Football 5-a-side

Football 5-a-side is a very popular and spectacular sport for blind athletes and athletes with vision impairment.

Every Football match is played between two teams with four blind athletes and one sighted or visually impaired goalkeeper on the field, and five substitutes. A Football match lasts 50 minutes with two halves lasting 25 minutes each and a 10 minutes half time in between. The winning team is the one, which scores the most goals during a match.

The rules and regulations of the International Association of Football Associations (FIFA) and the Football Committee of the International Blind Sports Association (IBSA) govern the 5x5 Football. Athletes with total or partial vision impairment can participate in the sport.

Football 5-a-side at the 2004 Paralympic Games

At the Athens Paralympic Games the Football 5-a-side tournament will take place on Pitch 2 of the Olympic Hockey Centre, at the Helliniko Olympic Complex. The competition programme will be completed within six competition days: 18, 20, 22, 24, 26 and 28 September 2004.