Historical Florentine Football
The decision to bring the historical Florentine Football to life again was made in 1930, simulating the famous game played on February 17th, 1530 during the siege of the city by the soldiers of Carlo V and on this date every year the game is celebrated in Piazza Santa Croce.
The game was played with much enthusiasm from 1400 to 1800 and remains a passion for the Florentines even today. Famous historical figures like Giulio and Alessandro de'Medici, Popes Clemente VII, Urbano VIII and Leone XIII, and many other great men participated in this sport.
Today the game is played in a tournament with 4 participating teams composed of 27 players each; the Whites representing the city quarter of Santo Spirito, the Blues representing the city quarter of Santa Croce, the Reds representing the city quarter of Santa Maria Novella and the Greens representing the city quarter of San Giovanni.
The field is divided into 3 equal horizontal zones of the same length; one for each team and a central neutral zone. Near the goal posts, situated at both ends of the field, there is an area with no goalkeeper which cannot be entered. Each teams' objective is to make a goal in the zone of the opposing team. The ball can only be passed behind the player or in line. When the team is in their own zone the ball can be touched only with the hands, while if in the zone of the opposing team, only with the feet, but if the ball is played in the center zone, the entire body can be used and tackling is also permitted. Fouls, irregular tackles, and invasions into the goal zone are penalized with a penalty kick. The game is divided into two quarter plays of 15 minutes each and the team who scores the most points during this time is the winner.