Football

The world's most popular team sport, football (or soccer) is played in more than 200 countries. Men and women of all ages play football for recreation, in international competition and on professional teams. Football is played on a rectangular field that is 90 to 120 meters (100 to 130 yards) long and 45 to 90 meters (50 to 100 yards) wide. For international matches the field is 100 to 110 meters (110 to 120 yards) long and 64 to 75 meters (70 to 80 yards) wide. A goal 7.3 meters (8 yards) wide and 2.4 meters (8 feet) high is located at each end of the field. The lines marking the sides of the field are the touchlines; those on either end are the goal lines. The field also has markings for the halfway line, the goal areas, the penalty areas, the corners and the centre circle. The teams are made up of 11 players, and they play for 90 minutes and it might go for extra time, if both teams settled for a draw. ( http://0-www.school.eb.co.uk.library.hct.ac.ae/all/elementary/article?articleId=441717 )

The World Cup is a championship tournament for football teams around the world. Different countries take turns hosting the event, which is held every four years ( http://0-www.school.eb.co.uk.library.hct.ac.ae/all/elementary/article?articleId=487940 ). The tournament lasts for several weeks. However, the competition to qualify as a World Cup team lasts for much longer. Many teams compete in qualifying tournaments by region over the course of about two years. Eventually 32 teams qualify to compete for the men's trophy. There are 16 teams in the women's tournament. The teams are placed in groups of four teams each. In the first round, each team plays the other three in its group. The top two teams from each group advance to the next round. In the next three rounds teams are eliminated as they play each other. Referees for the World Cup tournament are selected from lists that are submitted by all the national associations.

English professional football (soccer) organization. The league was formed in 1888, largely through the efforts of William McGregor, known afterward as the “father of the league.” Twelve of the strongest professional clubs of the time joined in the league, and the first season's championship was won by Preston North End. In 1892 a second division was formed, and the first division increased to 16 clubs. Soon after, the league adopted the practice of promoting the first two clubs in the second division at the end of each season into the places of the last two clubs of the first division, which were relegated to the second division. A third division was added in 1920 and reorganized to form a fourth in 1958; a four-up, four-down promotion and relegation system between these two divisions was set up at the same time. Demand for revenues from television and other resources led First Division clubs to break with the league and form the Premier League in 1992. The First Division maintained a three-up, three-down promotion and relegation agreement with the new league. The Football League includes more than 70 clubs. Its headquarters are in London.

The Football League's system of divisions with annual promotions and demotions was copied by other leagues throughout Europe. ( http://0-www.school.eb.co.uk.library.hct.ac.ae/eb/article-9034812 )

Bibliography:

. http://0-www.school.eb.co.uk.library.hct.ac.ae/all/elementary/article?articleId=441717

. http://0-www.school.eb.co.uk.library.hct.ac.ae/all/elementary/article?articleId=487940

. http://0-www.school.eb.co.uk.library.hct.ac.ae/eb/article-9034812