Calcio storico fiorentino, also known ascalcio storico orcalcio in livrea, is an early form offootball that originated during theMiddle Ages in Italy and is still played inFlorence.[1] Once widely played, the sport is thought to have started in thePiazza Santa Croce in Florence. There it became known as thegiuoco del calcio fiorentino or simplycalcio, which is now also the name forassociation football in theItalian language. The game may have started as a revival of the Roman sport ofharpastum.
It is organised during the celebrations of St. John the Baptist, with the final held annually on 24 June, the saint's feast day.[2]
According to the legend, playing violent games was a way to train young soldiers, andcalcio was born out of this rugby-like military training when the aristocrats turned it into a fully-fledged sport.[2]
On another famous occasion, the city of Florence held a match on 17 February 1530, in defiance of the imperial troops sent byEmperor Charles V, as the city wasunder siege. The "noble game" was played inPiazza Santa Croce, only by distinguished soldiers, lords, noblemen and princes.[3]
A version of rules for the game were first recorded byGiovanni de' Bardi in the late 16th century.[4]
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Interest incalcio waned in the early 17th century. However, in 1930 it was reorganised as a game in theKingdom of Italy,[5] underBenito Mussolini. It was widely played by amateurs in streets and squares using handmade balls of cloth or animal skin.[6] Today, three matches are played each year in Piazza Santa Croce, in Florence, in the third week of June. A team from eachquartiere of the city is represented:
After playing each other in two opening semi-final games, the two winners go into the final, held annually on 24 June, the feast of SaintJohn the Baptist, the patron saint of Florence.[2] For decades, this violent match has resulted in severe injuries, including death. During the early decades, in order to encourage wagering and achieve a bettable winner, there were times when bulls would be ushered into the ring in hopes of adding confusion and inciting victory. The modern version ofcalcio has not changed much from its historical roots, which allow tactics such as head-butting, punching, elbowing, and choking. However, due to often fatal injuries,sucker punches and kicks to the head are currently banned.[5] It is also prohibited for more than one player to attack an opponent. Any violation leads to being expelled from the game.[citation needed]
The most successful team since 1979 is Santa Croce / Azzurri (Blues) with over 20 tournament wins. Tournaments have been cancelled on several occasions due to violence or foul play. These incidents have led to major rule changes, such as ensuring players are born in Florence (or have been resident for at least ten years) and excluding players that have criminal convictions.[citation needed]
| Year | Winner |
|---|---|
| 2025 | Santa Maria Novella / Rossi (Reds)[7] |
| 2024 | Santa Maria Novella / Rossi (Reds) |
| 2023 | Santa Maria Novella / Rossi (Reds) |
| 2022 | Santa Croce / Azzurri (Blues) |
| 2021 | Santa Croce / Azzurri (Blues) |
| 2020 | No tournament |
| 2019 | Santa Maria Novella / Rossi (Reds) |
| 2018 | Santa Maria Novella / Rossi (Reds) |
| 2017 | Santo Spirito / Bianchi (Whites) |
| 2016 | Santo Spirito / Bianchi (Whites) |
| 2015 | Santo Spirito / Bianchi (Whites) |
| 2014 | Cancelled after foul play in semifinal |
| 2013 | Santa Croce / Azzurri (Blues) |
| 2012 | Santa Croce / Bianchi (Whites) |
| 2011 | Santa Croce / Azzurri (Blues) |
| 2010 | Multiple team forfeitures |
| 2009 | No winner declared |
| 2008 | Santa Maria Novella / Rossi (Reds) |
| 2007 | Suspended due to crowd security concerns |
| 2006 | Tournament cancelled: uncontrolled brawl |
| 2005 | Santa Croce / Azzurri (Blues) |
| 2004 | Santa Maria Novella / Rossi (Reds) |
| 2003 | Santa Croce / Azzurri (Blues) |
| 2002 | Santa Croce / Azzurri (Blues) |
| 2001 | No winner declared |
| 2000 | No winner declared |
| 1999 | Santa Croce / Azzurri (Blues) |
| 1998 | Santa Maria Novella / Rossi (Reds) |
| 1997 | No winner declared |
| 1996 | San Giovanni / Verdi (Greens) |
| 1995 | Santa Croce / Azzurri (Blues) |
| 1994 | Santa Croce / Azzurri (Blues) |
| 1993 | Santa Croce / Azzurri (Blues) |
| 1992 | Santa Croce / Azzurri (Blues) |
| 1991 | Santa Croce / Azzurri (Blues) |
| 1990 | No winner declared |
| 1989 | Santa Croce / Azzurri (Blues) |
| 1988 | Santa Croce / Azzurri (Blues) |
| 1987 | Tournament suspended: safety concerns |
| 1986 | Santa Croce / Azzurri (Blues) |
| 1985 | Santa Croce / Azzurri (Blues) |
| 1984 | Santa Croce / Azzurri (Blues) |
| 1983 | Santa Croce / Azzurri (Blues) |
| 1982 | Tournament cancelled: uncontrolled brawl |
| 1981 | Santo Spirito / Bianchi (Whites) |
| 1980 | Santa Croce / Azzurri (Blues) |
| 1979 | Santa Croce / Azzurri (Blues) |
Matches last 50 minutes and are played on a field covered in sand, twice as long as it is wide (approximately 100 m × 50 m or 109 by 55 yards). A white line divides the field into two identical squares, and a goal net runs the width of each end.
Each team has 27 players and no substitutions are allowed for injured or expelled players. The teams are made up of fourdatori indietro (goalkeepers), threedatori innanzi (fullbacks), fivesconciatori (halfbacks) and 15innanzi orcorridori (forwards). The captain and standard bearer's tent sits at the center of the goal net. They do not actively participate in the game, but can organise their teams and occasionally act ascaccas (referees), mainly to calm down their players or to stop fights.
The referee and the six linesmen officiate the match in collaboration with the judge commissioner, who remains off the field. The referee, above everyone else, is the master of the field, and is responsible for making sure the game runs smoothly, stepping into the field only to maintain discipline and reestablish order when fights occur.
Shots from a small cannon orculverin announces the beginning of the event and eachcaccia, or goal. The game starts when thepallaio (the ceremonial ball-carrier) throws the ball toward the center line.[8] The fifteen forwards orcorridori from each team begin fighting in a wild mixed martial arts match—punching, kicking, tripping, hacking, tackling, and wrestling with each other in an effort designed to tire opponents' defenses, but which often descends into an all-out brawl. They try to pin and force into submission as many players possible. Once there are enough incapacitated players, the other teammates come and swoop up the ball and head to the goal.
From this moment on, the players try by any means necessary to get the ball into the opponents' goal, also calledcaccia. The teams change sides with everycaccia, or goal scored. It is important to shoot with precision, because every time a player throws or kicks the ball above the net, the opposing team is awarded with a halfcaccia. The game ends after 50 minutes and the team which scored the mostcacce wins.
Along with thepallio, the winning team used to receive aChianina, a type of pure-bred cow. However, this has been reduced to a free dinner for the winning team; the players earn no other compensation.[9]
Italian Baroque poetGabriello Chiabrera wrote threeodes about Florentine football, emphasising the game's spectacular aspects and comparing it with Romangladiatorial games.[10] The comic book seriesBitch Planet includes an event titled "Duemila" or "Megaton"; in issue #4 the event is described: "Megaton is one of many modern descendants ofcalcio fiorentino, a 16th century Italian sport... Teams may have any number of players, but their combined weight can be no more than 2,000 lb [910 kg]!"[11]
In the 2017 filmLost In Florence,Brett Dalton plays a former college football star who travels to Italy and becomes involved in playingcalcio storico fiorentino.
In episode 4, "Judgement Day" of the TV series,Medici: Masters of Florence, the main characters engage in a game ofcalcio storico fiorentino in the main square of Florence during a flashback sequence.
In the sixth episode from the second season of Syfy Channel'sHAPPY! (titled "Pervapalooza"), the demon Orcus referencescalcio storico fiorentino while trapped inside Blue Scaramucci's body. The demon says thathockey seems likefoxy boxing compared tocalcio storico fiorentino.
The Mirror & the Light,Hilary Mantel's novel aboutThomas Cromwell, contains a description of an early 16th-century game ofcalcio storico fiorentino, emphasising its brutality.[12]
Episode 1 of the 2020 Netflix seriesHome Game is dedicated tocalcio storico fiorentino, featuring behind-the-scenes player vignettes contemporary to the 2019 Reds-versus-Whites final match. In addition to providing historical information, the episode depicts interviews with players from both teams.[13]
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