Football: Then and now

Football has long been the world's favourite sport.

Highly accessible, it has crossed every boundary and helped to break down barriers between people of different ages, abilities and cultures.

It is the original 'sport for all' – played and enjoyed by people with a disability for decades before the first official tournaments took place in the 1970s.

How to play – and win

There are two forms of Football played at the Paralympic Games: both use modified FIFA rules. Five-a-side Football and Seven-a-side Football are considered to be separate sports by the International Paralympic Committee.

Football Five-a-side

As it is played by visually impaired athletes, a special ball is used, which makes a noise as it moves.

Every Football match is played between two teams with four blind athletes and one sighted or visually impaired goalkeeper on the field as well as five substitutes.

Additionally, each team has a guide behind the opponent's goal to direct the players when they shoot.

The ball is passed between team members with the objective of kicking it into the goal area. The opposition team attempts to prevent them from scoring. Only the goalkeeper may use their hands to play the ball. As the pitch is surrounded with a rebound wall, there are no throw-ins, which creates a flowing and fast-paced game.

A football match lasts 50min with two halves of 25min each and a 10min half time in between. The winning team is the one that scores the most goals during a match. In the case of a draw, the winner is decided using a penalty kick procedure.
A referee and an assistant referee on the sidelines monitor the game. Penalties are awarded if a player touches their eyeshade, if the goalkeeper steps outside their area or if a player kicks or pushes an opponent.

Football Five-a-side at the Games

The Five-a-side game made its debut at Athens 2004.

Facts about Football Five-a-side

• The first national Five-a-side Championships took place in Spain in 1986.
• All outfield players in the Five-a-side game are required to wear 'black out' masks to ensure they compete on an equal basis.

Get involved

Football is an exciting sport to play as well as well as watch.

All the Home Country Football Assocations organise opportunities for disabled players. You can get information on the grassroots development programmes run by the Football Associations of England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

It's easy to get started – find a local club through the Disability Football Club Directory or contact your County Football Association for more details (see related websites).