Futebol de Salão
Encyclopedia
Futebol de Salão is a Portuguese
word (literally meaning "Hall Football") that, in spite of meaning futsal
(which is, in fact, an acronym for futebol de salão) in its original language, has come to be used in English (and mostly in England) to designate a slightly modified version of the FIFA-sanctioned five-a-side football. It is played with a smaller (size 2) ball
that has limited bounce.
The game now is globally promoted and controlled through the International Confederation of Futebol de Salão, based in the United Kingdom
and set up by Simon Clifford
after a chance meeting with the Brazilian Footballer Juninho
's father at a Premiership
football match.
Futsal has a larger ball than futebol de salão (size 4 compared to size 2). The futsal ball used to have the same dimensions, but they were changed by FIFA and nowadays the futsal ball is twice as bouncy and much lighter. Even though the rules of futebol de salão do not differ from those of futsal unless in terms of the ball, promoters of futebol de salão argue that they are different sports. However, in Brazil
, a country where the sport has been played for decades, no difference is acknowledged, and the change in the ball dimensions has been seen as an improvement in the rules of the game instead of the creation of a new sport.
Portuguese language
Portuguese is a Romance language that arose in the medieval Kingdom of Galicia, nowadays Galicia and Northern Portugal. The southern part of the Kingdom of Galicia became independent as the County of Portugal in 1095...
word (literally meaning "Hall Football") that, in spite of meaning futsal
Futsal
Futsal is a variant of association football that is played on a smaller pitch and mainly played indoors. Its name is a portmanteau of the Portuguese futebol de salão and the Spanish fútbol de salón , which can be translated as "hall football" or "indoor football"...
(which is, in fact, an acronym for futebol de salão) in its original language, has come to be used in English (and mostly in England) to designate a slightly modified version of the FIFA-sanctioned five-a-side football. It is played with a smaller (size 2) ball
Ball
A ball is a round, usually spherical but sometimes ovoid, object with various uses. It is used in ball games, where the play of the game follows the state of the ball as it is hit, kicked or thrown by players. Balls can also be used for simpler activities, such as catch, marbles and juggling...
that has limited bounce.
The game now is globally promoted and controlled through the International Confederation of Futebol de Salão, based in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and set up by Simon Clifford
Simon Clifford
Simon Darcy Clifford is an English football coach, and a businessman known for introducing Brazilian training techniques into the UK with his Brazilian Soccer Schools....
after a chance meeting with the Brazilian Footballer Juninho
Juninho Paulista
Osvaldo Giroldo Júnior , better known as Juninho Paulista or simply Juninho, is a former Brazilian footballer...
's father at a Premiership
FA Premier League
The Premier League is an English professional league for association football clubs. At the top of the English football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. Contested by 20 clubs, it operates on a system of promotion and relegation with The Football League. The Premier...
football match.
Futsal has a larger ball than futebol de salão (size 4 compared to size 2). The futsal ball used to have the same dimensions, but they were changed by FIFA and nowadays the futsal ball is twice as bouncy and much lighter. Even though the rules of futebol de salão do not differ from those of futsal unless in terms of the ball, promoters of futebol de salão argue that they are different sports. However, in Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
, a country where the sport has been played for decades, no difference is acknowledged, and the change in the ball dimensions has been seen as an improvement in the rules of the game instead of the creation of a new sport.