The Beautiful Game

Football, the most popular game on this planet is growing more and more popular each day. Football is played at national as well as club level and is the national sport for many countries across the globe. Football players are worshipped like gods in many countries and the way this game is practiced, followed and supported is nothing less than a religion. It is called the beautiful game not only because of its high tempo and exciting nature but also because of the passion of supporters and fans whose devotion to the game and the team and the club they support sometimes is fanatical

Football is basically played between two teams consisting of eleven players each, with an objective of using their feet to get the ball into opponent’s goal which are situated on either side of a rectangular field. The game is played for 90 minutes with a perfectly spherical ball, 28’ in diameter. The game is played on basis of 17 basic rules called as the “laws of the game” which are monitored by referee,linesmen and other officials. Each team of eleven consists of one goal keeper and the remaining ten are divided into defenders, midfielders and attackers.

The governing body of international football is called as FIFA( International Federation for Association Football) with its headquarters located in Zurich, Switzerland. This body basically deals with all the football matters and organizes the FIFA World Cup, the most prestigious and famous tournament in world which is played in different countries over an interval of four years. The first world cup was held in Uruguay in 1930 and the last one was in South Africa in 2010 and the next one will be held in June 2014 in Brazil. Apart from this FIFA also holds a gala every year to present awards to best players in different positions in previous year.

In football there are players, good players, world class players and then there are Legends. Legends are those who even after their retirement continue to be praised and loved wherever they go. They have redefined the traditions of football and set a high bar for new players. One of the most celebrated football players of all time is the Brazilian legend Pele, the only one to have won the world cup thrice. He has already been named as the player of century and athlete of century. Pele’s contender to best player ever is Diego Maradona, the Argentinian legend who captained the national team to 1986 world cup glory and scoring the goal of century in quarter finals against England. Other legends of the game are Alfredo Di Stefano (Argentinian and Real Madrid) and Johan Cruyff (Netherlands and Barcelona). Even though they could not taste World cup glory like Pele or Maradona, they were considered the global titans of club football. The modern legends include the French maestro Zinedine  Zidane and the Brazilian striker Ronaldo who holds the record for 15 World Cup goals and is considered to be the best striker ever.

Football is one of the very few things in world that can help accomplish world unity, which is evident from the FIFA World Cup. Over 200 countries fight for 32 available spots. Success in football has enabled struggling societies to forget their worries and woes while failure in major competitions adds to those woes. Such is the passion of the game that, people from all over gather to celebrate and enjoy the extravaganza. Europe, South America and recently even India have been griped with football fever. Matches are time when you keep aside religion, ethnicity, background, gender and unite together for a common cause, to support the team you love. Football fans are deeply affected by the results of each match, constantly convinced that this might be their match, their season. Football fans love the game, the elation and devastation experienced through winning or losing keep that keeps them addicted for their entire lives. Football matches are almost enchanting- the hordes of team supporters in their football shirts, the excitement,  the banter, the football chants, the smiles, the singing, the nervous anticipation and scarf sellers all make up for a familiar yet completely exhilarating and emotionally charged atmosphere.

 Football fans even though not a part of the actual game, consider themselves to be the twelfth man on pitch. Without fans there would be no atmosphere nor team motivation or intimidation of opposition. Fans are not just observers, they help their team win, urge them on if they’re losing and also contribute to the long-term survival of the club and its players. No matter what aspect of the game we enjoy, one thing is certain, football incites passion, frustration, euphoria and rage like nothing else ever will.

How can this passion, excitement, dedication and emotion for the beautiful game ever be explained? Well you have to be a football fan to experience it.