Football Act 1424 facts for kids
| Act of Parliament | |
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| Long title | Of playing at the fut ball. |
|---|---|
| Citation | c. 18 |
| Other legislation | |
| Repealed by | Statute Law Revision (Scotland) Act 1906 |
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Status: Repealed
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The Football Act 1424 was a law made in Scotland a long time ago, in the year 1424. It was passed by the Parliament of Scotland, which was like the government at the time. The King, James I, was in charge. This law became official on May 26, 1424. Its main purpose was to stop people from playing football.
Contents
Why Football Was Banned
This old law clearly said that 'no man play at the fut ball'. This meant that playing football was against the King's rules. If someone was caught playing, they would have to pay a fine. The fine was 'iiij d', which meant four pence. This was a small amount of money at the time.
The Reason for the Ban
The main reason for banning football was to encourage people to practice archery. Archery was very important for defending the country. The King wanted everyone to be good at using a bow and arrow. He thought that playing football was taking time away from this important training.
How Long the Ban Lasted
The Football Act 1424 stayed in place for many hundreds of years. However, people eventually stopped paying attention to it. It became an old law that nobody really followed anymore.
When the Law Ended
The law was finally removed in 1906. This happened when a new law called the Statute Law Revision (Scotland) Act 1906 was passed. This new Act got rid of many old laws that were no longer needed.
Other Old Sports Laws
After 1424, there were three more laws made in the 1400s. These laws were passed in 1457, 1470, and 1490. They also banned both football and golf. These bans were especially strict during wappenschaws. A wappenschaw was a special gathering where people had to show their weapons. It was also a time for military training and archery practice.
See also
- Ba game
- Medieval football
- Football in Scotland
- Scotland in the Late Middle Ages
- Sport in Scotland
