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Who called soccer “the beautiful game”?

The phrase “The Beautiful Game” as a synonym for soccer was first coined by Didi (Waldyr Pereira), a Brazilian superstar soccer player. The Brazilian Portuguese expression Joga player. The Brazilian Portuguese expression Bonito (to “play beautifully”) parallels this phrase. In 1977 Pelé, one of soccer’s greatest superstars, named his autobiography My Life and the Beautiful Game.

Quickies

Did you know …

that because of its regulation depth of six yards, the goal area is sometimes simply called “the six”?

When was the first radio broadcast of a soccer game?

On January 22, 1927, Arsenal played Sheffield United to a 1–1 draw in a Division One match at Highbury. It was the first match ever covered by radio, as the BBC called the game from pitch-side.

When was the first television transmission of a soccer game?

In 1937 the BBC was on hand to televise, for the first time, portions of the FA Cup final between Preston North End and Sunderland from Wembley Stadium in London. final between Preston North End and Sunderland The following year, the BBC televised the entire match.