Blind Football

We have various sports in the world that cover many languages and cultures, but one that is quite often forgotten or not thought of is the International Organisation of Sports for the Disabled.

Football played with 5 a side is known as blind football and is played with four outfield players and one goalkeeper played on a field 40 metres long and 20 meters wide with the entire length of the field/pitch is covered by kickboards to prevent the ball from going out of play.

The game is for athletes with a visual impairment and is governed by the (IBSF) International Blind Sports Federation dating back to 1996.

Outfield players are to be classified as completely blind listed in the B1 category, meaning they have very low visual keenness of hearing or no light perception.

Each match/game is divided into two 25 minute halves where each team can request a one minute time-out, but in the last two minutes of each half and in the case of additional time the clock is stopped for a free kick, kick-in, goal-kick and a corner kick.

In a manner of speaking all outfield players must wear eyeshades, but can have off-field guides so as to assist with the play.

The ball makes a noise caused by a sound system that helps or assists the players to have a sense of play on the field, while all spectators MUST remain silent during play and watching the game.

It is played with modified FIFA rules and was played the first time at the Athens 2004 games and has been played at every game since then with Brazil winning Gold at each Paralympics.

This is an independent organization that are recognized by the International Paralympic Committee as the sole governing body that are representatives of a specific impairment group.

The IOSD work close with the IPC providing specific expertise in order to develop sport for athletes with an impairment from the grass root level to the elite level athlete.

In short they are the governing body for some of the impairment specific sports that are a part of the Paralympic Games.

Russia officially won the International Blind Sports Federation Blind Football European Championships in Berlin August 26th after a convincing 4-3 win over Spain on penalties after the final finished 1-1 at full time.

Adolfo Acosta gave the Spain the lead, but it was Russian Denis Egorov who scored the game equaliser, only to be followed by Andrei Tikhonov scoring the decisive penalty in the shootout.

The champions then defeated Turkey 2-1, drawing 0-0 with Spain with a thumping 11-1 win over Georgia topping Group B.

Next they went on to defeat Belgium 2-0 in the quarter-final match-up followed by a 4-3 win over France in a penalty shoot-out following a 2-2 draw in the semi-final match-up.

England went on to defeat France 2-0 grabbing the Bronze medal match.

All of the top four teams, plus the fifth-placed Turkey, all qualified to compete in the 2018 IBSA Blind Football World Championships that will be played in Madrid, Spain June 5-18, 2018.

Top player of the tournament was Russian Andrei Tikhonov while Hasan Satay of Turkey finished with 11 goals as the tournament top scorer.

Playing fair means more to some and this tournament saw Belgian win the Fair Play award from the organizers.