Futebol de Salão is a 5-a-side version of football of South American origin that is played with a smaller (size 2), heavier (465g) ball that has virtually no bounce (10%). The game became very popular in Brazil where players such as Pele, Rivelino, Zico right through to Juninho, Ronaldo and Rivaldo were brought up first playing Futebol de Salão before moving on to conventional football.

Following FIFA's decision to promote the game of Futsal (5-a-side played with a size 4 ball with 20-25% rebound) Futebol de Salão has virtually died out in South America and is now developed globally through the International Confederation of Futebol de Salão who see the game as being the best start for children in football.

Whilst in Brazil, sensing the demise of Futebol de Salão, Simon Clifford was determined to maintain the true nature of the game and set about developing a coaching structure to run alongside the game from his base in the UK. Simon founded the International Confederation of Futebol de Salão to keep the game alive and to introduce the game and training programme to children throughout the world as he convinced that this will have great benefits for all who love the game of football.

Originally setting up Brazilian Football Academies and Soccer Schools in the UK, the International Confederation of Futebol de Salão now oversees the game throughout the world and has centres up and running in numerous countries.