all parts of the world. But where was it invented?

Football began in 1863 with the creation of the English Football Association, and this created a set of rules that all teams must follow. These rules have become universally accepted and have evolved a lot over time. But football has a long and interesting history spanning more than 3,500 years, dating back to the many games that were played throughout the ancient world. This article aims to highlight the beginnings of football that somehow led to current football.

Central America:

Since 1600 BC, a game called "Bok a Tok" and a game called "Tlachtlí" by the Aztecs has been played throughout central and northern South America. Although it dates back nearly 4,000 years, there is an amazing amount of historical evidence for this game. 1,300 playgrounds were discovered throughout Central America, and even some of the rubber balls they were using were found almost perfectly preserved in the swamps of the region. This game was not played on a rectangular court, but on an I-shaped court. The match was between two teams each trying to get the ball to the end of the opponent's court while keeping the ball in the air and not using hands. She was playing for religious reasons, not entertainment. Members of the losing team can even be sacrificed! Although it is difficult to see a direct connection between this game and modern football, it is strong evidence that the "game of football" was played in Central America long before anywhere else in the world.

Ancient China:

What is often seen as one of the earliest examples of a game where a ball is kicked is a game from China called Cuju, which translates to "kicking the ball." Tsu-cho was played on a rectangular court by two teams who had to use a leather ball and try to kick the ball into the goal. It is forbidden to use hands. Even today, the Chinese military uses the competitive version of the game as fitness training. Tsu-chu has been very popular in China for centuries. Although its popularity eventually declined, there are still teams in China playing it and trying to keep the tradition alive. Perhaps the most important moment in accepting Tsu-chu as the pioneer of football was in 2005 when Sepp Blatter, the president of the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) at the time, announced that the city of Linzi in China, where Tsu-chu was played regularly, was the birthplace of world football. There is a football museum in Zibu, in China's Shandong Province, which is evidence of the links between sports and the influence of Tsu-chu on the invention of football.

Greece – Ancient Greece:

Greece's claim to the origins of football revolves around the game of Episkyros. In this game two teams compete to pass the ball through a white line on in the opponent's half of the court. This game was heavily based on teamwork and defense. Good team organization and defensive structure were the key to success in Episkiros. Although this was a much more physical game than modern football, and the use of hands stands out as a difference, teamwork and strategy had an important impact on the development and invention of football.

Ancient Rome:

In ancient Rome, a game called Harpastum was played, apparently evolving from the Greek game Episqueros. It was playing a small ball, and was considered a fairly violent game. Little is known about how Harpstick was played, but it is believed that it was played between two teams on a rectangular court, with the aim of getting the ball over the opponent's line to score a point. It was considered a fast, physical and highly skilled game. Due to the vast expanse of the Roman Empire at the time, this game was widespread in most parts of the known world at the time, including England. Harbastum is therefore likely to have a significant impact on the invention of modern football.

Scotland:

The first mention of football in Scotland dates back to 1424, when King James I banned the game because he felt it was too annoying. Multiple laws have also been passed by parliament in the years that followed, in an attempt to ban the practice of the sport, and this indicates its prevalence. At this time, it was an incredibly violent game. Scotland's claim to the invention or origins of football is based on these facts and the fact that the oldest existing football in the world was discovered at the Royal Palace at Stirling Castle and dates back to around 1540. The world's first football club was founded in Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, in 1824.

England in the Middle Ages:

As with Scotland, the first record of football in England was in an announcement by the ruling monarch at the time. King Henry IV issued a decree banning the play of football. It seems that the medieval British royal family was not a football fan! Obviously, football was called foteball, not football that continued to spread despite these provisions, and there are many signs that the game was appealing to a lot of people at the time!

With all of the above, nineteenth-century England was where modern football began to take shape. And this has another story in another article.