England captain David Beckham might have cursed his nation's soccer gods when he sailed his penalty kick over the crossbar in this summer's Euro 2004 tournament.

He might also have cursed Swiss referees.

But according to FIFA, the world body in charge of the beautiful game, Beckham should have blamed the Chinese for inventing the game, rather than cursing keen kickers in England in days of yore.

"We have to say thanks to the British associations --especially England -- to have organized the game of association football," said FIFA president Sepp Blatter.

"But you cannot deny the history that in China there is a recollection and evidence they played the game a thousand years ago."

FIFA says its historians have proof that the game -- then called cuju or "kickball" -- originated in China some 2,000 years ago. It was even played for emperors.

Football, as it is known in Britain, is a national obsession. During the World Cup in 2002, the Archbishop of Canterbury called upon the nation to pray for an English victory.

So it is no surprise that the football-mad English aren't too thrilled to hear they didn't invent the game after all.

"There's no way the Chinese invented the football," one fan said.

"I don't believe that," said another English supporter. "I don't know where they got that one, to be honest. Everyone knows it was made here. The rules got set out here and everything."

But the Chinese-- currently hosting the 2004 Asian Cup -- say they have already won a significant victory and have little sympathy for British disbelievers.

"Do they have evidence in England?" one Chinese fan asked. "FIFA have proven that we invented football. It's a historical fact."

"I feel very proud and I think if we can invent football, then we can win the World Cup within 10 years," said another optimistic fan in Beijing.

With FIFA's acknowledgement of soccer's Chinese origins, English fans are now forced to reflect on yet another disappointment.

"Considering how we played in Euro 2004, I'm not surprised someone else invented it," an England fan said.

What a pity that someone invented the penalty kick.

With a report from CTV News' Matt Cowan