The Violent Origins of Football

Did you know that? Football was completely banned in England for being too violent and causing massive

street riots. In 1409, King Henry IV had enough of the chaos and officially outlawed

what they called 'foteball' throughout London. But this wasn't the refined sport

we know today. Medieval football was basically organized warfare where entire villages would compete

to get a pig's bladder from one end of town to the other. There were no rules, no referees,

and definitely no red cards. Players could use their hands, feet,

and pretty much any body part to move the ball. Broken bones were common,

property got destroyed, and fights broke out constantly. The king got so fed up with the