Italians say that football was invented in Italy. The English claim they invented it. Who is right?
Tom Booth, Hampstead Norreys UK
- The ancient Romans played a game called 'Herpastum', a kind of scrummaging game where two sides fought for possession of a ball,in order to throw it into the opposition's goal. While it appears on the surface to have resembled 'Aussie rules' football, there were elements of the modern games of soccer,rugby and basketball. A similar game to Herpastum has taken place in villages around Britain up to the present day, where people from rival villages (almost literally) fight for possession of a ball.I think that the Italians can claim ownership of, at least, the precursor of modern soccer.
Damian, Birmingham
- The English quite obviously invented football; other countries invented scoring goals.
Neil Parkes, Walsall UK
- Football was invented in England with an inflated pig's bladder. The first known representation to genuine football is in an Edinburgh print dated 1672. Other countries may also have kicked things around a field but it wasn't football, though there was 'zuqiu' which was a game with some similarities to football played in China c.350 B.C.
Phil,
- Both of them. The Italians may have invented football, but the English gave rules to it.
Peter Brooke, Newmachar UK
- As far as I was aware football was introduced to Italy as a popular sport by sailors playing football at the port of Genoa. These sailors had seen the game being played whilst in port in England. Italians therefore, see Genoa as the birth place of football, even though it was imported from England.
Jonah Duffin, London UK
- The word 'futball' is first used in 1424, in Scotland, when it was banned by act of Parliament. I know that isn't the same as inventing the game, but it does qualify the so-called "English" origins of the game.Shame the act wasn't effective.
R Tanner, Dunino Scotland
- The word for 'football coach' in Genovese, the dialect of Genoa is 'mister'. This comes from the title given by the locals to the English sailors who taught them football.
Richard Hines, Perth, Western Australia
- Football was invented in England with an inflated pig's bladder. The first known representation to genuine football is in an Edinburgh print dated 1672. What were those Englishmen doing playing in Edinburgh? Where we using English players in the Scottish league even in those days?
Michael Mooney, Glasgow Scotland
- The English claim to have "invented" football is probably based on the fact that the first competitive football league was created in England in 1888. Envisioned and set up by William McGreggor, then of Aston Villa (who today have a stand named after him), it consisted of twelve teams, six of which were from the Midlands, and six from the North-East.
Terry Wilson, brighton UK
- I think Italy invented football because I am researching Italy and I found that on wikipedia.com
Angelina, perth australia
- Clearly the Italians invented football. No question about it. The people of Florence gave the game its rules in the 14th century.
Nicholas Mark, London, UK
