According to FIFA , the Chinese competitive game cuju (蹴鞠, literally "kick ball") is the earliest form of football for which there is evidence. [13] Cuju players could use any part of the body apart from hands and the intent was kicking a ball through an opening into a net. It was remarkably similar to modern football, though similarities to rugby occurred. [14] [15] During the Han Dynasty (206 BC – 220 AD), cuju games were standardised and rules were established. [14] Phaininda and episkyros were Greek ball games. [16] [17] An image of an episkyros player depicted in low relief on a vase at the National Archaeological Museum of Athens [12] appears on the UEFA European Championship Cup. [18] Athenaeus , writing in 228 AD, referenced the Roman ball game harpastum . Phaininda , episkyros and harpastum were played involving hands and violence. They all appear to have resembled rugby football , wrestling and volleyball more than what is reco
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Association football , more commonly known as football or soccer , is a team sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball . It is played by 250 million players in over 200 countries and dependencies, making it the world's most popular sport. [3] [4] [5] [6] The game is played on a rectangular field with a goal at each end. The object of the game is to score by getting the ball into the opposing goal. Players are not allowed to touch the ball with their hands or arms while it is in play, unless they are goalkeepers (and then only when within their penalty area ). Other players mainly use their feet to strike or pass the ball, but may also use their head or torso. The team that scores the most goals by the end of the match wins. If the score is level at the end of the game, either a draw is declared or the game goes into extra time or a penalty shootout depending on the format of the competition. The Laws of the Game were original