Football Banned? Why, and When in the UK?
Rosalind Ullrich
2025-06-09 14:39:10
Count answers: 5
Football games in England are not permitted between June 1 and June 30. This is thanks to an FA rule which stops all competitive 11-a-side matches during the "Close Season" - including grassroots and youth level.
The Close Season shall be defined as the period between June 1 and June 30 inclusive each year. No matches other than those permitted and played in accordance with paragraph (c) of these rules may be played in the Close Season.
Lizzie Trantow
2025-05-31 00:14:19
Count answers: 7
In 1314, the Lord Mayor of London, with the backing of King Edward II, decreed that as there is great noise in the city caused by hustling over large foot balls in the fields of the public from which many evils might arise which God forbid: we command and forbid on behalf of the king, on pain of imprisonment, such game to be used in the city in the future.
In 1331, King Philip VI of France banned la soule. By 1363, King Edward III was cracking down on games of all sorts in England, declaring, we ordain that you prohibit under penalty of imprisonment all and sundry from such stone, wood and iron throwing; handball, football, or hockey; coursing and cock-fighting, or other such idle games.
England and France were joined by Scotland early in the following century when King James I issued a statute stating: The King forbids that no man play at fute-ball under the pain of fifty schillings to be raised to the Lord of the land, as oft as he be tainted, or to the Sheriff of the land or his ministers, if the Lords will not punish such trespassers.
Assunta Bartell
2025-05-24 17:45:51
Count answers: 4
Then came a devastating blow for the women's game, with the FA voting to ban them from playing on Football League grounds. The ban would last for 50 years, with these infamous words from the FA Council explanation particularly stinging: "The game of football is quite unsuitable for females and ought not to be encouraged." Women were not forbidden from playing the sport outright, but a ban from playing in a stadium forced a massive downturn in attendance as teams had no choice but to play in parks and fields. By 1971, the FA had lifted its ban, with the first women's FA Cup final coming that same year.
Chris Huel
2025-05-14 19:21:35
Count answers: 5
It has been quite some time since the game was illegal in this country. In fact, the game was only illegal before the Football Association laid down the current laws in the 19th century, and then it was only outlawed for limited periods in specific parts of the country.
It was first banned way back in April 1314 by Edward II when the game consisted of vast mobs attempting to kick, carry or throw the ball between opposing villages. During the Hundred Years' War between England and France, Edward III, Richard II, Henry IV and Henry V all thought the game stopped their subjects practising archery and issued laws to suppress it. Scottish kings didn't look upon the game much more favourably and in 1424 James I decreed that "na man play at the Fute-ball".
Attitudes became more relaxed during the Elizabethan period, although the game was banned in Manchester in the early 17th century because of shanked passes breaking windows. Despite playing in his youth, the game's "frivolity" didn't fit into Oliver Cromwell's puritanical world view and the fact that the game was played on Sundays was particularly frowned upon.
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