Futsal - The World, The Game and Qatar

Futsal, a variant of football, is a small but mighty game played across the globe by men, women and children, both as amateurs and professionals. Founded in the 1930s and governed at the highest level by the Asociación Mundial de Fútsal (AMF) and the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), the game has internationally recognised rules and a multitude of competition and tournament cups up for grabs. Tournaments include a FIFA Futsal World Cup competition, an AMF Futsal World Cup (men's and women's), and a host of others at the international, continental, national, club, university, amateur and grassroots levels.

So, where did this highly popular game come from?

A Potted History

Futsal originated in South America in 1930. It was designed to provide recreation at YMCA locations where the access to larger, often outdoor facilities was limited. Played on a substantially smaller, hard-floor court, it was developed on aspects of football, basketball, water polo and handball. It quickly became popular throughout the continent as a game for everyone, to be played anywhere.

The game evolved over the years and in 1956 standardised rules were adopted at international level. In 1965, the South American Futsal Confederation was formed, and in 1971, the Federación Internacional de Fútbol de Salón (FIFUSA) was established as the sports governing body. The first FIFUSA World Championships were held in 1982 in Brazil. Further tournaments held in other continents helped to successfully spread the game around the globe. Its popularity was such that football world giants, FIFA, added their weight behind the sport's growth by establishing themselves as another governing body for the game in the 1980s. The original federation, FIFUSA, and break away governing body, the Confederación Panamericana de Futbol de Salon (PANAFUTSAL), founded in the 1990s, have been succeeded by AMF as the main governing body for countries west of the Atlantic.

Today, futsal is one of the fastest-growing indoor sports in the world. It is estimated that over 30 million people play the game worldwide. Indeed, futsal has two governing bodies with two world cups and two euro competitions, not to mention the host of other continental, regional, national and club cups affiliated and unaffiliated with FIFA and AMF. And, governing bodies, organisers, players and supporters have been petitioning for a long time to see their sport included in the Olympic Games. A reality that may not be too far from realisation; futsal was held for the first time at the Summer Youth Olympics in 2018.

So, how is this flourishing game played?

The Game

Futsal is usually played indoors by two teams of five players (four outfielders and one goalkeeper). It is played on a hard floor court that has a layout similar to that of an association football pitch, except that it is smaller.

A futsal court is usually around 40 x 20 metres; this means that you could fit eight futsal courts onto a football pitch!

A football goal is 7 x 2.4 metres. The futsal goal is much smaller - 3 x 2 metres.

An air-filled, size 5, association football weighs around 450 grams; the foam-filled, size 4, futsal ball weighs approximately 10 grams less but is much less bouncy. With less bounce, the futsal ball tends to stay on the ground, making it easier to get under control and to play intricate football.

The game is played to similar rules and principles of association football. The ball can be played with any part of the body except the hands, and the game is won by the team that scores the most goals. Red and yellow cards are given for misconduct. Free kicks and penalties are awarded to the opposing team for infringements. And, there are corner kicks to restart play as per association football. But there are some significant differences.

Compared to an association football match comprising two 45 minute halves, a game of futsal is played over two 20 minutes sessions with a 15-minute break. There can be up to two referees and a time-keeper on the pitch, and a futsal team comprises only 12 players with five on the court at any one time – one of whom must be the goalkeeper. And, playing on a hard surface, the players wear flat rubber-soled shoes with no cleats.

The other main differences in the rules include:

• There is no offside rule - this means that the players can position or move around the court quite freely during play.
• Substitutions can be made at any time (rolling subs) and as often as required. A substitute cannot go onto the court until the player being replaced is in a substitute zone to the side of the pitch. This procedure also applies to the goalkeeper.
• Instead of the normal throw-in, futsal has a kick-in. Only the goalkeeper throws the ball back into play. Restarts must be within 4 seconds.
• Yellow and red cards are handed out as in football. When a player is sent off with a red card, a substitute can be sent on after 2 minutes. If at any point, there are less than three players in a team on the court, the game is abandoned.
• Futsal has two penalty spots, one at 10 metres and the other in the goalkeeper's area at 6m.
• Direct free kicks are counted as accumulated fouls, with teams warned by the referee when they reach five per half.
• A kick from the 10m spot is awarded when a team commits six or more accumulated fouls. All opponents must be behind the ball; the goalkeeper has to be at least 5m away.
• A penalty kick from the 6m spot is taken when a player is fouled in the goalkeeper's area.
• The goalkeeper can handle or kick the ball in his own penalty area. He must only keep the ball for 4 seconds before throwing it back out into play.
• There can only be one back pass to a goalkeeper in his own half.
• The goalkeeper can come off his line and play anywhere on the court like any outfield player (a fly goalkeeper) when he is in the opposition's half. When outside the penalty area the goalkeeper cannot handle the ball.
• Teams are allowed a one-minute time-out in each period of play.
• The clock is stopped whenever the ball is not in play rather than adding on extra time at the end of the session.
• There are 3 metre and 5-metre marks to indicate where players must be during the kick-off, a corner kick and a penalty kick.

For a comprehensive guide to all of the rules of the game, check out the official FIFA Laws of the Game.

Who Plays Futsal?

Futsal is designed to be a fast, furious, skill-based game. The futsal court is small; the players have less room to manoeuvre and less time to think. There are more touches, more actions per player, more shots and more goals. There are rules, strategies and tactics that can make or break a game. So, whoever wants to play futsal must be fit, agile and quick thinking.

There are, of course, professional players, both men and women, who play in national and club teams in international, federation and national competitions. These players receive a wage, and teams and tournaments are properly organised and fully funded and sponsored.

However, the small space required and the relatively low cost of the facilities provide opportunities for almost everyone to play futsal. Children, boys and girls, on the streets, in schools, colleges and universities can play. In communities and in countries that do not have spaces or climates that are suitable for outdoor football pitches and stadiums, those that do not have the funding for association football, and from tiny island nations to large continental countries, people can play.

Futsal also provides an opportunity for people, such as the women in countries who are uncomfortable playing in large open public stadiums or in-front of male spectators, to play this exciting team game.

The State of Play in Qatar

As in many countries, Qatar is a relatively recent participant in the game of futsal; however, they have become heavily involved very quickly and are developing as a force in the game. There has been official backing from national institutions such as the Qatari Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy, and the Qatar Women's Sports Committee. Former Qatar international, Obeid Jumaa has added his weight in support. He is quoted as saying that by encouraging youngsters to learn their skills on the futsal court the next generation of Qatari football players will develop to match the best of Asian players.

There are well known professional football players who played futsal in their formative years, or who train by playing futsal, such as Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Andres Iniesta, Pele, Ronaldinho, Robinho, Philippe Coutinho, Oscar, Xavi and Neymar Jr. These players tell us that playing futsal helped them to develop the technical skills, passing accuracy, creativity and the reactions that have made them the football players they are today.

Qatar has had a national futsal team for a number of years, and the team have played in international tournaments since 2005. Today there is also a national women's team and a variety of youth teams.

Officially sanctioned in 2007, the Qatar Futsal League was established. The league champions automatically qualify each season for the AFC (Asian Football Confederation) Futsal Club Championship tournament. There are two domestic futsal tournaments; the QFA Futsal Cup and the Open Cup. The teams in the league include the Al Sadd Futsal Team that reached the final of the AFC Futsal Club Championship in 2010. The team also has an entry in the Guinness Book of World Records for winning 34 matches in a row from January 2012 to March 2013, the most consecutive games any futsal team has ever won! A women's league was established in 2009

In 2016, perhaps recognising their commitment to the sport, Qatar was selected to host the FIFA organised Intercontinental Futsal Cup competition - a "friendly" tournament that has been held each year since 1997. Qatar's Al Rayyan club, who have achieved three 4th place wins at the AFC Championships, had the honour of representing their country.

Looking to the future, schools and universities in Qatar offer futsal programmes, have teams and leagues, and hold popular tournaments - for both girls and boys - raising the next generations of national players. Community and outreach futsal tournaments are held annually (home and abroad), offering a diverse number of social groups the opportunity to compete and the opportunity novices to get involved. And, courses for referees and coaches are in place, in particular for women to boost participation in the games and increase female empowerment. Futsal is not only a popular game in Qatar but also won that wields an effective power to stimulate social change

Futsal in Qatar is alive and thriving.

Futsal is played in well over 100 countries around the world by all kinds of people. It gives people who had little or no hope of ever playing football the opportunity to get into the game. Its popularity is growing rapidly. It is no longer seen as the poor knock-about relation to association football, but rather a skilful, internationally recognised game in its own right.

Beach Soccer is another game born of football, played on the sand with thrilling acrobatic flair. It is definitely a sport to keep you on the edge of your seat. Find out more in our Beach Soccer - Sun, Sand and Football article.