HISTORY / STRUCTURE / AFF EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
FUTSAL HISTORY
Like the late John Carlos, the birth giver of futsal sport, introduced the world to the new version of football in 1930.
To develop the futsal game from 1930 to 1912, FIFA, FIFUSA, PANA FUTSAL & UEFS etc. in the world tried to develop the futsal firmly on the board of the world, but still the futsal game is on the world class.
The World Futsal Federation was established in 1912 and the World Futsal Federation – WFF (USA) is currently working to develop Futsal at the world level strongly.
Mr. Rosario Lopez – ( President ) – USA , and Mr. B. D. Verma – ( Secretary General ) – India, are Founder Members of the World Futsal Federation – WFF.
Many countries in the Asian, African, Russian, American, and Europe segments have joined the WFF.
The mission of WFF is to involve Futsal in the Olympic Games and to develop the sport through the new latest Technology system to every country in the world.
The futsal game is played under the rules of the World Futsal Federation – WFF
Futsal started in Montevideo, Uruguay in 1930 when Juan Carlos Ceriani created a version of indoor football for recreation in YMCAs. This new sport was developed originally on basket courts in Montevideo (Uruguay), and a rule book was published in September 1933. In 1956 the rules was modified by Habib Maphuz and Luiz Gonzaga de Oliveira Fernandes inside the YMCA of São Paulo Brazil to authorize seniors to compete. In 1965 the Confederacion Sudamericana de Futbol de Salon (South American Futsal Confederation) was formed and the sport began to spread across South America, and its popularity ensured that a governing body was formed under the name of FIFUSA (Federación Internacional de Fútbol de Salón) in 1971, comprising Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay, Peru, Portugal and Uruguay, along with the World Championships. The first FIFUSA World Championships were held in São Paulo, with hosts Brazil crowned champions ahead of Paraguay and Uruguay. Even more countries participated in the second World Championships held in Madrid in 1985. Due to a dispute between FIFA and FIFUSA over the name of fútbol, FIFUSA has registered the word fut-sal in 1985 (Madrid, Spain).
The economic recession in the 80’s severely shocked futsal associations in South America, and FIFA took the chance promoting the idea of futsal development integration, which gave the FIFUSA affiliated associations even bigger financial pressure. Though 12 countries voted against the proposal of integrating into FIFA in the FIFUSA conference in 1989, they failed to stop Brazil- one of the most influential countries in this sport- joining the FIFA side. After that, the FIFUSA dismissed and the associations refused to join FIFA system formed Confederación Panamericana de Futsal (PANAFUTSAL).
During the years that FIFA took the control of futsal development, the result was not marked because FIFA affiliated FAs (Football Associations) did not input sufficient efforts, especially in developing countries without enough human and material resources. The futsal-lovers around the world thus had an idea about reinvigorating the independent futsal governing body; the futsal associations, chained together by PANAFUTSAL and the Unión Europea de Futsal (UEFS), had FIFUSA resolved on Dec. 1, 2002, to change its name, to update its social and sport objectives and reorganize its structure in order accommodate new and existing demands.
The sport is different from and independent of any other existing world-wide organization. Whoever intends to take control of our identity because of their power, impunity or influence will have to demonstrate before justice their historical foundation and accomplishments in the life of our sport.