Football Federation Australia (FFA)
Homepage: http://www.footballaustralia.com.au/
Rules and regulations: http://www.footballaustralia.com.au/InsideFFA/default.aspx?s=
insideffa_rules

History:

Taking over the responsibilities of the now-defunct Soccer Australia since 2003, the Australian Soccer Association (ASA) is now the governing body of the sport in the country. ASA oversees the promotion and development of the sport in the country, including the enhancement of Australia’s national teams Socceroos (men), Matildas (women) and youth oriented programs. ASA also carries out national coaching programs, and acts as main coordinating body to various state and territory soccer governing bodies. ASA also coordinates the National Soccer League, Australia’s premier national competition. Works are underway to establish a new national league in 2005.

Argentine Football Association (AFA)
Homepage: /
Rules and regulations: /?m=all_news&c=11&idm=11

History:

Argentina’s football governing body, the Argentine Football Association (AFA), otherwise known as the Asociación del Fútbol Argentino, has a long history of changes and mergers. The association was initially known as the Argentine Association Football League, which was founded on February 21, 1893. About 10 years after, the association changed its name to Argentine Football Association; and in February 1912, it has been known as the Asociación Argentina de Football. Moreover, in November 1926, the association again changed its name to Asociación Amateur Argentina de Football; and from June 1931 to November 3, 1934, it was known as the Asociación de Football Amateur y Profesionales.

The “Federación Argentina de Football, another football organization, was formed on June 14, 1912. To harmonize development efforts in football, the management thought it best and decided to merge with the Asociación de Football Amateur y Profesionales on December 23, 1914.

Moreover, the Asociacion Amateurs de Football, yet another football association, was founded on September 22, 1919; and in November 1926, also merged with the Asociación Argentina de Football.

On May 1931, another group founded the Liga Argentina de Football – which was also merged with Asociación Argentina de Football on November 3, 1934. This merger resulted into the creation of Argentina’s football governing body as it is known today: Asociación de Fútbol Argentino.

German Football Association
Homepage: http://www.dfb.de

History:

The German Football Association, otherwise known as the Deutscher Fußball-Bund (DFB), is the governing body of football in Germany. While founded way back in 1900 in Leipzig, DFB formally introduced professional soccer in Germany in 1963. DFB was also a founding member of both FIFA and UEFA. Initially made up of 86 clubs, DFB now claims to be the largest sports federation membership in the world – composed of over 26,000 clubs, with over 6 million members. To facilitate efficient management, these clubs are divided into five regional federations with 21 regional organizations. Among others, DFB aims to reach out to people of all age groups, from the youngsters to the senior classes. To help carry out their activities, DFB takes in volunteers to work with committees of soccer teams, in addition to a 150-strong full time staff based in Frankfurt.

DFB’s crowning glories in its more than a century of existence includes three World titles (1954,1974,1990) for the German men’s national team; as well as three European Championships (1972,1980,1996). Moreover, the women’s team took home their first World Cup title in the USA in 2003; as well as five European Championships in 1989, 1991,1995, 1997, and 2001.

Scottish Junior Football Association (SJFA)
Homepage: /sjfa/
scottish-junior-football-association/scottish-junior-football-association_home.cfm

Overview:

The Scottish Junior Football Association (SJFA) oversees the development of junior clubs in the country, distributed into regional associations in six regions: Ayrshire, Central, East, Fife, Tayside and North. The SHFA administers the annual OVD Scottish Cup, a prestigious national cup competition. The OVD Scottish Cup provides an opportunity for junior Scottish football talents to play against their English, Irish and Welsh counterparts. Thus far, SJFA has been successful in developing junior talents for play in the senior professional ranks.

Scottish Amateur Football Association (SAFA)
Homepage: /safa/
Rules and regulations: /safa/football_document_libraries.cfm?page=1779
Articles/Laws%2Dof%2Dthe%2DGame/

History:

Still going strong after about 95 years of existence, the Scottish Amateur Football Association (SAFA) is the sport’s governing body that legislates and fosters the game of football for amateurs. Founded in 1909 with only three members (Queen’s Park FC, Glasgow and District FP League and the Schools Association), SAFA now has members from all areas of Scotland, from the Shetlands to the Highlands and Islands to the Borders. Today, SAFA is proud to have established a number of regular competitions such as: The Famous Grouse Scottish Amateur Cup, Grouse Trophy (Sunday Competition), West of Scotland Amateur Cup, East of Scotland Amateur Cup, North of Tay Amateur Cup, Fife Amateur Cup, North of Scotland Amateur Cup, South of Scotland Amateur Cup, and Highland Amateur Cup.

Scottish Football Association (SFA)
URL: /index.cfm
Rules and regulations URL: /laws_of_the_game.cfm?curpageid=168

History:

Formed in 1873, SFA is the second oldest national football association in the world. Being the governing body for the sport of football in Scotland, it is responsible for the discipline of players misconduct. Based Hampden Park in Glasgow, SFA is responsible for running of the Scottish national football team.

SFA sits on the International Football Association Board and is also a full member of FIFA and UEFA. There are six affiliated football associations to the SFA, including: Scottish Amateur Football Association, Scottish Junior Football Association, Scottish Schools Football Association, Scottish Welfare Football Association, Scottish Women’s Football Association, and the Scottish Youth Football Association.

Football Association of Ireland (FAI)
Homepage: /
Rules and regulations URL: /pdf/FAI_Rule_Book.pdf

History:

Set up in 1921, FAI is Republic of Ireland’s foremost governing body of football – controlling the activities of all of Ireland’s international football teams and is affiliated to FIFA. FAI aims to promote, foster and develop football within the country – which it has been successful in, as there are over 180,000 people play football in Irish football clubs and schools. Many others are involved as coaches, officials and volunteers.

Through its own affiliated bodies the FAI also organizes all domestic competitions from the Eircom League and FAI Carlsberg Cup to the FAI Schools’ 6-a-side competition. Along side these activities, FAI is also active in the training and education of players, coaches and officials and aims to develop better facilities and support services for all those involved in the game.

Italian Football Federation
Homepage: /
Rules and regulations: /en/86/3827/Norme.shtml

History:

Aside from its marked success in the international sporting scene, Italy’s football governing body, the Italian Football Federation or the Federazione Italiana Giuoco Calcio (FIGC), is also known for its colorful personalities, episodes, and appearances.

One of the founding members of both FIFA and UEFA, FIGC oversees the Italian football league and the national team. Indeed, FIGC is instrumental to team Italy’s impressive record of three World Titles in 1934, 1938, and 1982.

FIGC has had a long journey to becoming what it is known today. Just when FIGC was slowly recovering from the effects of the war -having won four consecutive championships until 1949 – the national team suffered a heavy blow when the team’s plane crashed, taking away Italy’s best players. FIGC also had a rough period in the 1950s when the national team failed at the World Cups in Brazil (1950) and in Switzerland (1954). This dark period in FIGC’s history was capped when they were eliminated during the qualifying rounds in 1958.

Thus, major efforts to develop the national team intensified between 1964 and 1980 when foreign players were banned from the Italian league, primarily to revive the national team. A betting scandal in 1982, however, led to the resignation of then President Franchi; and in 1994, controversies between “sacchians” and “anti-sacchians” came about. By 2003, FIGC passed stricter regulations to promote economic advantages for the amateur sector and deter violence in stadiums. 2004 was a busy and winning year for Italy, having won the Under 21 European Champions and the bronze medal at the Olympic Games in Athens.

Football Association of Wales (FAW)
Homepage: http://www.faw.org.uk
Rules and regulations: /Rules.ink

History:

The third oldest football governing body, the Football Association of Wales (FAW) was established in 1876. A member of both FIFA and UEFA, FAW forms part of an elite group of five football federations (with the English Football Association, Scottish Football Association, Northern Irish Football Association, and FIFA) that compose the International Football Association Board, responsible for the Laws of the Game. Along with its leading role in international football, FAW also administers six international teams in Wales, including the “A”, “Under 21”, “Under 18”, “Under 16”, “Women’s” and “Girls Under 16”. A governing council sets the pace for FAW, consisting of a President, two Vice-Presidents, Treasurer and twenty elected/nominated members. Her Majesty The Queen serves as FAW’s patron.