Portal:Association football
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Association football Wikiportaledit
Football is a ball game played between two teams of eleven players, each attempting to win by scoring more goals than their opponent. Football is played predominantly with the feet, but players may use any part of their body except their hands and arms to propel the ball; the exception to this is the goalkeeper, who is the only member of the team allowed to handle the ball in the field of play.
The sport is also known by other names in some parts of the English-speaking world, usually soccer or association football. These names are also used to distinguish the game from other sports known as "football".
Football is played at a professional level all over the world and millions of people regularly go to a football stadium to follow their home team, whilst millions more avidly watch the game on television. A very large number of people also play football at an amateur level.
News and events
- Arsenal F.C. striker Robin van Persie will serve a one-match Champions League ban for his dismissal against FC Thun, UEFA have confirmed
- Gabriel Heinze has been ruled out for most of the season with a cruciate knee ligament injury
- Manchester United lost valuable ground on Chelsea (right) as they were held to a 1-1 draw by their City rivals
- Ronaldo is doubtful for Real Madrid's league match against Celta Vigo on Saturday after injuring a thigh muscle in Brazil's World Cup qualifier against Chile on the weekend
- Portugal midfielder Maniche, who has said that he hates playing in Russia, will remain at Dynamo Moscow, the Russian premier league club said on Tuesday
Featured article edit
The 1958 Football World Cup remained in Europe, this time being hosted by Sweden. It was won by Brazil, who beat Sweden 5-2 in the final for their first title. The World Cup marked the debut on the world stage of 17-year-old Pelé, who would grow to be considered the greatest footballer of all time.
Current Tournaments edit
World Cup 2006
- The Football Association have confirmed they are pushing ahead with exploratory talks about England bidding for the 2018 World Cup - but insist they will not launch a 'dry run' for the 2014 event
- Croatian media slammed the national soccer team on Thursday for their 'shameful' draw in Malta, made worse by rioting Croatian fans who clashed with local police after the game
- Twenty-seven teams (counting the hosts Germany) have secured qualification for the 2006 World Cup in Germany as of October 12.
Did you know... edit
- ...that Sophus "Krølben" Nielsen of Denmark was the first player to score ten goals in an international match, doing so against France in the 1908 Summer Olympics?
- ...that Barbados scored an own goal on purpose in order to move ahead of Grenada in the 1994 Caribbean Cup?
- ...that Malmö FF was degraded from Allsvenskan the 1933-34 season since their nemesis IFK Malmö had reported the club for paying their players, which was against rules at that time?
- ...that numbers were worn on the back of football shirts for the first time on August 25, 1928?
- ...that the first corner kick was taken in the 1870s?
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