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UEFA (Union des Associations Europeennes de Football) is the governing body of European football. UEFA is under the umbrella of FIFA, but may also have rules and laws particular to Europe. UEFA for example may decide that each European club may only field a certain number of non-European players in their starting team. UEFA puts on the Champions League and UEFA Cup. It also organizes the European Championships, the European tournament similar to the World Cup where European national teams compete against each other in a tournament every four years.

UEFA Champions League

The Champions League, also called the European Cup, is a European league that pits the best teams or clubs from each country against each other in a tournament that takes place during the season. The champions of the Premiership and the other leagues in Europe have the carrot of playing in the following year’s Champions League. It used to be just the first placed teams from each country’s league in a tournament set-up with the winners crowned the champions of Europe. With more and more financial interest in watching the best players and teams in Europe play against each other, the Champions League now admits more teams from each country depending on the strength of their respective leagues. The Premiership is currently allocated four spots for the next year’s Champions League. The Spanish ‘La Liga’ and the Italian ‘Serie A’ are also allocated four places. Other countries may have less allocated spots.

The financial implications of playing in Europe are enormous. Because fans want to see their teams playing the likes of Real Madrid, Juventus, Bayern Munich etc., the Champions League attracts a large TV audience. Playing in the Champions League rewards the team with lots of television money that in turn can be used to buy better players and make the team more competitive and successful. For big clubs who are expected to play in Europe and who have budgeted accordingly, failure to qualify for the Champions League can be financially devastating.

European games are played in the middle of the week, usually Tuesday or Wednesday. Domestic league games are on the weekends, so those teams that are playing at home as well as in European competition have a much busier and hectic schedule.

During the regular season, this prestigious European club tournament puts the top sides from across Europe against each other. The first round is divided into several seeded groups of four teams who play each other in a round robin format, home and away. The top two teams from each group go through to the next round, which is the beginning of a knock out format. Teams are drawn out of a hat to determine the opposition for each round. The games are played at home and away, except for the final which is one match played at a predetermined venue.

The UEFA Cup

This is the other European tournament for league teams who finished just below the Champions League places. It is not as prestigious as the Champions League as it does not have the same level of appeal and TV interest. However, it is a tournament that does have big teams in it that did not qualify for the Champions League but did finish high enough for a UEFA Cup spot. Those teams that win their domestic cup competitions, like the FA Cup in England, also qualify for the UEFA Cup. Most UEFA cup games are played on Thursdays.

Winning the UEFA Cup is still an honor, as teams must beat formidable European opposition to lift the trophy at the end of the year. The UEFA Cup also provides drama as small clubs from smaller countries often cause upsets of bigger, more famous clubs from the larger European countries. Also, a place in the UEFA Cup is an achievement in itself for some teams who have not reached such heights before.

The format for the UEFA Cup is similar to the Champions League with a group stage followed by home and away knock out games. The third placed teams from the Champions league group stages are given the consolation prize of dropping down into the knock out stages of the UEFA Cup.

FIFA

FIFA (Federation Internationale de Football Association) is the governing body of world football. Organized soccer around the world must comply with FIFA guidelines. FIFA also puts on the World Cup in the summer every four years, where all the qualifying national teams of the world compete in a huge tournament for the ultimate prize in soccer.

FA

The FA (Football Association) is the governing body of English football. Each country has its own association. The FA adheres to the laws and rules passed down by FIFA and UEFA. Sometimes, the interests of FIFA, UEFA, and the FA are contrasting. For example, FIFA would like to limit the number of domestic games so that more emphasis can be given to the national teams. However, the clubs who pay the players’ wages may differ as they would lose money; and equally, their star players may get injured on international duty.

The FA Cup

The FA Cup is the oldest and one of the most prestigious tournaments in soccer. It involves every professional and semi-professional team in England who compete in a knock out format during the regular league season. Every few weeks, teams still involved take a break from their regular league fixtures to play in the FA Cup. The preliminary rounds are for the non-league or semi-professional teams who are trying to get to the first round where the professional teams enter. It is not until the third round that the Premiership teams enter the draw. Teams are drawn out of a hat to establish the next round’s fixtures.

For non-league teams to make it to the third round and potentially be drawn against Premiership opposition is a remarkable achievement, but it is something that happens a lot. Although the gulf in class between teams from different divisions can be massive, Premiership teams do not like being drawn away to these minnows, as they know they can expect a rough, physical match against part-time players who know this is the biggest game of their lives. They say it is the potential for upsets by the “giant killers” that adds so much intrigue and romance to the FA Cup.

Cup Final day is the biggest single day of soccer in England. Two teams who have managed to make it to the final at the end of the season are rewarded with a huge all day spectacle at the national stadium in front of 80,000 fans and millions of TV viewers all over the world. The winners qualify for the next year’s UEFA Cup against other teams across Europe who won their domestic cup competitions or who qualified through their league position.

Some people believe the FA Cup has lost some importance over the years as many Premiership teams place more emphasis on their league form. This is because finishing in the top three or four in the league enables them to compete in the Champions League the next year, whereas winning the FA Cup means only a UEFA Cup spot.

The League Cup (Carling Cup)

Currently the English League Cup is sponsored by Carling. It is the third and least prestigious domestic competition. All four professional divisions of the football league participate in this knock out tournament. Many of the big clubs use this opportunity to field their younger players. The winner of the final is awarded a place in next year's UEFA Cup.

Promotion and Relegation

There are four leagues in English professional football representing 92 teams and then countless semi-professional teams. The top league is the Premiership. The next highest is called the Championship. It used to be called the first division. Then there is League 1 and League 2. Below the professional leagues is semiprofessional soccer in the Conference. Obviously the best teams with the most success and best talent are higher up the league tables. The best of all is the winner of the Premiership.

At the end of the season, generally the top three teams from the division below are promoted to the division above. The bottom three teams from each division are relegated to the division below. The top two teams automatically qualify and the third through sixth placed teams play in a play-off for the third and final promotion spot. This has provided better entertainment and therefore gives much needed television money to the lower leagues. If a club is relegated from the lowest division to the Conference, then it may have the devastating future of semi-professional status.

Each match in the Premiership averages attendance between 20,000 and 75,000 depending on the size of the club's’s ground. The Championship probably averages between 9,000 and 30,000, and has continued to attract interest as the stakes of promotion are so high. The lower leagues average considerably less. There are many historically big clubs who are in the lower leagues from previous relegations and struggle to get back to the top. Some small clubs from small cities and towns across the country have made meteoric rises up the tables.

Television money is what obviously creates such a division between the separate leagues. The Premiership and Premiership teams playing in the European cups receive almost all of the English media’s attention. Relegation from the Premiership is financially devastating. It is very difficult for clubs to pay millionaires their salaries based on gate receipts and very little TV revenue in the Championship. If a Premiership club gets relegated to the Championship, it is not easy to get promoted back up the next year. Plus the Championship is very competitive with lots of teams competing for promotion to the Premiership. Relegation battles and promotion chases provide some of the best drama and passion soccer has to offer. Many argue that promotion to the Premiership is more lucrative to a team than winning the Premiership itself.

Transfers and Wages

If a football club wants to buy a player who is under contract to another club then a transfer fee is negotiated between the buying and selling club. If a player agrees to a move, then he receives a small percentage of the transfer fee, but the majority goes to the selling club. Players are valued by their worth, which obviously involves their talent, position, age, and overall potential impact on a team. The most expensive transfer in football history was Zinedine Zidane’s transfer to Real Madrid from Juventus in 2001. Juventus received around $100 million for letting go of the world’s best player at that time.

If a player is out of contract then no transfer fee is required, because the club does not own the player any more. Sometimes clubs do not want to sell a player who wants to leave, but may be forced to if the player is in the last year of his contract. Otherwise the player could soon leave for free.

Although players get a percentage of their transfer fee, their wages are their main source of income. Some players from top clubs are paid as much as $100,00 to $200,000 per week, roughly $5 million to $10 million per year. Other players make much less. Obviously successful or rich clubs challenging for the league title and competing in Europe can pay higher transfer fees and player wages as they benefit more from television revenues and possibly a larger fan base.

Most teams have youth academies filled with youngsters as early as age 9 or 10 who go to school in the day and practice in the evenings. Teams have scouts all over the world and can entice local and far away youths to develop their footballing education at their club. This can pay for itself in many ways. Perhaps a future world star can be brought into the first team without having to pay a transfer fee. Teams in the lower leagues can hope to develop a star and sell him to a bigger club for a huge transfer fee.

Basic Tactics and Formations

Each starting team is made up of eleven players--one goalkeeper and ten outfield players divided between defenders, midfielders, and forwards. Depending on a particular game or the preference of the manager, formations can be changed across the pitch to win the tactical battle. Some managers prefer to use specialists, such as a holding midfielder whose role it is to add protection in front of the defense so the other midfielders can express themselves. The tactics employed by managers can be one of the most intriguing aspects of the game, and can be their downfall if they get it wrong.

4-4-2 (4 defenders-4 midfielders-2 forwards)
The most common line up in soccer. The four midfielders are the link between the defense and the attack. Easily organized, it relies on its simplicity and even distribution of players on the pitch.

3-5-2
Three central defenders with five midfielders. The two outside midfielders are essentially wing backs who are outside backs encouraged to also act as wingers. This formation is more complicated and requires disciplined players, but can make the team play more dynamically.

4-3-3
A more attacking line up but possibly at the expense of dominating the midfield. This allows for two true wingers up front supporting the center forward.

4-5-1
This is used when teams either try to keep the game tight by clogging up the midfield and stopping the other team from playing, or the manager likes one target striker with lots of help from the attacking midfielders.

4-4-1-1
Similar to the 4-4-2, but one of the forwards is an out and out striker, while the other roams between him and the midfield trying to find space, create goals and score some too.

The Passion of the Game

Unlike rugby, football primarily has its roots in the working class. For many people this is the most important part of the week when they get to see their local football club filled with players from a similar background. It becomes the focus of the community. Most fans support their local team or at least the closest bigger city’s team. Top clubs attract not only their own city’s fans, but also fans from close towns and cities whose clubs are not considered very big. Soccer has always been about pride. The football team is the pride of the local community, whether it is a seaside town or the north end of a large city. Competing in Europe creates another level of support as different cultures, socially and in football terms, play one another. When the national teams compete against each other, there is the added element of national pride that sparks even more passion.

Winning and losing has far reaching implications, as many sports fans will attest. Losing can ruin the mood of the people or maybe keep the depressing mood hovering around a little longer. Winning and moving up the league or getting far in a competition can create an opposite kind of atmosphere. When the score is 0-0, one goal can win a match, so the tension and what’s at stake to the people can be huge. But one goal can also lose a match. There is this tension of hope and concern that allows for such a huge release of energy with just one goal or result.

Many fans used to be pretty good players, or at least wished they were. They show up at the match understanding the intricacies of the moment, appreciating the effort, and admiring the skill. To have such control of the ball, to be able to score goals when given only half a chance, or to defend with guts and glory, are qualities that are praised and even worshipped by the supporters. Soccer produces a unique passion that would not exist without the fans.

The True Object of the Game

The true object of the game is to beat the other team by scoring more goals. However, sometimes the object is to absolutely not lose and hope for a draw. In the league, there are three points for a win and one point for a draw. There are no points if you lose. There is an incentive to not settle for a draw, as three points are much more than one. It depends on what the team can realistically expect and what the fans, or supporters, expect. A draw away from home may be a disappointment for a title chasing team, but could be a good solid performance and a well deserved point for a mid-table club who are hoping to get there soon. Teams who are at the bottom, battling relegation, would be happy with a draw against superior opposition, but their supporters might have hoped that they could have pulled off a win, rather than just a draw. The cup competitions like the FA Cup are thrilling because they add a different level of surprise, as one off game by a Premiership side could mean getting knocked out of the competition by a lower league team, at the top of their game for the big occasion.

Rivalries and Derbies (pronounced Darbies)

Some derbies are based on centuries of history, such as Turkey v Greece. Some are rivals from the same neighborhood or part of town. Derbies are local or regional football matches that are the most anticipated, passionate, and important games of the fan’s season. The divide that separates the rivals may be geographic like Sheffield United versus Sheffield Wednesday, religious like Glasgow Celtic and Glasgow Rangers in Scotland, political like Real Madrid versus Barcelona in La Liga, financial like Buenos Aires’ bourgeois River Plate versus working class Boca Juniors, or whatever makes fans all over the world support one local club over another.