Changes

'''Football''' is the name given to a number of sports which share many similarities including [[soccer|Association Football (Soccer)]], [[Rugby]] (Union and League), [[American Football]], [[Canadian Football]], [[Australian Rules Football]] and [[Gaelic Football]].

'''Football''' is the name given to a number of sports which share many similarities including [[soccer|Association Football (Soccer)]], [[Rugby]] (Union and League), [[American Football]], [[Canadian Football]], [[Australian Rules Football]] and [[Gaelic Football]].

The most popular of these is the worldwide sport played professionally as '''Association Football''' or '''Soccer'''. It is played on a field where possession of a round ball is competed for by two teams of eleven people who (with the exception of the goalkeepers) may not touch the ball with their hands or arms. The aim of the game is to score goals by propelling the ball into the goal of the opposing team. The governing body of the professional rules is [[FIFA]], the International Federation of Football Asociations. The name Soccer, a derivation from "Association" Football, is most commonly used in countries such as the [[U.S.]] and [[Australia]] where other forms of football are more popular. This version of the game was derived in [[Great Britain]] and was the first to be profesionalised.  It is the most widely played form of football across the world and is particularly popular in Europe, South America, Asia and Africa. Professional leagues exist in many countries, most notably in [[England]], [[Italy]] and [[Spain]].  The ultimate competition for this sport is the [[FIFA World Cup]] held every four years.

The most popular of these is the worldwide sport played professionally as '''Association Football''' or '''Soccer'''. It is played on a field where possession of a round ball is competed for by two teams of eleven people who (with the exception of the goalkeepers) may not touch the ball with their hands or arms. The aim of the game is to score goals by propelling the ball into the goal of the opposing team. The governing body is [[FIFA]], the International Federation of Football Asociations. The name Soccer, a derivation from "Association" Football, is most commonly used in countries such as the [[U.S.]] and [[Australia]] where other forms of football are more popular. This version of the game was derived in [[Great Britain]] and was the first to be professionalised.  It is the most widely played form of football across the world and is particularly popular in Europe, South America, Asia and Africa. Professional leagues exist in many countries, most notably in [[England]], [[Italy]] and [[Spain]].  The ultimate competition for this sport is the [[FIFA World Cup]] held every four years.

'''Rugby''' Football was derived in [[England]] at around the same time as Soccer, initially at Rugby School. Legend has it a boy named William Webb Ellis, during a game of soccer, picked up the ball and ran to the other end of the field with it. (However this story is now believed to be a myth.) This version uses an elliptical ball with the main aim being to carry the ball over the opponents' goal line to score a try.  Kicking and passing are permitted, but all passes must be backward.  There are two versions of the sport, [[Rugby Union]] and [[Rugby League]]. Each uses a different numbers of players and slightly different rules.  Rugby is popular in the [[U.K.]], [[France]], [[Ireland]], [[Australia]], [[South Africa]], [[New Zealand]] and throughout the South Pacific.  The ultimate competition for this sport is the [[Rugby World Cup]] held every four years.

'''Rugby''' Football was derived in [[England]] at around the same time as Soccer, initially at Rugby School. Legend has it a boy named William Webb Ellis, during a game of soccer, picked up the ball and ran to the other end of the field with it. (However this story is now believed to be a myth.) This version uses an elliptical ball with the main aim being to carry the ball over the opponents' goal line to score a try.  Kicking and passing are permitted, but all passes must be backward.  There are two versions of the sport, [[Rugby Union]] and [[Rugby League]]. Each uses a different numbers of players and slightly different rules.  Rugby is popular in the [[U.K.]], [[France]], [[Ireland]], [[Australia]], [[South Africa]], [[New Zealand]] and throughout the South Pacific.  The ultimate competition for this sport is the [[Rugby World Cup]] held every four years.