History of Football

The history of human beings starting to play with a "ball" dates back to ancient times. Human figures playing ball with their feet have been found in wall paintings in tombs in Egypt. In fact, balls made of leather or linen with a diameter of 7.5 cm from this time have survived 2500 years ago and are exhibited in some museums. Homer also mentions ball games in "Odiesa". It is known that around 2500 BC, training was practiced in China by trying to kick a ball between two spears planted on the ground.

After appearing in similar forms in almost all civilizations throughout history, football took its closest form to its present form in England in the 17th century. Its further development can be shown as follows:

• 1841 – Acceptance of the football ball as a perfect sphere.
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• 1848 – Football rules were collected under the name “Cambridge rules” and the first football match with these rules was played between students in Cambridge.
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• 1855 – The first time an English team went abroad to play football, thus laying the foundation of football in Germany.
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• 1857 – Founding of the first football club in England, Sheffield Club.
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• 1863 – Birth of the English Football Association and thus modern football.
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• 1870 – The British living in Portugal started to spread football here.
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• 1871 – Start of the “King's Cup” or “FA Cup”. 1872 – “England-Scotland”: first international match.
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• 1875 – Crossbars were installed in goals and the ball was allowed to be headed. 1876 – Adoption of the corner rule.
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• 1879 – A football player was brought from Glasgow to Darwen with an offer of money, paving the way for professionalism.
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• 1882 – Establishment of the “International Board” authorized to make changes to football rules.
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• 1885 – Professionalism is officially accepted in England. 1886 – Adoption of the offside rule.
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• 1889 – Establishment of football associations in Denmark and the Netherlands.
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• 1890 – Full authority was given to referees in football matches.
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• 1891 – Acceptance of penalty.
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• 1893 – The first football federation in America was established in Argentina.
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• 1895 – Women play the first football match in England.
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• 1899 – The duration was determined as 90 minutes and the dimensions were determined as 118.4 x 91.4. 1901 – 110,802 people watched the Sheffield United – Tottenham Hotspur FA Cup final.
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• 1902 – Austria beat Hungary 5-0 in the first international match played outside England.
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• 1903 – Adoption of average.
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• 1904 – FIFA was founded by Belgium, France, Denmark, Netherlands, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.
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• 1906 – South Africa beat Brazil 5-0 in the first intercontinental national match.
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• 1907 – It was accepted that a football player in his own field should not be considered offside.
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• 1908 – Football was included in the Olympic Games for the first time in the London Olympic Games.