Who Invented Soccer?
The history of soccer is a widely
discussed item. Who has the answer?
With soccer (known in the rest of the world
as football) widely believed to be one of the world’s most
popular sports, many wonder who invented soccer, and how the
game as we know it came into being. Just as watching a soccer
game is interesting, so are the explanations of who invented
soccer. Many cultures claim the game as their own invention,
and there are few definitive answers to help us decide who is
right.
The Far-Reaching History of
Soccer
People of ancient China would have a hard time recognizing
the game we all known as soccer or football even though the
history of soccer can be traced back to a game they called
cuju. The ancient Romans and Greeks also had a game similar to
the sport as well as the people in medieval Europe. Pig
bladders were employed as the ball and inflated and leather
from animal skins was stuffed with old rags and straw to
resemble a spherical shape that could be batted around with the
feet.
Regarding the history of soccer, the game similar to the
sport we know today was banned in London in the mid 14th
century amidst increasing violence that surrounded the game.
However, the game was still played and enjoyed increasing
popularity in Europe. Eventually, the game became more
civilized and was played in school to keep the students fit as
well as spur on friendly competitiveness.
Roots in the Last Century
The history of soccer that we know of today has modern roots
that can be traced back to mid 1860’s England. The sport became
popular with the many schools and they began to compete with
each other more easily thanks to the rail system between towns.
However, there was a slight problem – each team had its own set
of rules and it was hard to play each other.
In 1863, the Football Association (FA) was formed to try and
develop one set of rules so that each team could play each
other in a fair game. As these rules were agreed upon, the
sport became more popular outside of school and the working
class started playing after work and as a pastime.
Another history of soccer tidbit was the formation of the
first formal competition called the Football Association Cup or
FA Cup in 1871. This competition was so popular that more and
more clubs playing soccer (or football as the English called
it) adopted the universal rules. These universal rules are the
basis of how the sport is played today all around the
world.
Today’s Roots
Once one set of rules became the norm, the history of soccer
showed that several entrepreneurs saw profitable possibilities
in creating professional soccer teams. This phenomenon
eventually spread to other countries like Italy, Spain,
Argentina, Brazil and the United States. In the U.S., there
were several governing associations formed to regulate soccer
in this country and until 1974, the word "football" was used in
their names in place of soccer just like other parts of the
world.
Today, there are many soccer teams around the globe and many
world renowned celebrities from the sport. These players are
one of many from a long legacy in the history of soccer.
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