Sep 14, 2005 07:02 PM
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(Updated Sep 14, 2005 07:02 PM)
The Laws of the Game are based on efforts made in the mid-19th century to standardise the rules of the widely varying games of football played at the public schools of England. The first set of rules resembling the modern game were produced at Trinity College, Cambridge in 1848, at a meeting attended by representatives from Eton, Harrow, Rugby, Winchester and Shrewsbury, but they were far from universally adopted. A number of rival and/or revised sets of rules were subsequently proposed, most notably by the Sheffield Football Club (formed by former pupils from Harrow) in 1857 and the rules of JC Thring in 1862.
These efforts culminated in the formation of the Football Association (FA) in 1863 which first met on the evening of 26 October 1863 at the Freemason's Tavern in Great Queen Street, London. The only school to be represented on this occasion was Charterhouse.
The major international competition in football is the World Cup organised by FIFA.
There has been a football tournament at the Summer Olympic Games since 1900, except at the 1932 games in Los Angeles. Originally this was for amateurs only, however since the 1984 Summer Olympics professionals have been permitted as well, albeit with certain restrictions which effectively prevent countries from fielding their strongest sides Currently, the Olympic men's tournament is played at Under-23 level with a restricted number of over-age players per team; consequently the competition is not generally considered to carry the same international significance and prestige as the World Cup. A women's tournament was added in 1996; in contrast to the men's event, the women's Olympic tournament is played by full international sides without age restrictions.
The major international competitions of the continental confederations, followed by their major club events where appropriate, are
Europe: European Championship; UEFA Champions League
South America: Copa América; Copa Libertadores
Africa: African Nations Cup; CAF Champions League
Asia: Asian Cup; AFC Champions League
North/Central America & Caribbean: CONCACAF Gold Cup; CONCACAF Champions Cup
Oceania: Oceania Cup
