Sevens football
| Characteristics | |
|---|---|
| Team members | 7 per side |
| Type | Sports |
| Equipment | Ball |
| Venue | Football pitch |
| Presence | |
| Country or region | South India |
| Olympic | No |
| Paralympic | No |
Sevens football is a seven-a-side version of football played in India, on a smaller football pitch. Sevens football is predominantly popular in Kerala, Malabar, and other parts of South India. The matches in sevens tournaments are often played to fully packed stadiums. Sevens tournaments have also attracted players from other parts of India, as well as international players. Matches are usually held from November to May. The Sevens Football Association (SFA) organizes around 50 tournaments among different clubs across South India.
Several footballers, including India internationals I. M. Vijayan, Ashique Kuruniyan, VP Suhair, Mashoor Shereef, CK Vineeth, Zakeer Manuppa, Mohammed Rafi, Asif Kottayil and Anas Edathodika, credit their experience in sevens tournaments for helping them improve footballing skills and develop passion for the sport.