History of CP Football

1978 - 1st International CP Football competition

The first International CP Football competition was held in Edinburgh, Scotland, in 1978 at the third edition of the Cerebral Palsy International Games. It was at these Games, where the Cerebral Palsy International Sports and Recreation Association (CPISRA) was founded.

 

 

1982 - First World Championships

In 1982, the first World Championships were held at the CPISRA World Games in Denmark; and the first Regional Championships were held in Glasgow, Scotland, in 1985. 

 

1984 - Inclusion within the Paralympic Games

CP Football was first included on the Paralympic programme in 1984 at the New York Paralympic Games. Belgium became the first Paralympic Champion, defeating Ireland.

 

1985 - First Regional Championships

The first Regional Championships were held in Glasgow, Scotland

 

1988 - 1996 - Paralympic Games

Between 1988 and 1996, the Netherlands were the leading nation becoming Paralympic Champions at the Seoul 1988, Barcelona 1992 and Atlanta 1996 Paralympics Games.

 

2000 - 2012 - Dominance of Russia and Ukraine

Since then, Russia and Ukraine have been top of the rankings. Russia were the gold medallist at the Sydney 2000 Paralympic Games and Ukraine gold medallist at the Athens 2004 Paralympic Games defeating Brazil. Russia and Ukraine then also met in the finals in both finals of Beijing 2008 and London 2012, with Ukraine winning gold in the first final and Russia taking the gold in the second.

 

2010 - Vote for Independance

In October 2010, the general assembly of CPISRA adopted a motion for CP football to become an independent sport.

 

2015 - IFCPF

In January 2015, the governance of CP Football was transferred from CPISRA to the new governing body, the International Federation of Cerebral Palsy Football.

2015 also saw the inaugral IFCPF CP Football World Championships U19 take place at the CPISRA World Games in Nottingham, England, with 7 teams from 3 IPC regions.

 

Present

The performance now being shown by many countries, through excellent coaching and training, have seen a levelling out in the competitive ability of many of the countries now taking part.