Calcio Fiorentino, Italy's early form of football

Xinhua, June 26, 2016

A Santo Spirito Bianchi player celebrates the victory over the La Santa Croce Azzuri during the Calcio Fiorentino (historic football) final match in Santa Croce square, Florence, central Italy, June 24, 2016. Calcio Fiorentino, an early form of football from the 16th century, originated from the ancient roman "harpastum". Played in teams of 27, using both feet and hands, rules allows tactics such as head-butting, punching, elbowing, and choking, but forbids sucker-punching and kicks to the head. Goals are scored by throwing the ball over a goal running the width of each end of the giant sand pit. Each game is played out for 50 minutes with the winner being the team with the most points. The sport was not played for circa two hundred years but was revived in the twentieth century when organized games began again in 1930. (Xinhua/Jin Yu)



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