Paralympics: Football 5-a-Side

Every Football match is played between two teams with four blind athletes and one sighted or visually impaired goalkeeper on the field as well as five substitutes. Additionally, each team has a guide behind the opponent's goal to direct the players when they shoot.

The ball is passed between team members with the objective of kicking it into the goal area. The opposition team attempts to prevent them from scoring. Only the goalkeeper may use their hands to play the ball. As the pitch is surrounded with a wall, there are no throw-ins, which creates a flowing and fast-paced game.

A football match lasts 50min with two halves of 25min each and a 10min half time in between. The winning team is the one that scores the most goals during a match. In the case of a draw, the winner is decided using a penalty kick procedure.

A referee and an assistant referee on the sidelines monitor the game. Penalties are awarded if a player touches their eyeshade, if the goalkeeper steps outside their area or if a player kicks or pushes an opponent.