A VERY BRIEF HISTORY OF SOCCER

It's called FOOTBALL

Over the next month, Edmonton will temporarily sideline its obsession with hockey and embrace the world’s most popular sport. Today, Canada’s top female soccer players will face off against China in the opening game of one of the most significant tournaments in the world — the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup. Soccer — or football, to the rest of the world — is known simply as the beautiful game, played by 265 million men and women, according to FIFA, the global governing soccer body. The game of soccer is simple, but its history is complex and dates back thousands of years.

As Edmonton prepares for a month full of soccer action, here’s a (very) brief primer on the history of the beautiful game. 200 BC China — Early days The Chinese are often credited with coming up with one of the earliest form of soccer, called Tsu Chu. The sport involved kicking a leather ball filled with feathers and hair through a small opening and into a net fixed onto long bamboo canes. Players were allowed to use their feet, chest, back and shoulders, but the use of hands was prohibited. 1314 — Banning the game King Edward II was trying to raise an army, and saw soccer as a distraction from archery. He issued a proclamation banning the sport, and he wouldn’t be the only king to do so. King Edward III, Richard II, Henry IV and Henry V all issued similar bans.

1863 — Setting the rules

The inaugural draft of soccer rules that shaped the game as we know it were drawn up — where else? — in a tavern in England.

One team refused to accept the omission of hacking, more commonly known as kicking below the knee, and went on to become a founder of the Rugby Football Union.

Over the century, the rules were gradually tweaked and changed.

In 1869, goal-kicks were introduced and corner kicks in 1872.

In 1878, a referee used a whistle for the first time; however, the officials were still required to stay off the field.

The penalty kick, then known as the “kick of death”, was introduced in 1891. However, it was not taken from a set spot, but anywhere along the 12-yard line.

1872 — World’s first international soccer match

Believed to the be the world’s first official international soccer match, England travelled to Glasgow to face the national Scotland team. The score? An underwhelming 0-0. May 21, 1904 — FIFA is founded The Fédération Internationale de Football Association was founded in Paris on May 21, 1904. Representatives from seven European countries were in attendance. The English Football Association (FA) did not participate in the founding of the international federation.

May 4, 1912 — Canadian soccer league is founded

Although soccer had been played in Canada since the 1870s, the Dominion of Canada Football Association was founded decades later in 1912, and on Dec. 31, 1912, was officially admitted to FIFA.

December 25, 1914 — The Christmas Day soccer match

The Christmas Day Truce and the arising soccer match made for a remarkable historical event. Beginning on Christmas Eve, in the midst of First World War, German and British troops called a holiday truce and peacefully celebrated Christmas with each other.

The joyous and slightly rebellious celebrations inevitably led to a good-natured game of soccer. The final score has been debated, but according to some legends, the English won 3-2. 1920 — First international women’s soccer game During the First World War, a women’s soccer team formed at a munitions factory in Preston in the United Kingdom. The Dick, Kerr Ladies FC took to the pitch as a way of raising funds for wounded soldiers and other charities.

In the spring of 1920, the women played against a team from Paris in front of a sizable crowd of 25,000, in what is believed to be the first women’s international friendly. The team later travelled to Paris to play three matches in front of a whopping crowd of 62,000. 1921 — Women’s soccer banned by English FA By 1921, the Dick, Kerr Ladies had a significant following and were playing an average two games a week. Some even dubbed them England’s unofficial women’s team because of their dominance.

Then, on Dec. 5, 1921, the English FA banned women’s soccer from all league-affiliated grounds. While the decision didn’t ban women playing the sport outright, it significantly hindered the development of women’s soccer. July 19, 1930 — Inaugural FIFA World Cup The first FIFA World Cup was held in Uruguay, a natural host, as the country was celebrating its centenary of independence that year.

Uruguay went on to defeat Argentina in the final 4-2, becoming the first country to win the World Cup.

There have been 20 World Cups, but just eight teams have managed to claim the coveted trophy; Brazil (5 wins), Germany (4), Italy (4), Argentina (2), Uruguay (2), France (1), England (1) and Spain (1).

The outbreak of the Second World War put the tournament

on hold in the 1940s. It would resume in 1950. 1969 — Women’s soccer makes grand return in England Representatives from 38 women’s clubs formed the Women’s Football Association in 1969. A few weeks later, the FA officially rescinded the ban implemented in 1921. In 1971, the WFA held its first national knockout competition, known as the Mitre Challenge Trophy. 1991 — Inaugural Women’s World Cup The first FIFA Women’s World Cup was held in China in November 1991. Just 12 teams participated; the United States won. 1995 — Team Canada women participate in World Cup Team Canada participated in its first Women’s World Cup in Sweden in 1995. The team lost all three games.

2002 — Canada wins U-19 silver It was in 2002 that the country tuned in to watch a group of teenage female soccer players at the FIFA U-19 Women’s World Cup Championship in Edmonton. Some 47,000 people packed Commonwealth Stadium to watch Canada face the United States. While the home squad lost a heartbreaking 1-0, the silver medal helped put Canadian women’s soccer on the map and make some of the players — including Christine Sinclair — household names. 2012 — Canada wins bronze at Olympics At the London Olympics, the Canadian women’s team lost a heartbreaking semifinal match against the United States. It was a game that will likely be remembered for Christine Sinclair’s outstanding performance as well as a refereeing controversy. But Canada found redemption, defeating France 1-0 to claim the bronze medal. Sinclair was later selected to be Canada’s flag bearer for the closing ceremonies. 2015 — FIFA corruption scandal The news that FIFA was accused of corruption came as a surprise to few, but the fact that the United States Justice Department charged 14 of the world’s top powerful soccer figures was still shocking. The 47-count indictment included charges of racketeering, bribery, money laundering and fraud. The seemingly untouchable FIFA president Sepp Blatter was not among the 14 charged. Blatter was re-elected to a four-year term days after the scandal erupted, but then resigned on June 2. June 2015 — FIFA Women’s World Cup The marquee soccer tournament that has helped make Edmonton one of the world’s top travel destinations this summer is finally here. Edmonton will host 11 games over the month long tournament, including the opening match, two preliminary games for Canada and the bronze medal contest.

Canada’s team finished last at the previous World Cup four years ago — this year, they are searching for redemption. Modern rivalries Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi are widely regarded as two of the best soccer players of all time. Who is actually better will likely be debated for years to come. In the meantime, fans enjoy relishing in the bewildering skill these two talents have.

The 2012 London Olympics amplified the Canada-U. S. rivalry in women’s soccer, but for many fans it’s embodied in the competition between the two nations’ star players. Canada’s Christine Sinclair and American Abby Wambach are regarded as two of the best women’s players in the world, having scored 153 and 182 international goals, respectively.