There are different explanations of the origin of the word “Football”. Majority believe that the word “Football” refers to the “Foot” kicking the ball, while another explanation refers to “Football” as a variety of games in medieval Europe which were played on foot.
Episkyros, a Greek team game is recognised as an early form of football by FIFA. Also, the Tsu Chu, which existed during the Han dynasty, has been recognised as the first version of the game with regular rules. Its Japanese version known as Kermari was developed during the Asuka period and was played within the Japanese Imperial Court in Kyoto from about 600AD.
There are possibilities that this game was played in times past by indigenous ancient people. Men from a ship commanded by John Davies, an English explorer played a form of football with Inuit people in Greenland in 1586. Pahsahemen, a Native American game was recorded by William Strachey in 1610. The Marn Grook as recorded in the 1878 book by Robert Brough-Smyth, and the Kiorachi were the earliest forms of the game played in Australia and New Zealand respectively. The Historia Brittonum played in Britain from the 19th century and its French counterpart, the La Soule, played in northern France in the 12th century were among the first recorded forms of the game in both places. Also, the Mob football played between neighbouring towns and villages, involving unlimited number of players on opposing teams who would clash en masse, made up early forms of the game in England.
Attempts which created Modern Codes in football were first created by English Public Schools through these means:
- They took away football from its mob form and turned it into an organised sport.
- Persons who studied in these schools were very much instrumental in giving many of the early descriptions of the game. This implies that the schools acted as archives for information about the early forms of football.
- The teachers, students, and former students from these schools first codified football games to enable matches to be played between schools.
- The division between “kicking” and “running” games first became clear at English public schools.
Throughout the later periods, different football associations were formed in different countries as a result of the development and public acceptance of the game. This in turn made the game more popular and caused a widespread acceptance of the game in different parts of Europe.
By the beginning of the 20th century, it was apparent that a single body was needed to oversee all football associations. Attempts having been made by the English football association to set up an international body which amounted to little or no progress made, this responsibility fell to seven other European countries which includes: France, Belgium, Denmark, Netherlands, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland. This led to the Formation of Fédération Internationale de football Association (FIFA) in Paris on May 21, 1904 with Robert Guérin as its first President.