Sociogenesis of Soccer

The origins of soccer are unknown, though England has been responsible for its development over time. Soccer, originally played by peasants without standardized rules, is now a strictly defined sport encompassing firm regulations, specialized positions, and a highly structured organization. The sport has been predominantly played in Europe and South America, though its popularity has been spreading. England is responsible for the standardized rules and regulations that were initially enforced in 1815. Rules defining the game have remained largely the same since the initial rules where established; however before the official rules were enforced, the game was violent and varied based on location.

Initial stages of the game incorporated pig bladders or heads of enemy-warriors as balls, which is a far cry from the regulation sized balls used today. Additionally, players did not adopt official uniforms until the English educational institutions solidified the official rules and regulations.

One of the most significant events for soccer in the last century has been the establishment of FIFA in 1904. This allowed different leagues across Europe to emerge and teams to engage in structured competition. Perhaps due to this merging of nation, soccer has faced issues with racism between footballers and fans alike. Due to a strict campaign however, soccer has monitored its decline in the last decade and hopes to completely eradicate racism from the sport.