The History of Football Game

It’s hard to find people who haven’t seen a football game or at least once. A game that can bring people from all over the world under one umbrella in this way cannot be felt without watching football. But not everyone just watches football. Some people want to know the history of football as well as its intoxication. Today’s article is to quench that thirst for knowledge about the history of football. 

Football in various forms of human civilization

The name football has a lot of significance. Foot means foot. And the common Bengali word for ball is ‘ball’ itself. Which was formerly called Golak. Football is basically a game of kicking the ball with one’s feet. And such a game has been found in various bends of human civilization. 

Mesoamerican civilization

The first evidence of ball games is found in Mesoamerican civilization. That game was played about 3,000 years ago. The ball was made of stone. In some Aztec games, the ball was considered a symbol of the sun. And in honor of the sun god, the Aztecs used to dedicate themselves to the leader of the winning team. However, Mesoamerican civilization was the first civilization to use rubber. So there is an example of using rubber ball in their game.

Asian and Australian civilizations

The game of kicking the ball is first known from the history of the Chinese. During the Han Dynasty, a game was practiced in China in the 2nd and 3rd centuries BC. Whose name was ‘Cuju ‘ . Which stands for Kickball in English. The Kuju game was played with a goal ball. The ball was made of wool or feathers wrapped in leather. Then the game would be played in a square field. Which over time spread to the Malay Peninsula. Gradually the game spread like wildfire to Japan, other islands in the Pacific Ocean, and Australia. What the Japanese called ‘Khmeri’. In Australia, on the other hand, his name was Marn Gook. Even in the 1800s, the Aborigines of Australia used to make balls out of the leaves and roots of trees.

Ball kicking was also common in ancient Greek and Roman civilizations. However, the game was not played on a large scale in those areas. Although it was the Romans who brought the game to Great Britain. Later, the British introduced this game all over the world. And because of this, people in almost all countries of the world now watch live football matches with friends or family whenever they play a team of their choice .

Britain: The birthplace of modern football

Antecedents 

Britain is said to be the birthplace of modern football. In the 1200’s, various games similar to football were played on the field in England. However, it goes without saying that there were no rules in those games. Dedarse used to use hands as well as feet. Many times more people used to participate in these games. The resulting blows, There have been fights and even deaths of many. Houses were often vandalized around the game. Annoyed by these irregularities, King Edward II banned the game from all cities. Later, in 1349, his son Edward III banned the game from the whole of Britain. But King Henry VII had a great fondness for football. In his royal shoe store, you can see 45 pairs of velvet and 1 pair of leather shoes for playing football. However, due to his obesity, he was not very good in this game. Later, in 1548, King Henry VII again banned football, citing the fact that the game caused riots. 

The history of this violence in football at that time has come to light again and again throughout the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. Despite the ban, the game was played in the desert on the way to England. Even in the city of London, those games were going on. At that time, not only England, but also Scotland, Ireland and Wales spread the game like football. However, due to the violence of those games, they could have been banned again in 1835. But by that time football had improved from the level of play of the common man. At that time public schools in England used to play various games like football. The two main public schools were Rugby and Eaton. The use of feet as well as hands was common in rugby school football. Today’s rugby game was born from there. At Eaton School, on the other hand, football was played only by foot. In other words, it can be called the progenitor of the current football.

The birth of rules

That was in 1848. Representatives of England’s largest public schools gathered in the shadow of Cambridge University. At that time some rules and regulations were made. These are called ‘Cambridge Rules ‘ . The big schools of the time, namely Eaton, Harrow, Rugby, Srushberry and Winchester, followed this rule. However, throughout the 1850’s, many schools in England continued to play by their own rules. Some schools also followed different rules called Shepherd Rules. 

Ebenezer Cobb Morley . A bright young man of 22 years. He was the captain of the then Burns Club. On 26 October 183, Ebenezer called a meeting at the Freemason’s Tavern on Great Queen Street in London. And as a result of that meeting, The Football Association was established. Which is known today as FA. 

After five more meetings, the Football Association was finally able to make some special rules for football . But on the day of the last meeting, the Blackheath Club left the association. Because they demanded that the practice of using hands and holding the opponent in the game of football should be maintained. Some other clubs supporting Blackheath later formed the Rugby Football Union. Which is known as the game of rugby today. 

International Football Association 

Football is currently governed by the International Football Association. And this International Football Association was born in 18, in the city of Manchester. The International Football Association is made up of The Football Association, The Scottish Football Association, The Football Association of Wales and the Irish Football Association . And the first international football match was between England and Scotland. Which was held on 30 November 182.

Football in the country

As the father of modern football, it is the responsibility of the British to keep people from different parts of the world interested and discouraged from playing football. Football also became popular in Europe, Central America and South America due to the British trade relations. In countries like India, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand, where the British forcibly colonized, football was not so popular. Cricket in those countries, Games like rugby have become commonplace. Also in England and many other countries the difference between the middle class of football players was noticeable. For example, in the England football team, players from all classes did something, but most of the players came from the lower classes. In the case of the Dutch, the upper class could play a greater role as a football player. In football, club games were more important than national team games at that time. At first only British clubs were formed but later football clubs were formed in many countries one by one. Which very quickly made football known to the masses.

Danish football and soccer club

The Danes formed the first football club in Europe after England and Ireland in 18. Whose name was Copenhagen Boldclub . The first football club in Europe was also built in Denmark in 189. All in all, the Danes were much stronger until the First World War than many other European countries. As a result, they won two consecutive silver medals at the 1908 and 1912 Olympics.

Italian football

Football in Italy was started by the British, Swiss and Italian elites. Due to which the influence of the upper class in Italian football can still be noticed. The rise of Italian football is contemporary with Spain. Italy’s first football club was formed in the late nineteenth century. And in 1896, the first national level tournament was held in Italy.

Like many European countries, South America has started playing football with the help of British immigrants who come for work. Due to the abundance of minerals in South America, many people from England at that time went there for work, As a result, football became popular in South American countries through them. Even the first football match of 18 years was held on this continent between the British. Twenty-six years later, the first football tournament in South America was launched in Argentina. Which is still running under the name of the Argentine National Championship. Although almost all of the players at the time were British. Then, in the late nineteenth century, Brazil’s first team and tournament was introduced. Even there, of course, the British dominated. But it was only then that ordinary people in Brazil and other South American countries began to take part in football, and in the early twentieth century the people of South America began to play a major role as players on football teams.

Spanish football

The trend of football in Spain was created mainly by the British immigrants who came to work in Spain. By the end of the nineteenth century the game of football gradually spread from immigrants to the general population of Spain. Alphonse XIII, then King of Spain, played a key role in popularizing the game in Spain. In 1902, he hosted a football tournament between several teams from the regions of Basque, Catalonia and Madrid, Spain. But after so much, it was difficult to form a Spanish national team due to regional divisions. That is why, despite being a founding member of FIFA in 1904, they could not form a national team before World War I.

French and German football

Although the rise of football in France and Germany began at the same time as in Spain or Italy, it took some time for football to spread here. Before the advent of football in Spain and Italy, there was no such thing as a popular sport. But cycling and gymnastics were already very popular in France and Germany. As a result, it has not been easy for football to become popular by ace these two games. 

The first football team in France was formed mainly by the Scots and English. However, at about the same time, some French students formed their own teams. The first national level competition in France began in 1894. Since then, football has become very popular in France and new teams have been formed one after another. However, despite the formation of many teams, it took a long time for a football federation to be born in France. The Football Federation of France was first formed after the First World War. 

World Cup football

he Football World Cup seems to be the center of interest for people all over the world. But it started with the hand of a Frenchman named Jules Rimet. He is none other than FIFA’s president-elect in 1921. He started the Football World Cup following the Olympic tournament. The first Football World Cup was held in 1930. That time 13 teams competed by cutting Uruguay’s fields. However, the host team Uruguay won the World Cup. They lost to Argentina in the final and won the Remat Trophy. At the time, the World Cup trophy was named after FIFA’s then-president Rimet. Later two more World Cups were held in 1934 and 1936. In 1934, 16 teams played in the World Cup, but in 1938, 15 teams played. Because by that time Austria was occupied by Germany. The next several years were a dark period in the history of the FIFA World Cup. World War II then changed many equations.

The black claws of World War II 

World War II is the deadliest time in human history. The continents of Europe and Asia suffered the most from the outbreak of this war. But the countries of South America were relatively safe. Before World War II, European countries had a lot of influence on football. As it was reduced due to World War II, the Latin American countries filled the void. Among them were Argentina, Brazil and Colombia. At that time the people of the whole continent started enjoying this game as the radio of that continent started moving. Even the word ‘goal’ in football was first uttered in the voice of a Brazilian newsreader named Rebello Jr.

Of course, the name of football was not erased from Europe. European countries that were neutral in the war continued to play football. Such as Ireland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey etc. Football has even been played in war-torn countries like Italy, Britain, and the Soviet Union. Germany itself hosted a football tournament in 1942 with its occupied and friendly countries. Even just months before the fall of Berlin in 1944, a national football tournament was held in Germany. 

World Cup journey

After the Second World War, along with many other things, World Cup football also got water. The World Cup was supposed to be held in 1948 at the end of World War II, but it did not happen. The 1950 World Cup was held in Brazil. And on the occasion of that World Cup, Brazil built the largest stadium in the world at that time in the city of Rio de Janeiro. The final match of this stadium called Maracana was watched by more than 2 lakh people. Which is the record to date. However, the Brazilians were extremely disappointed and Uruguay won the cup 2-1.

The lifeblood of football

Football in Europe

After the Second World War, the countries of Europe started leaning towards football again. In 1949, the popularity of football in Britain peaked. This widespread popularity lasted until the 70’s. However, the story was different on the field of the World Cup, even though the British looked great at the league level. They lost their first game to Chile in 1950 to win the World Cup. But they lost the next match to the United States. Which is one of the disasters in the history of football. However, this is one of the golden chapters in the history of football in the United States. After losing to Spain, the British had to return home. 

On the other hand, the story of Germany losing the world war is different. Despite losing the World War, they won the World Cup in 1954. West Germany wins unexpectedly against a very strong Hungary. And one of the reasons behind their victory is their shoes. The shoes manufactured by the German company Adidas were more effective against mud, which was one of the reasons for the victory.  

Union of European Football Associations (UEFA)

Europe can be called the paradise of club football. In the 1950s and 60s, Brazil aka South America dominated international football. But at that time the most popular teams in club football were mainly from Europe. The Union of European Football Associations is in fact an organization of football clubs in Europe. Founded in 1954, The European Cup was held for the first time in 1955 at the initiative of this organization. Which is now known as the ‘Champions League ‘ . And it is through these club football that the popularity of football among the general population of Europe increases. The widespread use of TV in Europe at that time made the whole process more dynamic. 

Pele: famous footballer

There is no football fan in the world who does not know Pel. Born in 1940, he won the World Cup for Brazil in 1958. Thanks to the king of football, Brazil continued to dominate in the years ahead. Brazil also won the 1982 and 1970 World Cups. Throughout this time, Pele was incomparable at the national and international level. After breaking all records, he was awarded the title of ‘King of Football’. He was also named the best footballer of the century by FIFA. If we talk about the history of football, we have to talk about Brazil and Pel.

Copa America

Although football was born in a European country, South American countries have dominated football the most. Football tournaments have been held in Latin American countries since 1910. It has been known as ‘Copa America’ since 1975. Organized under the auspices of The South American Football Confederation ( CONMEBOL ), the Copa America has long been popular around the world. The recent match between Brazil and Argentina may be remembered by many in this generation for a long time. 

Politics, war and football 

Football is not a mere sport. Its impact on politics is undeniable, as millions of people are emotionally involved. From the earliest days of modern football, politicians used football star players as their propaganda. That trend is still continuing. Also, a victory on the playing field against an enemy country seems to be an indirect victory to many citizens. Many rulers want to influence by capitalizing on the passion for football. From Benito Mussolini to Hitler himself is no exception. Even the ruler of Argentina, Juan Peron, did not allow his country to participate in the 1949 Copa America and the 1950 World Cup. Because at that time the rate of Argentina could have a negative impact on the people. In addition, football has often been used as a political weapon. The African and international community has repeatedly boycotted their South African football team because of South Africa’s racism problem. 

It’s not just the use of football in politics. There is even a history of war surrounding football. In 1969, El Salvador and Honduras fought a 100-hour war known as the 100-Hour War. 

The last word

Throughout the ages, football has taken place in the hearts of people all over the world. Billions of people have been fascinated by the magic of the feet of legendary players. This is the popularity of football, regardless of class or profession, which is why football can be called extraordinary in one word. Hopefully, countries other than Europe and Latin America will write their names in gold in the history of football. Bangladesh in particular may one day stand proudly on the international stage. Waiting for that time.