Futsal Betting with NetBet

Never heard of Futsal? You’re probably not the only one. It’s not a hugely popular game in the UK, but it’s a big deal in many other countries. For those not in the know, Futsal is a sport broadly similar to association football. Far more intensive and concentrated than traditional soccer, Futsal is a much more involved game which places an emphasis on techniques. Instead of being played outdoors on a pitch, it is played inside on a (usually much smaller) smooth surface. Both teams have only five players – including the goalkeepers – and the game is much shorter than a game of football, lasting only forty minutes with a break instead of ninety. There is no overtime, no injury time, and no offsides, but substitutions are limitless and can be made at any time during a match as long as it’s within the delineated substitution zone. Teams are entitled to a one-minute time out in each period of the game, but a team which does not use their entitlement in one period cannot “stockpile” it for the next.

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What are the rules of Futsal and who plays the game?

The word futsal comes from the Portuguese phrase “futebol de salao”, meaning “football in a room”. Futsal was invented in Uruguay in 1930 and has been extremely popular in South American countries such as Brazil, Chile, and Argentina. However, it has since spread to other countries – it’s now played in France, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Colombia, South Korea, Russia, the Netherlands, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Iran, Indonesia, Guatemala, Australia, Canada, and the United States. In Asia, the annual futsal club competition is known as the AFC Club Championship. It’s less well-known in the United Kingdom, but is slowly becoming more widely played there, due to numerous small-scale organisations and mini leagues. The first Futsal World Championship was held in Brazil in 1971, and the first FIFA Futsal World Cup was held in 1989 in the Netherlands; since 1992, there has been one every four years, with Spain and Brazil winning all of them so far. The game itself first came about as an exercise for young soccer players, played on a basketball court, and can informally be played on any indoor sports area.

Isn’t it just 5-a-side?

While Futsal can at first glance seem very similar to traditional British 5-a-side football, there are a number of differences. Firstly, while 5-a-side tends to be more flexible concerning the dimensions of the pitch, Futsal pitches are strictly delineated to be a certain size. The game also differs from traditional soccer in many small ways. For instance, Futsal is played with a smaller, denser ball that doesn’t bounce as much or spend as much time in the air as a standard soccer ball. A restart has to be commenced within four seconds or the other team is allowed to take possession of the ball. Similarly, on a save, the goalkeeper is only allowed four seconds of contact with the ball to return it to the pitch. It is also against the rules to bounce the ball off the wall; it must stay within the playing area. Also, while all the rest of the players are allowed to enter the scoring zone during a penalty in 5-a-side, in futsal only the goalkeeper is allowed to do this.

Further differences include the fact that a goal may not be scored directly from a kickoff – the ball must be played forward first. Corner kicks must be direct and, similarly to the rule about the goalkeeper, must be taken within four seconds. Free kicks can be direct or indirect.

Fascinating Futsal facts

Nowadays, many soccer clubs in Brazil have their youth players playing futsal instead of football, and while Brazil is well-known for being a nation that produces top-level football players, there are actually more Futsal players in Brazil than footballers! Many world-class football players, such as Ronaldo, Xavi, Fabregas, Messi, Ronaldinho, Pele, Deco, and others started out by playing futsal. Because of the smaller teams, and the smaller playing space, it’s been proven that futsal players are six times more likely to be passed the ball, explaining why futsal works so well as a training exercise for aspiring football players. The fact that players must work hard to ensure that the ball stays within the boundaries of the playing area and does not leave it means that they have to concentrate on controlling the ball and sharpen their technique. It’s a much more fast-paced game than traditional soccer and demands a wholly different set of skills.

Futsal records and statistics

Interestingly, despite futsal not being hugely well-known in the United Kingdom, the all-time record for playing Futsal was achieved by the Lee Knight foundation in Birkenhead in 2017, who played the game for 50 continuous hours. This was achieved as part of an attempt to raise money for facilities for disabled players. Good on them! Despite the fact that Spain and Brazil have won every single Futsal World Cup, the highest-scoring futsal player in the world isn’t from either of those countries – he’s actually an Iranian by the name of Vahid Shamsaei. Having scored 392 goals in international matches during his career, he’s way ahead of the second highest-scoring goalscorer, Manoel Tobias, a Brazilian player. Who knows – maybe Iran will end up winning the next FIFA World Cup!

Get the best Futsal odds with NetBet!

Here at NetBet, we are proud to offer the best Futsal betting you can find. With great odds, you’ll just love enjoying the game and maybe placing a wager on the outcome of a match. Take a look at our sports page and enjoy Futsal betting with us. We’re sure you’ll enjoy watching this great game and betting on a match or two – find out for yourself!