Football

Football's oldest form is traced to China; the modern game came from England, where the Football Association was formed in 1863 and rugby split off. The FA Cup (1872) is the oldest tournament; FIFA was founded in Paris in 1904. In India the Durand Cup began in Shimla in 1888, Mohun Bagan in 1889, the IFA Shield in 1893 and the AIFF in 1937 (FIFA 1948, AFC 1954).

There are 17 Laws. Field 90-120 m x 45-90 m (international 100-110 x 64-75 m). Ball 68-70 cm, 410-450 g. Up to 11 players, at least seven to start. Two halves of 45 minutes, half-time at most 15.

Fouls: ten serious offences give a direct free kick (a penalty kick if inside the defender's own area); lesser offences give an indirect free kick, from which a goal cannot be scored directly. Yellow card: caution; red card: sending off (two yellows make a red).

Restarts: kick-off, throw-in, goal kick, corner kick; a goal can be scored directly from a kick-off, a goal kick or a corner (against the opponents) but not from a throw-in.

Markings: goal area 5.5 m, penalty area 16.5 m, penalty mark 11 m, arc 9.15 m; goals 7.32 m x 2.44 m; corner flags at least 1.5 m.