An early form of Italian football began in the 59 BC in the Piazza Santa Croce in Florence.

The sport of giuoco del calcio fiorentino - a mix of soccer, rugby, Greco-Roman wrestling and bare-knuckle fighting - was played by the aristocrats on every night between Eipiphany and Lent.

The official rules of calcio were published for the first time in 1580 by a certain Giovanni Bardi.

Just like Roman harpastum, it was played in teams of 27, using both feet and hands.

Goals could be scored by throwing the ball over a designated spot on the perimeter of the field.

The playing field is a giant sand pit with a goal running the width of each end.

There is a main referee, six linesmen and a field master.

Each game is played out for 50 minutes with the winner being the team with the most points or ‘cacce’.