
Covered in tattoos, stripped to the waist, and wearing little more than tape on their knuckles as they punch and kick each other in the dirt - you may be forgiven for thinking these men are crazed convicts taking part in some brutal, prison-yard sport.

In fact they are all athletes taking part in the annual Calcio Storico - or 'historic football' - match in the Italian city of Florence, a sport so brutal that, upon seeing it played in 1574, King Henry III of France declared it was 'too small to be a war and too cruel to be a game'.

Split into two teams of 27, players are allowed to use any means necessary in order to get the ball down the opponents' end of the field, before throwing in into a thin net spanning the width of the pitch in order to score.

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Hands on: The annual Calcio Storico - or 'historic football' - tournament takes place every June in the Piazza Santa Croce in Florence and sees two teams of 27 play a no-rules game of football

Brutal: Players are allowed to use any means to get the ball from one end of the field to the other, including punching, kicking and wrestling - all done without gloves or helmets

Relentless: Matches are played on a dirt pitch for 50 minutes straight without any stoppages, even if players have to be stretchered off the field by medics waiting in the wings

No-holds barred:From the first whistle the teams begin fighting in often savage contests in an effort to tire the opponents out and punch a hole in the opposition defences before the ball carrier attempts to score

Ancient: A sport similar to this was likely played by the Roman Legions, though nobody is quite sure when it made its way to Florence

The players will train throughout the year in order to be fit for the match, which lasts for 50 minutes without any breaks, even if players have to be stretchered off the field by medics.

The teams consist of four goalkeepers and three fullbacks, whose job it is to stop attacking players from scoring, five halfbacks who play towards the front of the field, and 15 forwards who stand toe-to-toe along the centre line.

From the first whistle the forwards begin fighting - punching, kicking, tripping, and wrestling with each other in a brutal display designed to punch a hole in the opposition defences, but which often descends into an all-out brawl.

Chaos: Despite often descending into an all-out fight, the game does have a referee and six linesmen who are charged with keeping the peace (pictured here in yellow), though their efforts often prove futile

Sport: Players score by throwing or kicking the ball into a long, thin net spanning the width of the pitch (picture here, in front of the crowd)

Shocking: After being shown a game of Calcio Storico in 1573, King Henry III of France declared that it was 'too small to be a war and too cruel to be a game'

Fierce: Four teams compete in the tournament from the four districts of Florence - Santa Croce, in blue, Santa Maria Novella, in red, Santo Spirito, in white, and San Giovanni in green (pictured, a Santo Spirito, left, and a San Giovanni player, right)

Stripped: While all players start off wearing a shirt in their team colours, that is usually torn off during the brutal contest

History: The trousers worn by the competitors are supposed to resemble those used in medieval times, when the game was played between rival houses and wealthy barons

Ancestry: The modern incarnation of the Calcio Storico began in 1930, at a carnival to mark the anniversary of the siege of Florence by the French, and the tradition continues to this day

Though it may not look it at times, there is a referee and six linesmen who attempt to keep the peace, but at any one time they have dozens of fights to deal with, and players have been known to get knocked out before they can be reached.

The exact history of the Calcio is unknown, although a sport similar to the one played each June in Florence was popular with soldiers of the Roman Army, before the city of Florence was even founded in 59AD.

While it was likely played in Florence throughout the 15th Century, the first recorded game took place in 1530 as Florentines played a match in Piazza Santa Croce despite the city being under siege by French troops.

Fighting talk: While the official rules for the Calcio Storico state that players may use any means necessary, in practice the competitors can - and do - get sent off for 'violent behaviour'

Fighting dirty: The floor of the Piazza Santa Corce is covered in dirt for the event, supposedly to mirror how it used to be when the sport was first played - these days it is in fact covered with stone

Peak condition: Players from each district of Florence will train specially all year in order to be fit for the event, as each game lasts for 50 minutes without a single stoppage in play

Takedown: As well as kicking and punching, players are allowed to wrestle each other to the ground in order to get the ball to the goal

Floored: Two Calcio Storico players wrestle each other in the dirt outside the Basilica Santa Corce in Florence during the annual games

Competitive: The four teams play a series of knockout matches before the two best face each other in the grand final

Down and out: A player is tackled to the ground during the brutal annual Calcio Storico football match in the city of Florence

No you don't: Players can trip and kick one-another to stop the opponents breaking through, even if they don't have the ball

The modern game evolved from a match played in 1930, during celebrations to mark the siege of Florence, and was played by four teams from the four corners of the city - Santa Croce, in blue, Santa Maria Novella, in red, Santo Spirito, in white, and San Giovanni in green.

Keeping in touch with the sport's ancient roots, the square in front of the Santa Croce church is covered in dirt and the teams dress up in medieval-style costumes bearing their colours.

A short series of knockout matches are then played, before the two best teams are pitted against one-another in the final, which this year was between Santo Spirito and San Giovanni - with Santo Spirito emerging the victors.

Heavy going: A Santo Spirito player is kicked in the chest by a San Giovanni opponent during the Calcio Storico match in Florence

Unorthodox: While the flying double punch is not a move seen in many other sports, in Calcio Storico it is perfectly legitimate

No way through: A green player tries to stop a white opponent getting through his defences to score during a Calcio Storico match

Victorious: Santo Spirito players celebrate scoring during the game which their team went on to win, crowing them tournament champions

Celebration: White team players hug one another following their victory over the greens, making them this year's tournament winners

Scenic: The games are played in the Piazza Santa Croce, in front of the basilica on the south eastern side of Florence