The Football Association

Governing body of association football in England

This article is about the Football Association of England. For football associations in general, see football association. For more detail on the sport, see association football.

"The FA" redirects here. For other uses, see FA (disambiguation).

The Football AssociationUEFA

Short name| The FA
Founded| 26 October 1863; 161 years ago (1863-10-26)
Headquarters| Wembley Stadium
Location| Wembley, London
FIFA affiliation|

* 1905–1920
* 1924–1928
* 1946–present

UEFA affiliation| 1954
IFAB affiliation| 1886
Patron| William, Prince of Wales
Website| thefa.com

The Football Association (the FA) is the governing body of association football in England and the Crown Dependencies of Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man. Formed in 1863, it is the oldest football association in the world and is responsible for overseeing all aspects of the amateur and professional game in its territory.

The FA facilitates all competitive football matches within its remit at national level, and indirectly at local level through the county football associations. It runs numerous competitions, the most famous of which is the FA Cup. It is also responsible for appointing the management of the men's, women's, and youth national football teams.

The FA is a member of both UEFA and FIFA and holds a permanent seat on the International Football Association Board (IFAB) which is responsible for the Laws of the Game. As the first football association, it does not use the national name "English" in its title. The FA is based at Wembley Stadium, London. The FA is a member of the British Olympic Association, meaning that the FA has control over the men's and women's Great Britain Olympic football team.[1]

All of England's professional football teams are members of the Football Association. Although it does not run the day-to-day operations of the Premier League, it has veto power over the appointment of the league chairman and chief executive and over any changes to league rules.[2] The English Football League, made up of the three fully professional divisions below the Premier League, is self-governing, subject to the FA's sanctions.

## History

[edit]

Wikisource has original text related to this article:

Laws of the Game

Plaque commemorating the formation of the Football Association in 1863 at the Freemasons' Tavern, London

It was in England where the first official Association with clear rules was formed.[3] For centuries before the first meeting of the Football Association in the Freemasons' Tavern on Great Queen Street, London on 26 October 1863, there were no universally accepted rules for playing football.[4][5] In 1862, Ebenezer Cobb Morley, as captain of Barnes, wrote to Bell's Life newspaper proposing a governing body for the sport "with the object of establishing a definite code of rules for the regulation of the game"; the letter led to the first meeting at The Freemasons' Tavern that created the FA in 1863. Morley was a founding member.[5] Six meetings near London's Covent Garden, at 81–82 Long Acre,[6] ended in a split between the Association football and Rugby football.[7] Both of them had their own uniforms, rituals, gestures and highly formalised rules.[8]

In each public school the game was formalised according to local conditions; but when the schoolboys reached university, chaos ensued when the players used different rules, so members of the University of Cambridge devised and published a set of Cambridge Rules in 1848 which was widely adopted.[4] Another set of rules, the Sheffield Rules, was used by a number of clubs in the North of England from the 1850s.[9]

Eleven London football clubs and schools' representatives met on 26 October 1863 to agree on common rules.[4][5] The founding clubs present at the first meeting were:

* Barnes,
* Civil Service,
* Crusaders,
* Forest of Leytonstone (later to become Wanderers F.C.),
* N.N. (No Names) Club (Kilburn),
* the original Crystal Palace,
* the original Blackheath,
* Kensington School,
* Perceval House (Blackheath),
* Surbiton F.C.,[a]
* Blackheath Proprietary School.

Charterhouse sent their captain, B.F. Hartshorne, but declined the offer to join.[12] Many of these clubs are now defunct or still play rugby. Civil Service FC, who now plays in the Southern Amateur League, is the only one of the original eleven football clubs still in existence, with an unbroken history, and playing association football,[5] although Forest School has been a member since the fifth meeting in December 1863. Both Barnes and Wanderers have been re-established as football clubs in the modern era.

Ebenezer Cobb Morley was the FA's first secretary (1863–66) and its second president (1867–74) and drafted the Laws of the Game generally called the "London Rules" at his home in Barnes, London.[5] He played in the first-ever match in 1863.

Photo of an early handwritten draft of the 'Laws of the game' for association Football drafted for and behalf of the Football Association by Ebenezer Cobb Morley in 1863 on display at the National Football Museum, Manchester

The first version of the rules for the modern game was drawn up over a series of six meetings held in The Freemasons' Tavern from October till December.[5] Of the clubs at the first meeting, Crusaders, Surbiton and Charterhouse did not attend the subsequent meetings, replaced instead by the Royal Navy School, Wimbledon School and Forest School.[13]

### Split from rugby

[edit]

At the final meeting,[when?] F. M. Campbell, the first FA treasurer and the Blackheath representative, withdrew his club from the FA over the removal of two draft rules at the previous meeting, the first which allowed for the running with the ball in hand and the second, obstructing such a run by hacking (kicking an opponent in the shins), tripping and holding. Other English rugby clubs followed this lead and did not join the FA but instead in 1871 formed the Rugby Football Union.[4] The term "soccer" dates back to this split to refer to football played under the "association" rules. After six clubs had withdrawn as they supported the opposing Rugby Rules, the Football Association had just nine members in January 1864: Barnes, Kilburn, Crystal Palace, War Office (Civil Service), Forest Club, Forest School, Sheffield, Uppingham and Royal Engineers (Chatham).[14]

An inaugural game using the new FA rules was initially scheduled for Battersea Park on 2 January 1864, but enthusiastic members of the FA could not wait for the new year: the first game under F. A. rules was played at Mortlake on 19 December 1863 between Morley's Barnes team and their neighbours Richmond (who were not members of the FA), ending in a goalless draw. The Richmond side were obviously unimpressed by the new rules in practice because they subsequently helped form the Rugby Football Union in 1871. The Battersea Park game was the first exhibition game using FA rules, and was played there on Saturday 9 January 1864.[15] The members of the opposing teams for this game were chosen by the President of the FA (A. Pember) and the Secretary (E. C. Morley) and included many well-known footballers of the day.[16] After the first match according to the new FA rules a toast was given "Success to football, irrespective of class or creed".[17]

Another notable match was London v Sheffield, in which a representative team from the FA played Sheffield FC under Association rules in March 1866; Charles Alcock described this game as "first [match] of any importance under the auspices of the Football Association".[18] Alcock (of Harrow School) of the Wanderers was elected to the committee of the FA in 1866, becoming its first full-time secretary and treasurer in 1870. He masterminded the creation of the Football Association Cup[19]—the longest-running association football competition in the world—in 1871. Fifteen participating clubs subscribed to purchase a trophy. The first Cup Final was held at The Oval on 16 March 1872, fought between the Wanderers and the Royal Engineers (RE), watched by 2,000 spectators.[5] In 1874 Francis Marindin became the third president of the Football Association.

As football grew in popularity, it also began to take root in youth communities. In 1875, a Hanover Institute team (founded by Quintin Hogg, supported by fellow Old Etonian Arthur Kinnaird) was involved in an early attempt to incorporate football into the regular activities of a youth club, organising a match with boys from St Andrew's Home in Soho.[20]

### Single set of laws

[edit]

Coat of arms of the Football Association

After many years of wrangling between the London-based Football Association and the Sheffield Football Association, the FA Cup brought the acceptance that one undisputed set of laws was required. The two associations had played 16 inter-association matches under differing rules; the Sheffield Rules, the London Rules and Mixed Rules. In April 1877, those laws were set with a number of Sheffield Rules being incorporated. In 1890, Kinnaird replaced Major Francis Marindin, becoming the fourth president of the Football Association. Kinnaird had at that time been a FA committeeman since the age of 21, in 1868. Kinnaird remained president for the next 33 years, until his death in 1923.

The FA Cup was initially contested by mostly southern, amateur teams, but more professionally organised northern clubs began to dominate the competition during the early 1880s; "The turning point, north replacing south, working class defeating upper and professionals impinging upon the amateurs' territory, came in 1883."[21] Hitherto, public school sides had played a dribbling game punctuated by violent tackles, but a new passing style developed in Scotland was successfully adopted by some Lancashire teams, along with a more organised approach to training. Blackburn Olympic reached the final in March 1883 and defeated Old Etonians.[22] Near-neighbours Blackburn Rovers started to pay players, and the following season won the first of three consecutive FA Cups.[22][21] The FA initially tried to outlaw professionalism but, in the face of a threatened breakaway body (the British Football Association), by 1885 was forced to permit payments to players.[23] Three years later, in 1888, the first Football League was established, formed by six professional clubs from northwest England and six from the midlands.[21]

In 1992, the Football Association took control of the newly created Premier League which consisted of 22 clubs who had broken away from the First Division of the Football League. The Premier League reduced to 20 clubs in 1995 and is one of the richest football leagues in the world.[24]

The Football Association has updated their logo several times. They celebrated their 150th year with a special 2013–2014 season logo. The shield design (taken from the coat of arms of the Football Association) is the same, but the three lions, rosettes and border are in gold instead of black and red, with the usual white background. The title strip above reads "The FA" in white on gold, and there is a scroll below reading "150 years" in white on gold, between "1863" and "2013".[25][26]

### Women's football

[edit]

By 1921 women's football had become increasingly popular through the charitable games played by women's teams during and after the First World War. In a move that was widely seen as caused by jealousy of the crowds' interest in women's games which frequently exceeded that of the top men's teams, in 1921 the Football Association banned all women's teams from playing on grounds affiliated to the FA because they thought football damaged women's bodies.[27][28] For several decades, this meant that women's football virtually ceased to exist.

The decision to exclude women was only reversed from 1969 when, after the increased interest in football caused by England's 1966 World Cup triumph, the Women's Football Association was founded,[29] although it would take a further two years – and an order from UEFA – to force the (men's) Football Association to remove its restrictions on the playing rights of women's teams.[30] It was not until 1983 that the WFA was able to affiliate to the FA as a "County Association" and only in 1993 did the FA found the "Women's Football Committee" to run women's football in England.[31] The "Women's Football Conference", as it is now known, has representation on the FA Council equivalent to a County Football Association.[32]

## Honours

[edit]

### National football team

[edit]

### Men

[edit]

* FIFA World Cup

* Winners (1): 1966
* Fourth place (2): 1990, 2018

* UEFA European Championship

* Runners-up (2): 2020, 2024
* Third place (2): 1968, 1996

* UEFA Nations League

* Third place (1): 2019

* Olympic Games

* Gold medal (3): 1900, 1908, 1912

### Women

[edit]

* FIFA Women's World Cup

* Runners-up (1): 2023
* Third place (1): 2015
* Fourth place (1): 2019

* UEFA European Women's Championship

* Winners (1): 2022
* Runners-up (2): 1984, 2009

* Women's Finalissima

* Winners (1): 2023

|

### National youth teams

[edit]

#### Men

[edit]

* FIFA U-20 World Cup

* Winners (1): 2017
* Third place (1): 1993
* Fourth place (1): 1981

* FIFA U-17 World Cup

* Winners (1): 2017

* UEFA U-21 Championship

* Winners (3): 1982, 1984, 2023
* Runners-up (1): 2009
* Semi-finals/Third place (3): 1978, 1980, 1986, 1988, 2007, 2017

* UEFA U-19/18 Championship (U-19 since 2002)

* Winners (11): 1948, 1963, 1964, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1980, 1993, 2017, 2022
* Runners-up (5): 1958, 1965, 1967, 2005, 2009
* Semi-finals/Third place (6): 1979, 1983, 1996, 2010, 2012, 2016
* Fourth place (3): 1952, 1990, 1992

* UEFA U-17/16 Championship (U-17 since 2002)

* Winners (2): 2010, 2014
* Runners-up (2): 2007, 2017
* Semi-finals/Third place (3): 1984, 2002, 2011, 2018
* Fourth place (1): 2001, 2003, 2004

#### Women

[edit]

* FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup

* Third place (1): 2018

* FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup

* Fourth place (1): 2008

* UEFA Women's U-19 Championship

* Winners (1): 2009
* Runners-up (3): 2007, 2010, 2013
* Semi-finals/Third place (1): 2002, 2003

* UEFA Women's U-17 Championship

* Semi-finals/Third place (2): 2016, 2023
* Fourth place (3): 2008, 2014, 2018

|

### FA 2017 reform

[edit]

In December 2016, five former FA executives – David Bernstein, David Davies, Greg Dyke, Alex Horne and David Triesman – called on Parliament's Culture, Media and Sport Committee to propose legislation to reform the FA, saying it was outdated, held back by "elderly white men", and unable to counter the power of the Premier League or "to reform and modernise in a fast-changing world".[33]

In April 2017, it was announced that some reforms, including reducing the size of the FA's board and increasing the number of women, would be submitted for approval to the FA's annual general meeting on 18 May. However, the proposed changes were criticised by some for not going far enough, particularly to improve minority representation.[34] The proposals were approved at the AGM and include:[35]

* Establishing three positions on the FA board for female members by 2018
* Reducing the size of the board to 10 members
* Adding 11 new members to the FA Council to "better reflects the inclusive and diverse nature of English football"
* Limiting board membership to three terms of three years
* Introducing term limits for FA Council members

However, pressure for FA reform continued fuelled by allegations of racism and bullying in relation to the Mark Sampson and Eniola Aluko cases, and the historical sexual abuse scandal.[36] In October 2017, FA chairman Greg Clarke announced a "fundamental" review of the FA after admitting it had "lost the trust of the public" following the Sampson controversy.[37] In the same month, Clarke was criticised by sexual abuse victim Andy Woodward and the Professional Footballers' Association's chief executive Gordon Taylor for remarks Clarke made to a Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee (DCMS) hearing.[38][39][40]

In November 2020, Clarke resigned as FA chairman over his use of the term "coloured" when referring to black players in comments to the DCMS committee via video link.[41] The FA subsequently announced they would seek a new chairman, with hopes there would be an announcement as to the successor by March 2021.[42]

### UK football sexual abuse scandal (2016–2021)

[edit]

Main article: United Kingdom football sexual abuse scandal

In mid-November 2016, allegations of widespread historical sexual abuse at football clubs dating back to the 1970s began to emerge. On 21 November, the Football Association said it would set up a helpline;[43] this was established with the NSPCC and opened on 24 November,[44] reportedly receiving over 50 calls within the first two hours,[45] over 100 by 27 November,[46] and 860 ("more than three times as many referrals as in the first three days of the Jimmy Savile scandal") by 1 December[47] with 350 individuals alleging abuse.[48] The FA and NSPCC also collaborated to produce a film about how to keep children safe in the sport, featuring the captains of England's men's, women's and cerebral palsy football teams (Wayne Rooney, Steph Houghton and Jack Rutter).[49]

On 27 November, the FA announced it was to set up an internal review, led by independent counsel Kate Gallafent, into what Crewe and Manchester City knew about convicted child sex offender Barry Bennell and allegations of child sexual abuse in football, and investigate what information it was aware of at the time of the alleged offences.[50]

The FA was criticised by Conservative MP Damian Collins, chairman of the House of Commons' Culture, Media and Sport Committee, for being too slow in reacting and not instigating a wider review.[51] Former sport minister Gerry Sutcliffe talked of previous concern about how the FA dealt with governance of the sport and with youth development (in the 1990s, the FA was said to have reacted "dismissively" to worries about sexual abuse in the game, and too slow to implement criminal record checks;[52] in 2003, the FA had scrapped a project meant to ensure children were being protected from sexual abuse;[53] and FA officials had been uncooperative with the review project, with ten of 14 FA staff not replying to interview requests and a report by the researchers of others being "prevented/bullied" from talking).[54] Sutcliffe said an independent body, such as the Department for Culture, Media and Sport should look at the issue rather than the FA investigating itself: "What I've seen in football over the years is that they're very narrow, very insular, and may not do a proper job even though with the right intentions."[55]

On 6 December 2016, the FA announced that, due to "the increased scope of the review since it was announced"[56] and Gallafent's other professional commitments, the review would be conducted by Clive Sheldon QC.[57] On 11 January 2017, the Sheldon review had made its first call for evidence, writing to all football clubs in England and Wales, amateur and professional, asking for information by 15 March about allegations of child sexual abuse between 1970 and 2005.[58] In March 2018, it was reported that the scale of evidence provided, plus the "chaotic nature of the archiving", had delayed the inquiry team's sift through the FA's legal files; around 500,000 pages of material from 6,000 files were uploaded to a digital platform, and 353 documents were identified as highly relevant. Sheldon expected to start writing his final report in August 2018.[59]

In July 2018, it was reported that the FA's independent inquiry had found no evidence of an institutional cover-up or of a paedophile ring operating within football. Sheldon's report, likely to be highly critical of several clubs, was initially expected to be delivered to the FA in September 2018,[60] but its publication was delayed, potentially by up to a year, pending the retrial of Bob Higgins and possible further charges against Barry Bennell.[61]

The 700-page report was eventually published on 17 March 2021. It identified failures to act adequately on complaints or rumours of sexual abuse at eight professional clubs: Aston Villa, Chelsea, Crewe Alexandra, Manchester City, Newcastle United, Peterborough, Southampton and Stoke City.[62] The report also made 13 recommendations for further improvements, including clubs employing qualified safeguarding officers, an FA board member to be the designated "children's safeguarding champion", spot checks of amateur clubs, a "national day of safeguarding in football" and an annual safeguarding report. However, the measures were criticised for being too late and lacking ambition. The FA issued a "heartfelt apology" to survivors and said it would be implementing all of Sheldon's recommendations.[62]

## Crown Dependencies

[edit]

The football associations within the Crown Dependencies of Jersey (Jersey Football Association), Guernsey (Guernsey Football Association) and the Isle of Man (Isle of Man Football Association) are affiliated to the FA despite having a separate identity from that of the United Kingdom and by extension England.[63] They are considered county football associations by the FA. Matt Le Tissier and Graeme Le Saux have represented the FA's full national representative team and were born in Guernsey and Jersey respectively.[64]

The Guernsey Football Association, Isle of Man Football Association and Jersey Football Association have been affiliated with the FA since 1903, 1908 and 1905 respectively.[65][66][67]

A loophole was closed in May 2008 by FIFA which allowed players born in the Channel Islands to choose which home nation within the United Kingdom they will represent at international level. During the 1990s, Trevor Wood (Jersey) and Chris Tardif (Guernsey) represented Northern Ireland.

## Overseas Territories

[edit]

The British overseas territory of Gibraltar's Gibraltar Football Association was affiliated to the FA from 1911 until it opted to become a fully recognised member of UEFA, a feat achieved after a 14-year legal battle.[when?] Joseph Nunez, the Gibraltar FA President claimed they were "unilaterally thrown out" of the FA following an intervention from Geoff Thompson.[65]

On the other hand, the Hong Kong Football Association (HKFA), established in 1914, is one of the oldest football associations in Asia. They joined FIFA in 1954, and were also one of twelve founding members of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC). HK played an important role in the early development of Asian football and hosted the first Asian Cup competition in 1956. The dependent territory was relinquished by the UK in 1997 and handed over to the People's Republic of China.

Some of the other British overseas territories have local football associations or leagues (including the Anguilla Football Association, the Ascension Island Football League, the Bermuda Football Association, the British Virgin Islands Football Association, the Cayman Islands Football Association, the Falkland Islands Football League, the Montserrat Football Association, the Turks and Caicos Islands Football Association) and saint Helena, but these are not considered subsidiary to the Football Association.

Although the British overseas territories are too small to support professional teams,[citation needed] they have produced players such as Clyde Best who have gone on to play professionally in the Football Association, and referees such as Carlyle Crockwell, who have refereed FIFA matches.

## Relationship with FIFA

[edit]

The Football Association first joined FIFA in 1905. The British Associations (England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales) opted to leave FIFA after World War I when FIFA chose not to exclude those who were part of the Central Powers from the organisation. The British Associations' stance had changed by 1922 and in 1924 they had rejoined FIFA.[b]

The British Olympic Association had fought against 'broken time' – monetary compensation for athletes' earnings when competing in the Olympic games. At the 1925 Olympic Congress in Prague, the British had made an amendment that concluded governing federations should define amateur status for their sports but only in accordance with the definition of amateurism accepted by the Olympic Congress. In 1928, Switzerland proposed to FIFA that in certain circumstances, 'broken time' payments should be allowed and FIFA accepted. The FA resigned from FIFA in protest against the proposal. As a result of the FA's resignation, England did not participate in the 1930, 1934 or 1938 FIFA World Cup.

At the 1930 Olympic Congress in Berlin, Belgian delegates proposed that for each sport the definition of amateur status be left to its international federation. The BOA argued for a common definition of amateurism and argued that 'broken time' payments were against the Olympic ideal.

The FA rejoined FIFA in 1946 and participated in their first World Cup in 1950. One of the first actions of the Football Association was to request the expulsion of the German and Japanese national football associations for their countries' role in World War II. Germany and Japan were prevented from qualifying for the 1950 FIFA World Cup as a consequence. They were re-acquainted with FIFA in 1950 following a second request from Switzerland who had had a previous request rejected in 1948.

## Competitions

[edit]

The FA Cup trophy used from 1992 to 2013

The FA runs several competitions:

### Current

[edit]

* FA Cup
* FA Trophy
* FA Vase
* Women's FA Cup
* FA Women's League Cup
* FA Women's National League Cup
* FA Women's National League Plate
* FA Youth Cup
* FA Sunday Cup
* FA County Youth Cup
* FA Community Shield
* Women's FA Community Shield
* FA Inter-League Cup
* FA Futsal Cup
* FA People's Cup[68]

### Defunct

[edit]

* FA Umbro Fives

## Finance and governance

[edit]

### Finances

[edit]

The FA's main commercial asset is its ownership of the rights to England internationals and the FA Cup. Broadcasting income remains the FA's largest revenue stream with both domestic and international broadcasting rights for England fixtures and the FA Cup tied up until at least 2021.

For the four seasons from 2008 to 2012, the FA secured £425 million from ITV and Setanta for England and FA Cup games domestic television rights, a 42% increase over the previous contract, and £145 million for overseas television rights, up 272% on the £39 million received for the previous four-year period.[69] However, during 2008–09 Setanta UK went into administration, which weakened the FA's cashflow position.

Turnover for the year ending 31 July 2016 was £370 million on which it made a profit after tax of £7 million. It has also made an investment of £125 million back into every level of Football in 2016. In July 2015 the FA announced plans to carry out a significant organisational restructure, in order to deliver considerable cost savings to invest in elite England teams, facilities and grassroots coaching.[70]

The FA's income does not include the turnover of English football clubs, which are independent businesses. As well as running its own operations the FA chooses five charities each year to which it gives financial support.[71][72]

In three years up to 2014, the FA received £350,000 in fines from players over comments made on Twitter. The highest fine imposed was a £90,000 fine to Ashley Cole in 2012 after calling the FA "a bunch of twats." The FA became stricter on comments made by players on Twitter, disciplining 121 players in three years.[73]

### Principals

[edit]

The Prince of Wales is the current Patron of the FA

The FA has a figurehead President, who since 1939 has always been a member of the British royal family. The Chairman of the FA has overall responsibility for policy. Traditionally this person rose through the ranks of the FA's committee structure (e.g. by holding posts such as the chairmanship of a county football association). In 2008 politician David Triesman was appointed as the FA's first "independent chairman", the first from outside the football hierarchy. The day-to-day head of the FA was known as the Secretary until 1989, when the job title was changed to Chief Executive.[74][75][76]

Historic presidents

Arthur Pember

Ebenezer Morley

Francis Marindin

Charles Clegg

William Pickford

Alexander Cambridge

Office-holders  Office | Name | Tenure

|
|

President  | Arthur Pember | 1863–1867
E. C. Morley | 1867–1874
Francis Marindin | 1874–1890
Lord Kinnaird | 1890–1923
Sir Charles Clegg[c] | 1923–1937
William Pickford | 1937–1939
The Earl of Athlone | 1939–1955
The Duke of Edinburgh | 1955–1957
The Duke of Gloucester | 1957–1963
The Earl of Harewood | 1963–1971
The Duke of Kent | 1971–2000
The Duke of York | 2000–2006
The Prince of Wales[d] | 2006–2024
Vice President  | Charles Crump | 1886–1923
Chairman/person  | Charles Clegg  | 1890–1937
A. G. Hines | 1938
M. Frowde | 1939–1941
Sir Amos Brook Hirst[e] | 1941–1955
Arthur Drewry | 1955–1961
Graham Doggart | 1961–1963
Joe Mears | 1963–1966
Sir Andrew Stephen[f] | 1967–1976
Sir Harold Thompson | 1976–1981
Bert Millichip | 1981–1996
Keith Wiseman | 1996–1999
Geoff Thompson | 1999–2008
The Lord Triesman | 2008–2010
David Bernstein | 2011–2013
Greg Dyke | 2013–2016
David Gill | 2016 (interim)
Greg Clarke | 2016–2020
Peter McCormick | 2020–2022 (interim)
Debbie Hewitt | 2022–present
Secretary  | E. C. Morley | 1863–1866
R. W. Willis | 1866–1867
R. G. Graham | 1867–1870
C. W. Alcock | 1870–1895
Sir Frederick Wall[g] | 1895–1934
Sir Stanley Rous[h] | 1934–1962
Denis Follows | 1962–1973
Ted Croker | 1973–1989
Chief executive  | Graham Kelly | 1989–1998
Executive Director  | David Davies | 1998–2000
Chief executive  | Adam Crozier | 2000–2002
David Davies | 2002–2003 (acting)
Mark Palios | 2003–2004
David Davies  | 2004–2005 (acting)
Brian Barwick | 2005–2008
Ian Watmore | 2009–2010
Alex Horne  | 2010 (acting)
Martin Glenn  | 2015–2019
Mark Bullingham  | 2019–present
General Secretary  | Alex Horne  | 2010–present

### Board of directors

[edit]

Taken from The FA's website on 9 January 2022[78]

* Chairwoman: Debbie Hewitt
* Chief executive: Mark Bullingham

National game representatives:

* Sue Hough
* Jack Pearce
* Thura Win

Professional game representatives:

* Peter McCormick
* Rick Parry
* Rupinder Bains

Independent non-executive directors:

* Kate Tinsley
* Tim Score

Board observers:

* Paul Elliott
* David Gill

## Notes and references

[edit]

### Notes

[edit]

1. ^ Theodore Bell, formerly captain of football at Uppingham School,[10] represented Surbiton at the 'Meeting of the Captains' when the FA was formed;[11] he may also have represented Dingley Dell.[11]
2. ^ Ireland had since been partitioned. Northern Ireland remained part of the United Kingdom, the Irish Free State was independent of Britain. The latter is now the Republic of Ireland.
3. ^ Known as Charles Clegg until he was knighted in 1927
4. ^ Known as Prince William of Wales until 2011 and as the Duke of Cambridge between 2011 and 2022. He became the FA's Patron in 2024.[77]
5. ^ Known as Amos Brook Hirst until he was knighted in 1954
6. ^ Known as Andrew Stephen until he was knighted in 1972
7. ^ Known as Frederick Wall until he was knighted in 1930
8. ^ Known as Stanley Rous until he was knighted in 1949

### References

[edit]

1. ^ "Team GB decision reached". TheFA.com. The Football Association. 26 June 2011. Archived from the original on 28 February 2014. Retrieved 3 March 2015.
2. ^ "The Premier League and Other Football Bodies". Premier League. Archived from the original on 18 March 2006. Retrieved 17 May 2007.
3. ^ Cameron, J. (n.d.). Association Football, and How To Play It. Https://Www.Gutenberg.Org/Files/35683/35683-h/35683-h.Htm. Retrieved April 17, 2025, from https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/35683/pg35683-images.html
4. ^ a b c d "History of Football - The Global Growth". FIFA.com. 1994. Archived from the original on 3 August 2015. Retrieved 10 December 2015.
5. ^ a b c d e f g "The History of the FA". The Football Association. Archived from the original on 25 January 2013. Retrieved 10 December 2015.
6. ^ "The spiritual home of the Football Association". The Freemasons Arms, Covent Garden. Archived from the original on 5 March 2011. Retrieved 13 September 2018. "It was here that the Football Association met in 1863 to thrash out the laws of a game now played in more than 200 countries across the globe."
7. ^ "Soccer's Masonic Birthplace". 15 June 2010. Archived from the original on 25 February 2018. Retrieved 13 September 2018.
8. ^ J. Deschamps (20 February 2015). "Freemasons Created the Game of Football". Archived from the original on 15 September 2018. Retrieved 13 September 2018., quoting the books "Freemasons For Dummies," and "Solomon's Builders: Freemasons", authored by Master Christopher L. Hodapp
9. ^ Macfarlane, Andy (12 January 2022). "Rules Of Football: How Sheffield Rules Impacted The Game". History Of Soccer. Retrieved 25 April 2025.
10. ^ Colls, Robert (2020). This Sporting Life: Sport and Liberty in England, 1760-1960. Oxford University Press. p. 173\. ISBN 9780192575029.
11. ^ a b Curry, Graham (2020). The Making of Association Football: Two Decades Which Created the Modern Game. Cambridge Scholars Publishing. ISBN 9781527562455.
12. ^ Harvey, Adrian (2005). Football, the First Hundred Years: The Untold Story of the People's Game. Routledge. p. 135\. ISBN 978-0-415-35018-1. Archived from the original on 5 August 2023. Retrieved 29 October 2020.
13. ^ "Scottish Sports History" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 31 July 2016.
14. ^ Bell's Life in London and Sporting Chronicle, 23 January 1864
15. ^ "Football - first FA match". London Remembers. Archived from the original on 18 March 2020. Retrieved 18 March 2020.
16. ^ Sporting Life, 6 January 1864
17. ^ Bell's Life in London and Sporting Chronicle, 16 January 1864; pg. 3, New Readerships
18. ^ Alcock, C.W. (1906). Football: The Association Game. London: George Bell & Sons. p. 14.
19. ^ Friends of West Norwood Cemetery. "FOWNC Newsletters - Friends of West Norwood Cemetery". Archived from the original on 9 September 2013. Retrieved 18 February 2011.
20. ^ Kerrigan, Colm (2005). Teachers And Football: Schoolboy Association Football In England, 1885-1915. Abingdon: Woburn Education. pp. 28–29\. ISBN 0713002433. Retrieved 1 May 2025.
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22. ^ a b "Blackburn Olympic 1883". When Saturday Comes. October 2006. Archived from the original on 8 August 2020. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
23. ^ Lewis, R.W. "'Touched Pitch and Been Shockingly Defiled': Football, Class, Social Darwinism and Decadence in England, 1880-1914", in Mangan, J.A. (1999) Sport in Europe: Politics, Class, Gender (Frank Cass, London), pp.117-143.
24. ^ "Premier League wages keep on rising, Deloitte says". BBC News. 9 June 2011. Archived from the original on 30 July 2016. Retrieved 21 June 2018.
25. ^ "A link to the past". The FA - News. 23 October 2012. Archived from the original on 24 March 2013.
26. ^ Loeser, Pete (5 March 2019). "Football Association (England) - Variant Football Association Logos". Flags of the World. Archived from the original on 6 August 2021. Retrieved 6 August 2021.
27. ^ Brennan, Patrick. "Women's Football". Archived from the original on 22 January 2018. Retrieved 11 September 2014.
28. ^ "The rebirth of women's football: more than a century on, it's a game worth watching". New Statesman. 17 October 2014. Archived from the original on 17 October 2014. Retrieved 18 October 2014.
29. ^ "History of Women's Football". Women's Sport and Fitness Foundation. Archived from the original on 18 October 2014. Retrieved 18 October 2014.
30. ^ "Women's Football" (PDF). London: Department for Culture, Media and Sport. 18 July 2006. Archived (PDF) from the original on 17 October 2006. Retrieved 10 August 2011.
31. ^ "Women and Football". Spartacus Educational. Archived from the original on 21 December 2016. Retrieved 18 October 2014.
32. ^ "The FA Handbook 2022/2023". thefa.com. 7 May 2023. Archived from the original on 7 May 2023. Retrieved 8 May 2023.
33. ^ "FA reform: Former chiefs say 'elderly white men' block change". BBC News. BBC. 12 December 2016. Retrieved 12 December 2016.
34. ^ "FA council votes unanimously to accept reforms". BBC Sport. BBC. 3 April 2017. Archived from the original on 5 April 2017. Retrieved 5 April 2017.
35. ^ "Diving bans: Football Association approves retrospective action". BBC. 18 May 2017. Archived from the original on 18 August 2021. Retrieved 13 February 2018.
36. ^ Taylor, Daniel (16 October 2017). "Revealed: the 14-word email that puts FA's Greg Clarke under fresh scrutiny". The Guardian. Retrieved 30 October 2017.
37. ^ Rumsby, Ben (26 October 2017). "Greg Clarke admits out-of-touch FA has 'lost the trust of the public'". The Telegraph. Archived from the original on 11 January 2022. Retrieved 30 October 2017.
38. ^ Rumbsy, Ben (25 October 2017). "Greg Clarke under fire again as abuse survivor Andy Woodward accuses FA chairman of 'humiliating' him". Telegraph. Archived from the original on 11 January 2022. Retrieved 30 October 2017.
39. ^ "Woodward 'devastated & deeply upset'". BBC Sport. BBC. 26 October 2017. Archived from the original on 17 November 2017. Retrieved 30 October 2017.
40. ^ Kelner, Martha (26 October 2017). "PFA's Gordon Taylor considering legal action against FA chairman Greg Clarke". Guardian. Archived from the original on 29 October 2017. Retrieved 30 October 2017.
41. ^ "Greg Clarke resigns as Football Association chairman after remark about black players". BBC Sport. 10 November 2020. Archived from the original on 12 February 2021. Retrieved 11 November 2020.
42. ^ "Next FA chairman: Paul Elliott backed to replace Greg Clarke by Sue Smith". Sky Sports. Archived from the original on 16 January 2021. Retrieved 2 January 2021.
43. ^ Taylor, Daniel (21 November 2016). "Six come forward after Andy Woodward's allegations of abuse at Crewe". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 22 November 2016. Retrieved 21 November 2016.
44. ^ Press Association (24 November 2016). "NSPCC launches hotline for sexually abused footballers". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 24 November 2016. Retrieved 25 November 2016.
45. ^ Cacciottolo, Mario (25 November 2016). "Football sex abuse claims: Two more ex-players speak out". BBC News. BBC. Archived from the original on 25 November 2016. Retrieved 25 November 2016.
46. ^ "Sex abuse: Football Association to investigate allegations". BBC. BBC. 27 November 2016. Archived from the original on 27 November 2016. Retrieved 27 November 2016.
47. ^ "Football abuse hotline receives 'staggering surge' in calls". BBC News. BBC. 1 December 2016. Archived from the original on 30 November 2016. Retrieved 1 December 2016.
48. ^ Dodd, Vikram (1 December 2016). "Police say 350 people have come forward to report child sex abuse in football". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 1 December 2016. Retrieved 1 December 2016.
49. ^ "Football sex abuse: England captains make child safety film". BBC News. BBC. 3 December 2016. Retrieved 3 December 2016.
50. ^ "FA sets up review into child sex abuse in football after Barry Bennell claims". The Guardian. 27 November 2016. Archived from the original on 27 November 2016. Retrieved 27 November 2016.
51. ^ "Football Association child sex abuse review 'not enough'". BBC. 28 November 2016. Archived from the original on 28 November 2016. Retrieved 28 November 2016.
52. ^ Reed, Jim; Ray, Louis Lee (8 December 2016). "Football abuse: FA reacted 'dismissively' to protection calls". BBC News. BBC. Archived from the original on 8 December 2016. Retrieved 8 December 2016.
53. ^ Reed, Jim (30 November 2016). "FA 'pulled all funding' from child protection project". BBC. Archived from the original on 2 December 2016. Retrieved 3 December 2016.
54. ^ Taylor, Daniel (1 April 2017). "Police receive reports that child abuse is still happening in football". The Observer. Archived from the original on 2 April 2017. Retrieved 2 April 2017.
55. ^ "Southampton 'abuser' still working in football". BBC News. BBC. 3 December 2016. Archived from the original on 30 November 2017. Retrieved 3 December 2016.
56. ^ "Terms of reference for review into alleged non-recent child sexual abuse in football". Football Association. FA. Archived from the original on 9 August 2020. Retrieved 6 December 2016.
57. ^ "Harry Redknapp criticises FA over coach claims". BBC News. BBC. 6 December 2016. Archived from the original on 6 December 2016. Retrieved 6 December 2016.
58. ^ "Review into child abuse in football makes first call for evidence". The Guardian. 11 January 2017. Archived from the original on 11 January 2017. Retrieved 12 January 2017.
59. ^ Steinberg, Jacob (28 March 2018). "FA sexual abuse inquiry head ready to investigate any clubs who fail to cooperate". Guardian. Retrieved 18 July 2018.
60. ^ Taylor, Daniel (26 July 2018). "FA sexual abuse inquiry finds no evidence of institutional cover-up". Guardian. Retrieved 30 July 2018.
61. ^ Taylor, Daniel (26 September 2018). "Football sexual abuse scandal review may be delayed for more than a year". Guardian. Retrieved 26 September 2018.
62. ^ a b Conn, David (17 March 2021). "Football sexual abuse report: ignorance and naivety cleared way for scandal". Guardian. Archived from the original on 7 March 2023. Retrieved 17 March 2021.
63. ^ "FA Handbook 2013-14" (pdf). TheFA.com. The Football Association. p. 621\. Archived from the original on 19 February 2014. Retrieved 2 February 2014.
64. ^ "Islands lack competition — Pitman". BBC News. 25 March 2009. Retrieved 2 February 2014.
65. ^ a b Menary, Steve (2007). Outcasts! : the lands that FIFA forgot. Studley: Know the Score!. ISBN 978-1905449316.
66. ^ "Anti-discrimination policy". GuernseyFA.com. Archived from the original on 21 February 2014. Retrieved 3 February 2014.
67. ^ Junttila, Jukka. "Jersey" (PDF). junttila.net. p. 4\. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 21 February 2015.
68. ^ "The FA People's Cup launches". The FA. Archived from the original on 5 September 2024. Retrieved 10 February 2015.
69. ^ New Deals Sweet for FA Archived 22 February 2008 at the Wayback Machine, football365.com, 31 October 2007
70. ^ "The Football Association 2015/16 Financial Results". The FA. Archived from the original on 5 September 2024. Retrieved 18 March 2017.
71. ^ "TheFA.com". Archived from the original on 21 January 2008. Retrieved 2 September 2007.
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73. ^ "FA made £350,000 from Twitter fines in just three years". Archived from the original on 2 November 2014. Retrieved 31 October 2014.
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75. ^ "The FA Council". TheFA.com. The Football Association. Archived from the original on 21 March 2019. Retrieved 11 November 2020.
76. ^ "The FA Management team". TheFA.com. The Football Association. Retrieved 11 November 2020.
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## External links

[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to The Football Association.

* Official website
* FIFA profile (archived)
* UEFA profile

* v
* t
* e

The Football Association

Founder members|

* Barnes
* Blackheath
* Blackheath Proprietary School
* Civil Service
* Crusaders
* Crystal Palace
* Kensington School
* Leytonstone Forest
* No Names Club
* Perceval House
* Surbiton

Presidents|

* Arthur Pember
* Ebenezer Morley
* Francis Marindin
* Arthur Kinnaird
* Charles Clegg
* William Pickford
* The Earl of Athlone
* HRH The Duke of Edinburgh
* HRH The Duke of Gloucester
* The Earl of Harewood
* HRH The Duke of Kent
* HRH The Duke of York
* HRH The Prince of Wales

Chairmen|

* Charles Clegg
* A. G. Hines
* M. Frowde
* Amos Brook Hirst
* Arthur Drewry
* Graham Doggart
* Joe Mears
* Andrew Stephen
* Harold Warris Thompson
* Bert Millichip
* Keith Wiseman
* Geoff Thompson
* Lord Triesman
* David Bernstein
* Greg Dyke
* Greg Clarke
* Debbie Hewitt

Secretaries|

* Ebenezer Morley
* Robert Willis
* Robert Graham
* Charles W. Alcock
* Frederick Wall
* Stanley Rous
* Denis Follows
* Ted Croker

Chief Executives|

* Graham Kelly
* Adam Crozier
* Mark Palios
* David Davies
* Brian Barwick
* Ian Watmore
* Martin Glenn

Treasurers|

* Francis Campbell
* James Turner
* Robert Graham
* Alfred Stair
* Charles W. Alcock
* Arthur Kinnaird
* C. E. Hart
* Daniel Woolfall
* Arthur Kingscott
* Harry Huband
* L. C. Tyte
* Denis Follows
* Sidney Donaldson

Links to related articles

* v
* t
* e

Football in England

The Football Association

National teams|

* England
* B
* C
* U-21
* U-20
* U-19
* U-18
* U-17
* U-16

League competitions|

| Level 1|

* Premier League

|

Levels 2–4|

* English Football League
* EFL Championship
* EFL League One
* EFL League Two

Levels 5–6|

* National League
* National League (division)
* National League North
* National League South

Levels 7–8|

* Isthmian League
* Northern Premier League
* Southern League

Levels 9–10|

* Combined Counties League
* Eastern Counties League
* Essex Senior League (level 9 only)
* Hellenic League
* Midland League
* Northern Counties East League
* Northern League
* North West Counties League
* Southern Combination League
* Southern Counties East League
* South West Peninsula League (level 10 only)
* Spartan South Midlands League
* United Counties League
* Wessex League
* Western League

Cup competitions|

| FA cups|

* FA Cup
* FA Community Shield
* FA Trophy
* FA Vase
* FA Sunday Cup
* FA Inter-League Cup

|

League cups|

* EFL Cup
* EFL Trophy
* National League Cup
* Northern Premier League Cup
* Isthmian League Cup
* Southern League Cup

County cups|

* List of county cups

Others|

* National League System
* Reserve and youth football
* Defunct leagues
* Defunct cups

Lists|

* Appearances (500+)
* Clubs
* Honours won
* Current managers
* Clubs in international competitions
* Goals (200+)
* Record home attendances
* Stadiums by capacity

* Venues
* Competitions
* Trophies and awards
* History
* Records

* v
* t
* e

Women's football in England

* The Football Association
* WSL Football

National teams|

* Senior team
* U23 team
* U21 team
* U20 team
* U19 team
* U17 team

League
competitions|

| Levels 1–4|

* Women's Super League
* Women's Super League 2
* FA Women's National League
* North
* South

|

Levels 5–6|

* Eastern
* East Midlands
* London & South East
* North East
* North West
* Southern
* South West
* West Midlands

Levels 7–10|

* Bedfordshire & Hertfordshire
* Birmingham
* Cambridgeshire
* Cheshire
* Cornwall
* Cumbria
* Derbyshire
* Devon
* Dorset
* Durham
* East Riding
* Essex
* Gloucestershire
* Greater London
* Greater Manchester
* Hampshire
* Lancashire
* Leicestershire
* Lincolnshire
* Liverpool
* Midwest Counties
* Norfolk
* North Riding
* Northamptonshire
* Northumberland
* Nottinghamshire
* Sheffield & Hallamshire
* Somerset
* South East Counties
* Staffs
* Suffolk
* Surrey
* Sussex
* Thames Valley Counties
* West Riding
* Wiltshire

Cup competitions|

* Women's FA Cup
* Women's League Cup
* FA Women's National League Cup
* FA Women's National League Plate
* Women's FA Community Shield
* FA People's Cup

Awards|

* The FA Women's Football Awards
* PFA Team of the Year
* PFA Women's Players' Player of the Year
* PFA Women's Young Player of the Year
* FWA Women's Footballer of the Year
* BBC Women's Footballer of the Year

History|

* British Ladies' Football Club
* Dick, Kerr Ladies
* English Ladies Football Association
* Women's Football Association

* List of champions
* List of clubs
* Category

* v
* t
* e

Futsal in England

* The FA

League competitions|

* National Futsal League
* National Futsal Series

Cup competitions|

* FA Futsal Cup

National teams|

* England national futsal team
* England women's national futsal team

* v
* t
* e

England national football team

General|

* The Football Association
* History
* Managers
* Captains
* Kits

Venues|

* Wembley Stadium
* 1923 stadium
* 2007 stadium
* Home venues
* St George's Park (Burton)

Statistics|

* All-time record
* Records
* World Cup record
* European Championship record

Awards|

* The FA England Awards

Results|

* 1872–99
* 1900–29
* 1930–59
* 1960–79
* 1980–99
* 2000–19
* 2020–present
* Unofficial matches
* Matches v Home Nations

Players|

* World Cup & Euro Championship squads
* 10+ caps
* 4–9 caps
* 2–3 caps
* 1 cap
* Capped while at lower division club
* Born outside England
* Other categories

Goals|

* Harry Kane
* Wayne Rooney
* Bobby Charlton
* Hat-tricks

World Cups|

* 1950
* 1954
* 1958
* 1962
* 1966
* 1970
* 1982
* 1986
* 1990
* 1998
* 2002
* 2006
* 2010
* 2014
* 2018
* 2022

European
Championships|

* 1968
* 1980
* 1988
* 1992
* 1996
* 2000
* 2004
* 2012
* 2016
* 2020
* 2024

Other tournaments|

* British Home Championship (1884–1984)
* UEFA Nations League
* Minor tournaments

Rivalries|

* Argentina
* Germany
* Republic of Ireland
* Scotland

Culture|

* Noted matches
* Band
* Songs
* "Three Lions"
* Discography
* "Golden Generation"
* WAGs
* "They think it's all over"
* Sixty Six
* Graham Taylor: An Impossible Job
* One Night in Turin

Other FA teams|

* England B
* England C
* Amateur (defunct)
* U21
* U20
* U19
* U18
* U17
* U16
* Futsal
* Learning Disabilities
* Beach soccer (not FA affiliated)
* Great Britain Olympic

* v
* t
* e

England women's national football team

General|

* The Football Association
* Women's Football Association
* Managers
* Captains

Venues|

* Wembley Stadium
* St George's Park (Burton)

Statistics|

* All-time record
* World Cup record
* European Championship record

Awards|

* The FA Women's Football Awards

Results|

* 1980–89
* 1990–99
* 2000–09
* 2010–19
* 2020–present

Players|

* List

Goals|

* Ellen White
* Kelly Smith

World Cups|

* 1995
* 2007
* 2011
* 2015
* 2019
* 2023

European
Championships|

* 1984
* 1987
* 1995
* 2001
* 2005
* 2009
* 2013
* 2017
* 2022

Finals|

* Euro 1984
* Euro 2009
* Euro 2022
* 2023 World Cup

Other matches|

* 1972 Scotland v England women's football match
* England 20–0 Latvia
* 2023 Women's Finalissima

Culture|

* Songs
* "Three Lions"
* "Sweet Caroline"
* England–Germany rivalry
* Lost Lionesses
* Lioness line

Other FA teams|

* U23
* U21
* U20 (defunct)
* U19
* U17
* U15
* Beach soccer (not FA affiliated)
* Great Britain Olympic

* v
* t
* e

British Football Associations

Home Nations|

* England
* FA
* National team
* Northern Ireland
* IFA
* National team
* Scotland
* SFA
* National team
* Wales
* FAW
* National team

British Overseas Territories|

* Anguilla
* AFA
* National team
* Bermuda
* BFA
* National team
* British Virgin Islands
* BVIFA
* National team
* Cayman Islands
* CIFA
* National team
* Gibraltar
* GFA
* National team
* Montserrat
* MFA
* National team
* Turks and Caicos Islands
* TCIFA
* National team

Summer Olympics Representative Team|

* British Olympic Association
* Great Britain

Unaffiliated teams|

* Guernsey
* GFA
* team
* Isle of Man
* IOMFA
* team
* Jersey
* JFA
* team
* Alderney
* Sark
* Falkland Islands
* FIFL
* team

Non-FIFA teams|

* Ellan Vannin
* team
* Parishes of Jersey
* team
* Kernow (Cornwall)
* team
* Yorkshire
* team

* v
* t
* e

National football associations of Europe (UEFA)

Current|

* Albania
* Andorra
* Armenia
* Austria
* Azerbaijan
* Belarus
* Belgium
* Bosnia and Herzegovina
* Bulgaria
* Croatia
* Cyprus
* Czech Republic
* Denmark
* England
* Estonia
* Faroe Islands
* Finland
* France
* Georgia
* Germany
* Gibraltar
* Greece
* Hungary
* Iceland
* Israel
* Italy
* Kazakhstan
* Kosovo
* Latvia
* Liechtenstein
* Lithuania
* Luxembourg
* Malta
* Moldova
* Montenegro
* Netherlands
* North Macedonia
* Northern Ireland
* Norway
* Poland
* Portugal
* Republic of Ireland
* Romania
* Russia
* San Marino
* Scotland
* Serbia
* Slovakia
* Slovenia
* Spain
* Sweden
* Switzerland
* Turkey
* Ukraine
* Wales

Defunct|

* Czechoslovakia
* East Germany
* Saarland
* Serbia and Montenegro
* Soviet Union
* Yugoslavia

* v
* t
* e

Football in the United Kingdom

United Kingdom|

* National team
* Olympic men's team
* Olympic women's team
* Nations Cup
* British Home Championship
* Rous Cup
* British Amateur Championship
* British League Cup
* Dubai Champions Cup
* Empire Exhibition Trophy
* Football World Championship
* Coronation Cup
* Texaco Cup
* Anglo-Scottish Cup
* Matches between British national teams
* Matches between British clubs in UEFA competitions
* Scottish clubs in the FA Cup
* Newport A.F.C. v FA Wales
* International Football Association Board
* England–Scotland football rivalry
* British clubs tours to South America

England|

* National team
* The FA
* Footballing history
* National team history
* League system (women's)
* Premier League
* English Football League
* FA Cup
* EFL Cup
* FA People's Cup

Scotland|

* National team
* The SFA
* Footballing history
* National team history
* League system
* Scottish Professional Football League
* Scottish Cup
* Scottish League Cup
* Women's

Wales|

* National team
* FAW
* National team history
* League system
* Cymru Premier
* Welsh Cup
* Welsh League Cup
* Women's

Northern Ireland|

* National team
* IFA
* National team history
* League system
* Northern Ireland Football League
* Irish Cup
* Northern Ireland Football League Cup

Gibraltar|

* National team
* GFA
* National team history
* League system
* Gibraltar National League
* Rock Cup

Records|

* England
* Scotland
* Wales
* Northern Ireland

* Category

* v
* t
* e

Association football

Chronology|

| Modern code|

* History
* Timeline
* First league
* First international
* Oldest clubs
* Oldest competitions
* Attempts to ban the sport

|

Ancestors|

* Caid
* Cuju
* Calcio Fiorentino
* English school games
* Episkyros
* Harpastum
* La soule
* Marn Grook
* Medieval
* Ba
* Camping
* Cnapan
* Cornish hurling
* Old Division
* Royal Shrovetide
* Uppies and Downies

Rules|

| Current|

* Away goals rule
* Ball
* Ball in/out
* Corner kick
* Duration of the match
* Equipment
* Field
* Fouls and misconduct
* Free kick
* Goal kick
* Goal difference
* Offside
* Penalty kick
* Penalty shoot-out
* Players
* Referee
* Assistants
* Scoring
* Start and restart
* Throw-in

|

Former|

* Sheffield rules
* Cambridge rules

Board|

* IFAB

Equipment|

* Ball
* Boots
* Kit
* Away colours
* Third jersey
* Throwback uniform

Variants of
the game|

* Amputee
* Beach
* College
* Crab
* Five-a-side
* Futsal
* Indoor
* Freestyle
* Keepie uppie
* Footbag
* Paralympic
* Powerchair
* Jorkyball
* Roller
* Rush goalie
* Seven-a-side (Sevens)
* Swamp
* Street
* Three-sided
* 3v3 Soccer
* Walking

Positions|

* Goalkeeper
* Defender
* Midfielder
* Forward

Strategy|

* Formation
* Tactics

Skills|

* Bicycle kick
* Curl
* Nutmeg
* Rabona
* Step over

Terminology|

* Anti-football
* Catenaccio
* Tiki-taka
* Total football
* Zona mista
* Equaliser

Memorabilia|

* Trading cards

Organised supporters|

* Barra brava
* Curva
* Hooliganism
* Torcida
* Ultras
* Chant

Comparisons|

* Rugby union

Main associations|

* FIFA
* Africa
* Asia
* Europe
* North & Central America
* Oceania
* South America

Olympic|

* Summer Olympics
* Youth Olympics

Lists|

| Men's|

* Competitions
* Families
* Players
* Top scorers
* Clubs (most successful clubs)
* National teams

|

Women's|

* Competitions
* Families
* Players
* Top scorers
* Clubs (most successful clubs)
* National teams

Related topics|

* 12th man
* Alcohol
* Association football films
* Beautiful Game
* Captain
* Child abuse
* Culture
* Ethnicity
* Football club
* Geography
* Homosexuality
* IFFHS
* Names
* Politics
* Professionalism
* Racism
* Retired numbers (list)
* Rivalries (list)
* RSSSF
* Smoking
* Squad number
* Stadiums (list)
* Stars on badges
* Transfer
* World XI

* Category
* Commons
* Portal
* WikiProject

* v
* t
* e

Sports governing bodies in the United Kingdom

Summer Olympic sports|

* Aquatics
* Diving
* Swimming
* Synchronized swimming
* Water polo
* Archery
* Athletics
* Badminton
* ENG
* WAL
* SCO
* Baseball
* Basketball
* GBR
* ENG
* SCO
* WAL
* Boxing
* Professional
* Amateur
* GBR
* ENG
* SCO
* WAL
* Canoeing
* Cycling
* BC
* CTT
* Dance sport
* Equestrian
* Fencing
* Football
* GBRMW
* ENG
* NI
* SCO
* WAL
* Golf
* GBR
* ENG
* WAL
* SCO
* Gymnastics
* Handball
* GBR
* ENG
* SCO
* WAL
* NI
* Hockey
* GBR
* ENG
* SCO
* WAL
* Judo
* Modern Pentathlon
* Rugby 7's
* ENG
* NI
* SCO
* WAL
* Rowing
* Sailing
* Shooting
* GBR
* ENG
* SCO
* WAL
* Softball
* Surfing
* GBR
* ENG
* SCO
* WAL
* Table Tennis
* ENG
* SCO
* WAL
* Taekwondo
* Tennis
* SCO
* WAL
* Triathlon
* Volleyball
* GBR
* ENG
* SCO
* WAL
* NI
* Beach Volleyball
* Weightlifting
* Wrestling

Winter Olympic sports|

* Biathlon
* Bobsleigh
* Curling
* ENG
* SCO
* WAL
* Ice skating
* Ice Hockey
* GBR
* ENG
* NI
* SCO
* Luge
* Skeleton
* Skiing
* Snowboarding

Other IOC recognised sports|

* Air sports
* Bandy
* Billiard sports
* ENG
* NI
* SCO
* WAL
* Boules
* Bowling
* Bridge
* Chess
* ENG
* SCO
* WAL
* Cricket
* ENG & WAL
* SCO
* Floorball
* Karate
* Korfball
* ENG
* SCO
* WAL
* Lacrosse
* ENG
* SCO
* WAL
* Lifesaving
* Motorcycle racing
* Motorsport
* Mountaineering and climbing
* ENG & WAL
* SCO
* Netball
* GBR
* ENG
* SCO
* WAL
* NI
* Orienteering
* Pelota vasca
* Polo
* Powerboating
* Racquetball
* Roller Sports
* Rugby Union
* ENG
* WAL
* SCO
* Squash
* ENG
* SCO
* WAL
* Sumo
* Tug-of-war
* Underwater sports
* ENG
* NI
* WAL
* Water ski
* Wushu

Disability and Paralympic sports|

* Wheelchair rugby
* Wheelchair basketball

Other sports|

* American football
* Australian rules football
* Backgammon
* British baseball
* ENG
* WAL
* Bog snorkelling
* Bowls
* ENG
* SCO
* WAL
* Caving
* Croquet
* Darts
* Fullbore Target Rifle
* Horse racing
* Kho-kho
* Kiteboarding
* Quadball
* Radio-controlled racing
* Sailing in schools
* Real Tennis
* Rugby league
* Smallbore Target Rifle

* British Olympic Association
* British Paralympic Association
* Team GB
* Department for Culture, Media and Sport
* UK Sport
* Sport England
* Sport Northern Ireland
* Sportscotland
* Sport Wales
* Commonwealth Games England
* Northern Ireland Commonwealth Games Council
* Commonwealth Games Scotland
* Commonwealth Games Wales
* For some sports, Northern Ireland belongs to all-Irish governing bodies; for these, see Category:All-island sports governing bodies in Ireland.

Authority control databases

International|

* ISNI
* VIAF
* 2
* FAST

National|

* Germany
* United States
* Australia
* Czech Republic
* Israel
* 2

Other|

* IdRef

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