Soccer (Football) is
a ball game played between two teams of eleven players, each attempting
to win by scoring more goals than their opponent. Football is played
predominantly with the feet, but players may use any part of their
body except their hands and arms to propel the ball; the exception
to this is the goalkeeper, who is the only member
of the team allowed to handle the ball in the field of play.
It is variously known throughout the English-speaking world as football, association
football, or soccer.
Football is played at a professional level all over the world and
millions of people regularly go to a football stadium to follow their home team, whilst millions more
avidly watch the game on television. A very large number of people
also play football at an amateur level.
According to a survey conducted by Fédération
Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), the sport's governing
body, published in the spring of 2001, over 240 million people regularly
play football in more than 200 countries in every part of the world.
Its simple rules and minimal equipment requirements have no doubt
aided its spread and growth in popularity. In many parts of the world — particularly
in Europe, Latin America, and increasingly in Africa — football
evokes great passions and plays an important role in the life of
individual fans, local communities, and even nations; it is therefore
often claimed to be the most popular team sport in the world.