Football (word)

In some English-speaking countries, the word "football" may mean any one of several games, or the ball used in that game. Because of the existence of different kinds of "football", controversy — usually friendly in nature — may result from unqualified usage of the word.

In most English-speaking countries the word "football" usually refers to Association football, also known as soccer. Of the 45 national FIFA affiliates in which English is an official or primary language, only three — Canada, Samoa and the United States — use "soccer" in their governing bodies name.

In addition to the widespread use in most English-speaking countries there are many non-English languages where the common term for Association football uses a phonetically similar word to the English term "football". Examples are "fútbol" (Spanish), "futebol" (Portugese), "fotbal" (Romanian), "Футбол" ('futbol' Russian), "Fußball" (German), "fotball" (Norwegian), "fotboll" (Swedish), "fodbold" (Danish), "fotbal" (Czech), "futbol" (Polish), "futbol" (Turkish) and "voetbal" (Dutch).

In the United Kingdom, the unqualified use of the word football refers only to Association football (soccer). But in English-speaking countries other than the UK, the word football can sometimes refer to American football, Australian rules football, Canadian football, Gaelic football, or one of the two codes of rugby football: rugby league or rugby union.

In both Australia and New Zealand, the vast majority of people use the word "soccer". The Australian team is commonly known by the nickname "Socceroos". Therefore, decisions by the national governing bodies in both countries, in the early 21st century, to rename themselves Football Federation Australia and Football New Zealand respectively, and their insistence on use of the word "football", has caused controversy and confusion.

The nickname of the Trinidad & Tobago team, "The Soca Warriors", refers to a style of music, rather than the word soccer.

Etymology

While it is widely believed that the word football, or "foot ball", originated in reference to the action of a foot kicking a ball, this may be a false etymology. An alternative explanation, has it that the word originally referred to a variety of games in medieval Europe, which were played on foot. These sports were usually played by peasants, as opposed to the horse-riding sports more often played by aristocrats. This explanation is supported by the fact that the word football has always implied a variety of wide games played on foot, not just those that involved kicking a ball. In fact, in some cases, the word has been applied to games which involved carrying a ball and specifically banned kicking. For example, the English writer William Hone, in The Every-Day Book (1825-26), quotes the social commentator Sir Frederick Morton Eden, regarding a game — which Hone refers to as "football" — played in the parish of Scone, Scotland:

The game was this: he who at any time got the ball into his hands, run [sic] with it till overtaken by one of the opposite part; and then, if he could shake himself loose from those on the opposite side who seized him, he run on; if not, he threw the ball from him, unless it was wrested from him by the other party, but no person was allowed to kick it.[1] [Emphasis added]. However, there is no conclusive evidence for either theory regarding the origins of the word.

Soccer originated as an "Oxford '-er'" slang abbreviation of "association", and was popularised by a prominent English footballer, Charles Wreford-Brown.

Australia

In Australia, "football" or its shortened form "footy" have different meanings from one region to another. Australians generally fall into four camps when it comes to the use of them:

• In most of the Australian states, the word "football" refers to Australian rules football (also called "Australian football" or "Aussie Rules"). In these States there is little or no popular differentiation between the two kinds of rugby football, which are both simply referred to as "rugby".
• In the States of New South Wales (NSW) and Queensland, most people refer to rugby league simply as "football". However, in regions such as the Riverina and Cape York, Australian rules is also popular, and "football" may refer to that code. Rugby union is often referred to simply as "rugby". Australian rules is often known in the rest of these areas as "AFL" (a name which, strictly speaking, refers to the main governing body, the Australian Football League).
• In areas in which all three codes are popular, especially the Australian Capital Territory and the Northern Territory, the word "football" could refer to any code. The names "Aussie rules" (or just "rules"), "league", "union" and "soccer" are usually used, to avoid confusion.
• Association football is commonly known as soccer in Australia. However, sportscasters on the Special Broadcasting Service (if not presenters in other departments at SBS) have always referred to the game as "football". In 2004, the governing body changed its name to Football Federation Australia. Soccer is rarely referred to as "footy" in Australia.
• In Australia, American football, which has a small following, is known as gridiron.

Canada

In Canada, "football" can refer to either Canadian football or American football, often differentiated as either "CFL" (from the governing Canadian Football League) or "NFL" (from the US National Football League). Because of the similarity between the games, many people in both countries do not consider the two styles of football separate sports per se, but rather different codes of the same sport. If a Canadian were to say, "My brother plays football in the States", it would be clear from context that American football is meant. Association football, which is rapidly gaining in popularity, is called soccer.

The usage of football, to mean the local code, is so strong in Canada that Canadian football is referred to as le football among French-speaking Canadians, and Association football is le soccer.

Ireland

In Ireland, "football" can mean association football or Gaelic football, depending on which code predominates within the speaker's community.

• For Ulster Unionists in Northern Ireland, "football" is never Gaelic football.
• In urban areas, especially Dublin, "football" usually means association football.
• In rural areas, particularly the west of Ireland, "football" usually means Gaelic football.
• For many people, either sport may be called "football" depending on the context; conversely, without context, "football" is avoided because of its ambiguity. This is the approach taken by most of the Republic of Ireland media.

Association football, when not called "football", is called "soccer". Gaelic football is often referred to informally as "gaelic" or "gah" (pronounced ([gæː]), or less accurately as "GAA" or "GAA football" after its governing body, the Gaelic Athletic Association (which also governs other Gaelic sports).

New Zealand

In New Zealand, "football" usually refers to rugby union, but depending on context can also refer to rugby league or association football. It is, however, considered inappropriate to refer to "football" without supporting context as to which code the speaker means, so as to avoid confusion. Therefore while it is not uncommon for "football" (or the slang term "footie) to be used to refer to rugby union within context, it is usually not used otherwise. "Rugby", which almost universally refers to rugby union, is mostly used without any existing context. Rugby league is usually called "rugby league" or simply "league". Association football is usually called soccer. Australian rules football and American football are not very widespread, and are known as Aussie Rules and gridiron respectively.

South Africa

In South Africa, the names "football" and soccer are both used for association football, however "soccer" is more common. Rugby union is called "rugby" (and rugby league has only a small following, as does Aussie Rules).

United Kingdom

As in other English speaking countries, in the United Kingdom an unqualified mention of football tends to refer to the most popular footballing sport in the country, that in the case of England and Scotland is association football. However the term soccer is used by some, and understood by all. For fans who are more interested in other codes of football, within their sporting community, the use the term football may refer to their own code and they may call association football soccer for brevity and clarity. However even within such sporting communities an unqualified mention of football would usually be a reference to association football.

In South Wales, a rugby union stronghold, union is often referred to as football. Irish nationalists in Northern Ireland may use "football" for Gaelic football: see above.

Outside the nationalist community in Northern Ireland, Gaelic football is usually known as Gaelic football. Australian rules football and American football are not played or watched by many in the UK. Australian rules football is usually known as Australian football, or sometimes Australian rules. Likewise American football is usually known by that name however from 1982 until 1992 Channel 4 showed American football on Saturday evenings and popularised the use of the term gridiron, and this term is still used by some people. Also used to refer to American Football are several semi-insulting terms such as 'Yankball' and 'Ameriball'

United States

In the United States, the word "football" refers to American football. Association football is called "soccer". Soccer is a less popular spectator sport, though it does have a considerable following, particularly among younger people and immigrants. Soccer is one of the most popular participatory sports in the United States among children (though its popularity is equalled or eclipsed by other sports in certain regions, especially baseball and ice hockey). Gaelic football, Australian rules football and both of the rugby codes have very small, albeit growing numbers of adherents. However most people in the US are not usually aware of the distinction between rugby union and rugby league, and consequently both are referred to simply as "rugby". Because of the number of American players in the Canadian Football League, a small number of Americans follow Canadian football, which is occasionally broadcast on American cable channels. Because of the similarity between American and Canadian football, many people in both countries do not consider the two styles of football separate sports per se, but rather different codes of the same sport. If an American were to say, "My brother plays football in Canada", it would be clear from context that Canadian football is meant.