Football Five-a-side

8 teams compete for 1 gold medal

Five-a-side football is one of the most popular sports across all age groups and abilities. With five-a-side football in the Paralympics, all participants are visually impaired. Due to the differing nature of visual impairment, all players are required to wear blackout masks to ensure that all players are on an equal footing.

Although officially five a side football was only a tournament based sport in the 1970s it has been played for several decades as a fun sport. Football in the Paralympics is played largely under FIFA rules. It is played as a five-a-side game and as a seven-a-side game. Both games are under the control of the International Paralympic Committee.

Due to the nature of the game and the fact that all players are blind a special ball is used. The ball makes a noise and can therefore be more easily followed by competitors. The goal keeper can be sighted or visually impaired and there are five substitutes in every team.

A sighted guide stands behind the goal to assist players when they are shooting for the goal. Each game lasts 50 minutes, 25 minutes each half, with a 10 minute half-time in the middle. The winner is the team with the most goals. If there is a draw situation then the match proceeds to a penalty shoot out.