Swamp football (sometimes called Swamp soccer,[1] and Suopotkupallo in Finnish) is a form of association football that is played in bogs or swamps. The sport originated in Finland where it initially was used as an exercise for athletes and soldiers due to the strength needed to move through a bog. Swamp football is especially popular in the Kainuu region. The swamp football world championship is held annually at Hyrynsalmi, Kainuu.[2] The first organized championship was the 1998 Finnish championship and was the brainchild of Jyrki Väänänen nicknamed "The Swamp Baron". There are currently an estimated 300 swamp football teams around the world.
The officially recognized global body for Swamp Football is Swamp Soccer UK Ltd, based in Scotland. Swamp Soccer UK's mission is to introduce the sport to other countries, primarily by organizing the Swamp Soccer World Cup. From 2011 to 2015, official tournaments have been launched in China (Beijing), Turkey (Istanbul) and India (Mumbai), led by Stewart Miller.
Swamp football in the UK
In 2008, the Dunoon competition moved to nearby Strachur to become the World Cup. 43 teams entered the tournament, which was contested over 3 days. Top honors went to Team Rambos in the men's competition with Belgium's De Rode Modderduivels winning the mixed competition.
In 2009, sponsored by FRijj (part of the Dairy Crest Group), the world cup competition attracted 100 teams from 23 countries. FRijj and Swamp Soccer ran an innovative on-pack promotion that included augmented reality - the first time an established UK brand had used this medium for a national promotion.
In 2011, the tournament moved to Edinburgh, and in 2012 it was in Inverness, the capital city of the Scottish Highlands. The Swamp Soccer World Cup moved back to its spiritual home, the Dunoon area in 2013. In 2014, Ardbeg single malt whisky became the title sponsor.
In 2016, the Swamp Soccer World Cup moved to Istanbul in Turkey.
Rules
The standard football rules have been modified significantly to suit the demanding sport:
The game is played in two halves of 12 minutes and sometimes 15 minutes
Corner kicks, penalties, and throw-ins are made by dropping the ball on to a chosen foot
There is no off-side rule
There are 6 players on the field, with no limit on the size of squads
The players can be substituted as often as they want
The World Cup is held in Scotland annually, usually on the last weekend in June
The World Championship is held in Finland annually, usually in the middle of June a week before the World Cup
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