Futsal vs. Football - The important differences
Futsal is one of the most popular variations of football. This particular variation has grown in popularity at an alarming rate, which means that in years to come Futsal events will be similar in scale to those of football. The name futsal has been used since 1985, before then it was known as fútbol de salón, which means indoor football.
As the translation suggests, futsal is usually played indoors. This is in contrast with football, which is strictly an outdoor sport. A futsal match consists of two teams which comprise of 5 players each, which includes the Goalkeeper. The number of substitutions are unlimited and unlike traditional football, the substitutes are rolling i.e. a person can come back onto the pitch after being subbed off. The maximum number of substitutes allowed on the bench are seven.
Typically, teams play with two defenders and then one person in the middle and one up front and obviously the goalkeeper at the back. The pitch in a futsal game is a hard-court surface, with lines marking the penalty area, the boundaries, half way line and such. Other variations in rules includes a kick-in rather than a throw-in, when the ball crosses the boundaries on the side. If the ball crosses one of the lines behind the goals, the result is the same as in football i.e. corner.
A standard futsal match consists of two periods, of halves, of 20 minutes each. This time limit is extend-able if penalty-kicks or free-kick's need to be taken. The break, or interval, between the two periods has to be less than or equal to 15 minutes. The shorter length of the game, in addition to the unlimited substitutions, means that futsal is played at a very high tempo throughout the alloted time in both halves. Fatigue and injuries do not play a role and so players are able to utilize their full potential without worrying about preserving stamina.
Although a number of Futsal tournaments are organized throughout the calendar year, the most important and perhaps more importantly, most watched, event is the FIFA Futsal World Cup which is held every four years, in the even year between the FIFA Football World Cups. The last Futsal World Cup was held in 2008 in Brazil.
In the tournament, the Brazilians displayed the talent they are so well known for in traditional football, by lifting the cup for the 4th time. Brazil are also the only team to have won a Futsal World Cup on home soil. Officially ranked the number one team in Futsal, it was not a complete surprise as they had gone into the tournaments as firm favourties.
The final was decided on penalties against a very strong Spanish side, who incidentally are ranked number 2 and have lifted the trophy twice in their history. The degree of similarity in the rankings of football and futsal is astonishing and it will be interesting to see whether the winner's of this year's World Cup will also be Brazil.
The next Futsal World Cup will be held in 2012 in Thailand. FIFA has decided to award the World Cup to an Asian team because of the huge amount of interest the sport has generated in the region. Purists might think that Futsal will not last, but fans of Futsal will care to disagree. With growing attendances all over the globe, it is clear that Futsal is here to stay.
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