Chinese Take Away: Football's Going Home

ENGLISH LEFT WITH SWEET FA


Is football going home?

Throughout all the pain the English football has been able to hold on to two facts - the World Cup in 1966 and that England invented the game.

But now one of those tenets may have been shot down with claims by Fifa's boss that the beautiful game comes from China.


Sepp Blatter, during a visit to China, graciously agreed with his hosts that football is a product of the Orient.

He pointed to research by the historians working for the sport's governing body.

Mr Blatter told Sky News' China correspondent Dominic Waghorn: "We have to say thanks to the British associations, especially England to have organised the game of association football.

"But you cannot deny the history that in China there is a recollection and evidence that they played the game a thousand years ago."

Ancient paintings showing a strikingly modern looking ball being fought over by Chinese players.

The ancient game of cuju involved kicking a ball using feet to score points and was played before emperors ruled the nation.

Contemporary football began in 1863 in England, when rugby football and association football branched off on their different courses.

It led to the founding of the world's first football association was founded - The Football Association of England.