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Undisputably the world sport, the origins of football have long been a moot and at times outright contentiously disputed point.

But remarks by FIFA president Joseph Sepp Blatter at the opening ceremony of the Third International Football Expo on July 15, 2004 in Beijing that the games governing body concurs with the findings of the Chinese Football Association (CFA), who concluded football originated in Linzi, Zibo of East Chinas Shandong Province, may go someway to settling the matter.

A few months earlier another FIFA boss set the proverbial ball rolling when he told a press conference in London: “Although a great many countries claim to have “invented” football, historians on international football point to the game of cuju in China as the origin of the sport, that is to say, the earliest football originated in China.”

Jerome Champagne, deputy secretary-general, went on to say: “During the Asian Cup this summer, FIFA will announce that China is to be officially recognized as the birthplace of football.”

As Chinese, we believe that such historical announcement will open the heavy door, which used to separate the way connecting the modern game with the ancient football.

FIFA president Joseph Sepp Blatter says China is the origin of football The idea that football originates from the ancient Chinese game of cuju first surfaced in the 1970s.

Since then an increasing number of experts on the game and sports historians have shown great interest in the topic.

As early as 1985, at the opening ceremony of the First FIFA U-17 Mens World Youth Championship (Kodak Cup) in China, FIFA president Joao Havelange said: “It is unquestionable that football originated here and it has a history of more than 2,000 years old.

In 2001, Blatter endorsed the contention that China was the birthplace of football in a speech on the development of international football at a training course for coaches organized by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC).

“Although a great many countries claim to have “invented” football, historians on international football point to the game of cuju in China as the origin of the sport, that is to say, the earliest football is originated in China,” Jerome Champagne, deputy secretary-general of FIFA, claimed officially at a press conference in London on February 4, 2004. “During the Asian Cup this summer, FIFA will announce China would be officially recognized as the birthplace of football. We will show our deep respect to Chinas football at the ceremony.” Three months later, FIFA president Joseph Sepp Blatter went to the Malaysian capital of Kuala Lumpur during the July celebrations to mark the 50th anniversary of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Blatter reiterated his earlier remarks that modern football originated in China while meeting the Chinese delegation and said he hoped FIFA would make it known during the AFC Asian Cup 2004 in China.

Efforts by people from many walks of life over several months, led to a seminar on the origin of cuju being held in Linzi District, Zibo, Shandong Province between June 9 and 11, 2004 (see picture 23). About 36 experts from the fields of Chinese sports history, archaeology, and in particular the history and culture of the Qi state ? which existed over two millennia ago in what is todays Shandong - discussed the academic proposition from a variety of perspectives, including the origin, formation and development of ancient Chinese cuju when they met in Zibo. During the seminar, experts reached a consensus based on historic materials and documents as well as archaeological files The following is a summary of some of their main conclusions:

1) The ancient document “Stratagems for the Warring States: Stratagem for the Qi State” (Zhanguoce:Qice) and Historical Records (Shiji) written by Sima Qian during the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC-25 AD) show that the earliest cuju was played in the region of the Qi State during the Warring States Period (475 BC-221 BC). At that time, Linzi was the capital of Qi . Cuju had become one of the local entertainments in Qi from about 300 BC, according to the earliest records of cuju or taju in Chinese history books.

2) During the Spring and Autumn Period and Warring States Period (770 BC-221 BC), because of having kept the complete the documents Zhou Li, the Lu State took on a role of fundamental importance in the ideology and culture of China at that time. Under the management of Duke Huan of Qi and Guan Zhong as philosophical adviser, the Qi State took the lead in reform and grew in power and prosperity nationally. Nine times, Duke Huan held summits of other dukes under an emperor and restored peace to the country. In time, Duke Huan became the first of the “Five Overlords of Spring and Autumn Period.ó During the Warring States Period, Qi ranked among the ‘Seven Great Powers” (Qi, Chu, Yan, Han, Zhao, Wei, Qin). At that time, Qi possessed a developed economy, prosperous culture and strong military, and held sway over a vast region for a long time.

As the capital of Qi, Linzi became a commercial centre with a flourishing handicraft business. The prosperity of local residents gave them time to enjoy pastimes of which cuju was a particular entertainment. In addition, the developed tanned hide industry and other related one enabled the professional skills to produce a ju (leather ball).

3) According to òHistorical Records: The Biographies of Bian Que Cang Gongó (Shiji: Bian Que - Cang gong lie zhuan), there was a man named Xiang Chu who had been so obsessed with cuju during the Dynasty of Western Han (206 BC-25 AD) he ignored medical advice to stop playing when taken ill and died. The story shows that cuju had been still popular among ordinary people in Linzi during the ensuing Han Dynasty.

4) There are many descriptions of cuju in Chinese literature. In early times, “Stratagems for the Warring States: Stratagem for Qi State” (Zhanguoce:Qice) and òHistorical Records: The Biographies of Su Qinó (Shi Ji: Su Qin lie Zhuan) described cuju in the Linzi region during the Warring States Period (770 BC-221 BC). “Historical Records: The Biographies of Bian Que Cang Gong” (Shiji: Bian Que - Cang gong lie zhuan) tell us about cuju in the Linzi region during the Western Han Dynasty. Wu Jun, a poet in the Southern Dynasties (420-589 AD), said in his poem“The generals in frontiers”that “Linzi people are fond of cuju while Qucheng residents are good at art of fencing.”

At the end of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911 AD), Xu Ke discussed cuju in Shangdong Province (the former Qi State region) in his book “Qing Bai Lei Chao: On Professional Skills” and Pu Songling (1640-1715) talked about the sport in his “Strange Tales from a Lonely Studio,” a collection of around 500 stories.

Seldom in other places in the country have documents and literature, at different times, showed great interest in description the formation and evolution of cuju without interruption.

Based on the written records and other evidence the experts concluded that football, or cuju as it was known in ancient China, originated in Linzi, the Qi State capital during the Spring and Autumn Period and Warring States Period (770 BC-221 BC). Drawings of football games have been found on stone and brick paintings and even on seals, indicating that there were many forms of football games, some similar to present day matches, others resembling dances. Many centuries before football appeared in Europe, the Chinese were already practicing kicking a ball to score points in organized matches.

This conclusion has been approved in both academic circles and among the international football community.

On the morning of July 15, 2004, China International Football Expo opened in Beijing. At a press conference on the origin of football held at that time, Dr Bai Yunxiang, a professor from the Archaeology Institute of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, on behalf of the experts committee, announced their findings and conclusion that the ancient Chinese game of cuju (football) originated in Linzi.

Professor Yuan Daren, director of the Literature and History Committee of the China State Physical Culture Administration and president of the Society of Chinese Sports History, told the media the seminar had provided objective arguments. Based on reliable and accurate reasoning, the conclusion accords with the accepted understanding of experts in history and football. Therefore, his Committee acknowledged the academic result.

Together with the Asian Football Confederation the Committee issued the certificate to Zibos Linzi District.

Joseph Sepp Blatter, in Beijing for the Asian Cup Football China 2004 tournament, announces formally that football began in Linzi, Zibo in what is today East Chinas Shandong Province .

As his words spread around the world, the heavy door of contention swung open and the link between the modern and ancient game of football was forged.