Mini-football is much “older” than we can imagine. Its emergence was noted in the 1920s. It happened on Brazilian beaches, crowded with people who wanted to play soccer. Then “Soccer de salon” was born – mini-football penetrated the halls: five players on each side.
It is believed that the Austrians were the first to play in Europe. In 1958, one of the leaders of the Austrian team Josef Argauer brought the idea of this game from Sweden at the World Cup. There he spotted the Brazilians training in the hall: he was fascinated by mini-football and suggested organizing a match in the Vienna “Stadt Hall”.
The experimental game was to everyone’s liking. Gradually futsal gained popularity in other countries. This game became more and more popular in the Netherlands, Spain and Italy.
In 1968/69 Holland was the first country to hold its national championship. It was won by the “Shaga’66” club.
Futsal rules
- Two teams take part in the match, each team consists of no more than five players, including one goalkeeper.
The minimum number at which teams are allowed to play is five. If there are fewer field players remaining on either team if players are removed, the match is terminated. - Substitution of players is allowed in any match.
The maximum number of substitute players used by each team during the whole match is seven (in the Petrozavodsk mini-football championship matches the number of substitutes is not limited – note of the Petrozavodsk Football Federation).
- The number of “flying” substitutions during a match is not limited, except for the goalkeeper, who can be substituted when the ball is out of play. A player who has been substituted becomes a substitute and may return to the court in place of any other player.
- A “flying” substitution is a substitution that is made when the ball is in play.