Developed in the 12th century, football is a team sport in which players attempt to pass a ball to a teammate, who in turn attempts to kick the ball towards the goal. The game has been played in various countries throughout history.
The first Football association was formed in England in 1863. Its first meeting was held in the Freemason’s Tavern in Great Queen Street, London. This meeting was the first to introduce formal rules, a major milestone in the development of the sport.
The first international football tournament was held in 1883 and featured four national teams. Football has continued to grow in popularity. The game is played by millions of people all over the world and is the most watched sport on television.
During the second half of the 19th century, many leading clubs began charging admission. This prompted many working class players to turn to the game as a means of entertainment.
The most important change to the rules came in the form of the offside rule in 1925. This rule changed the game by increasing the number of goals scored.
Another major change to the rules occurred in the form of penalty kicks. A penalty kick is a direct free kick from 12 yards away that may be taken when the opposing team commits a foul inside the penalty area.
In addition, the new rule increased the number of players on the field. This change increased the tempo of the game.