Football culture is a descriptive term of the cultural aspects surrounding the game of association football. This article explores aspects surrounding the game itself, as well as that of the players, and society itself. A player (wearing the red kit) has penetrated the defence (in the white kit) and is taking a shot at goal. ...

In many countries, football has ingrained itself into the national culture, and many parts of life revolve around it. Many countries have daily football newspapers, as well as football magazines. Football players, especially in the top levels of the game, have become role models and aspirational ideals for many people. The game itself has now become glamourised, with many children practising the game and aspiring to the wealth shown off by the top footballers (it may be argued that, for most footballers, this extravagant lifestyle is unrealistic). This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ...

The game

'Derbies'

Main article: Local derby

Derby matches, or matches between two neighbouring rival teams, are fiercely competitive and provide a spectacle in football, for the supporting fans as well as for interested onlookers. Sometimes there are underlying political and sectarian tensions. The term applies to matches between two local teams, that is in the same city or region. However it is sometimes erroneously used to refer to matches between big clubs from the same country - these can be found in the article major football rivalries. In many countries the term local derby, or simply just derby (pronounced der-bee in American English and dar-bee in British English after the English city) means a sporting fixture between two (generally local) rivals, particularly in Association Football. ... The Politics series Politics Portal This box:      Politics is the process by which groups of people make decisions. ... Sectarianism refers (usually pejoratively) to a rigid adherence to a particular sect or party or religious denomination. ... This article deals with major football (soccer) rivalries around the world. ...

Examples of famous football derbies include:^[1]

• Al-Ahly v Zamalek
• Old Firm Derby - Celtic F.C. v Rangers F.C. - Glasgow, Scotland
• Merseyside derby - Everton F.C. v Liverpool F.C. - Liverpool, England
• Boca Juniors v River Plate - Buenos Aires, Argentina
• Derby della Madonnina (Milan Derby) - A.C. Milan v Internazionale - Italy
• Fenerbahçe v Galatasaray - Istanbul, Turkey
• Manchester derby - Manchester United v Manchester City, England
• North London derby - Arsenal vs Tottenham Hotspur, England

Al-Ahly (Arabic: النادى الاهلى للرياضة البدنية ) is an Egyptian football club founded in April, 1907 in Cairo, Egypt. ... Zamalek is a district of Cairo, Egypt. ... Crowd at football match between Celtic F.C. and Rangers F.C. at Celtic Park. ... Celtic Football Club (pronounced seltik in IPA; AIM: CCP)[1] is a Scottish football club, competing in the Scottish Premier League, the highest form of competition in Scotland. ... For other uses, see Rangers F.C. (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Glasgow (disambiguation). ... This article is about the country. ... The Merseyside Derby is the name of the football match played between the Everton and Liverpool football clubs, the two most successful clubs from the Merseyside area of England. ... Everton Football Club is an English football club located in the city of Liverpool. ... Liverpool Football Club are an English professional football club based in Liverpool, Merseyside, who play in the Premier League; they are historically the most successful club in the history of English football, having won more trophies than any other English club. ... For other uses, see Liverpool (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see England (disambiguation). ... “Boca Juniors” redirects here. ... For the club from Uruguay see Club Atlético River Plate (Uruguay), for the one from Paraguay see Club Atlético River Plate (Asunción) Club Atlético River Plate, known also as River Plate or simply River, is an Argentine sports club best known for its football team, established... For other uses, see Buenos Aires (disambiguation). ... Derby della Madonnina, or the Milan Derby as it is sometimes known, is a football (soccer) match between the Italian clubs A.C. Milan and F.C. Internazionale Milano (Inter). ... For other uses, see Milan (disambiguation). ... Associazione Calcio Milan is an Italian football club based in Milan, Lombardy. ... Football Club Internazionale Milano, commonly referred to as simply Internazionale, Inter or Inter Milan,[1] is an Italian professional football club based in Milan, Lombardy and was originally founded in 1908. ... Fenerbahçe Spor Kulübü (Fenerbahçe Sport Club), commonly known as Fenerbahçe (IPA: ), is a professional sports club located in Istanbul, Turkey. ... For other uses of Galatasaray, see Galatasaray (disambiguation) Galatasaray Spor Kulübü (in English: Galatasaray Sport Club) or Galatasaray SK is a Turkish sports club based in Istanbul which is famous for its football section. ... Istanbul (Turkish: , Greek: , historically Byzantium and later Constantinople; see other names) is Turkeys most populous city, and its cultural and financial center. ... The Manchester derby is the name given to football matches between Manchester City and Manchester United. ... Manchester United Football Club are a world-famous English football club, based at the Old Trafford stadium in Trafford, Greater Manchester, and are one of the most popular sports clubs in the world, with over 50 million supporters worldwide. ... Manchester City Football Club is an English professional football club based in the city of Manchester. ... For other uses, see England (disambiguation). ... The North London derby is the name of the football local derby between the two major teams in North London – Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal. ... Arsenal Football Club (also known as Arsenal, The Arsenal or The Gunners) are an English professional football club based in Holloway, north London. ... Tottenham Hotspur Football Club is an English professional football club which plays in the Premier League. ... For other uses, see England (disambiguation). ...

Food

In the United Kingdom, the attendance of football matches is also associated with consumption of what can be considered 'traditional football food'. Steak and kidney pies and meat and potato pies are a staple of food outlets in stadiums. (It must be noted that some people consider football stadiums the only place where people want to consume Bovril — and, bizarrely, London's exclusive Groucho Club.) Nowadays sales of food to fans raises a lot of income for clubs, and some clubs are now making an attempt to improve their service and diversify out of 'traditional' foods.^[2] In Brazil, sanduíche de calabresa (pepperoni sandwich) is a best-seller meal at the surrounding areas of stadiums after matches. This article is about the baked good, for other uses see Pie (disambiguation). ... This article is about the capital of England and the United Kingdom. ... The Groucho Club is a well-known private arts and media club in Dean Street, Soho, London, opened in 1985 as the antidote to the traditional club. In this spirit it was named after Groucho Marx because of his famous remark about not joining any club that would have him... This article does not cite any references or sources. ...

Match programmes

York City match programme.

Match programmes are an integral part of football matches in the UK. The are sold inside and outside stadia before (and sometimes during) matches. In their most basic form, they provide basic information on the teams, players, and match officials. Larger clubs usually produce a multiple-page programme with a number of common features: comments from the manager and club captain, interviews with players, ex-players and backroom staff, information about ticketing arrangements for forthcoming matches, a detailed fixture list/review of the team's season so far, competitions, a page for the junior supporters' club, and/or a detailed feature on the opposition. Programmes from some matches are now collectible items, and can fetch a lot of money on auction. Image File history File links Size of this preview: 377 × 599 pixelsFull resolution (1800 × 2862 pixel, file size: 580 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Cover of York City match programme. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 377 × 599 pixelsFull resolution (1800 × 2862 pixel, file size: 580 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Cover of York City match programme. ... York City Football Club is an English football club based in York, North Yorkshire. ...

"Fair Play"

"Fair Play" is the name of a FIFA programme which aims to increase sportsmanship as well as prevent discrimination in the game of football. This also involves programmes to reduce racism in the game. The programme extends to outside of football, in trying to support charities and other organisations which improve conditions around the world. This article is about an international football organization. ... It is sporting to shake the hand of ones opponent after the end of a game. ...

The principles of the Fair Play programme can be summarised as follows:^[3]

1. Play fair
2. Play to win but accept defeat with dignity
3. Observe the Laws of the Game
4. Respect opponents, team-mates, referees, officials and spectators
5. Promote the interests of football
6. Honour those who defend football’s good reputation
7. Reject corruption, drugs, racism, violence, gambling and other dangers to our sport
8. Help others to resist corrupting pressures
9. Denounce those who attempt to discredit our sport
10. Use football to make a better world

Both FIFA and UEFA have awards which they hand out to individuals or groups of people who have promoted what they see as the 'spirit' of Fair Play, both within and outside of football. An example of this was the Italian player Paolo Di Canio who, while not given an award, was congratulated in many sections of the football world for a very generous display of "Fair Play". During a goal scoring opportunity while playing for West Ham United against Everton, the Everton goalkeeper picked up an injury, and Di Canio, instead of scoring what could have been the easiest goal of his career, caught the ball, thus stopping play and allowing the goalkeeper to receive treatment.^[4] The Union Européenne de Football Association or Union of European Football Associations in English, almost always referred to by the acronym UEFA (pronounced (you-AY-fuh) or (oo-Ay-fuh) or ), is the administrative and controlling body for European football. ... Paolo Di Canio (born 9 July 1968) is an Italian football player who currently plays for Italian Serie C2 club Cisco Roma. ... West Ham United Football Club is an English football club based in West Ham, London Borough of Newham, East London, and have played their home matches at the 35,146 capacity Boleyn Ground stadium since 1904. ... Everton Football Club is an English football club located in the city of Liverpool. ...

Fans

Football chants

Main article: Football chant

Football chants are chants generated by the crowd at matches to encourage the supporters' team, insult the opposition, or just make a noise. Teams tend to have their own 'anthems' which the crowds can sing; some songs are even shared between clubs. While some chants are used to mock opposition players (e.g. "Who ate all the pies?"), others are more aggressive and of a personal nature against a player on the field. Some chanting in the crowds can be more than insulting, and may even be racist or sectarian in nature; chants like these tend to have been banned from football stadiums. Football chants are chants, sometimes repetitive, sung/chanted by the crowds at football matches. ... Who Ate All the Pies? is a famous football chant sung by fans in Britain; although not prescriptively so, it is usually sung to the tune of Knees Up Mother Brown and is aimed at supposedly overweight footballers, officials or opposing supporters. ...

Violence

The level of passion with which football teams are supported has from time to time caused problems, and clashes between fans can result in violence. Some violence occurs by people deliberately aiming to cause trouble, often after a match takes place, a phenomenon known as hooliganism. Other people engage in 'football firms', organized gangs that seek fights with firms supporting rival clubs. Both practices are said to have originated in England, and are sometimes known as the "English Disease",^[5] after the disorder caused by English fans travelling abroad to support either their club or national team in the 70's and 80's.^{[citation needed]} However organised violence surrounding football has spread to other countries, most notably by the Ultras in Italy, the Torcidas Organizadas in Brazil and the Barras Bravas in Argentina. This article or section needs a complete rewrite for the reasons listed on the talk page. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... For other uses, see England (disambiguation). ... Ultras at FC Twente - SC Heerenveen in 2002 Hooliganism is unruly and destructive behaviour, usually by gangs of young people. ... Varvari choreography at a Montenegrin First League home match Ultras are a specific type of sports team supporter group. ...

Violence by fans has had varying degrees of seriousness, ranging from scuffles between fans to tragedies (see for example Heysel Stadium disaster and Football War). There have been some incidents in fixtures abroad of fans being murdered: for example, two Leeds United supporters in Turkey in 2000.^[6] In recent years this aspect of the game seems to have passed its peak though it has by no means disappeared completely. Specialist police units and information-sharing between regional and international police forces has made it much harder for the hooligans to organize and participate in disorder. CCTV inside and outside stadiums and also at other anticpated "flash points" such as city centres and railway stations now makes it more likely that people involved in disorder may be identified later even if they are not arrested at the scene. However there are still disruptions surrounding football matches, an example being the UEFA Champions League matches which were played on March 12 and March 13, 2005.^[7][8] The Heysel Stadium disaster occurred due to football hooliganism in which a retaining wall of the Heysel Stadium in Brussels collapsed on May 29, 1985 during a football match between Liverpool F.C. from England and Juventus F.C. from Italy. ... Combatants El Salvador Honduras Commanders Fidel Sánchez Hernández Salvador Henríquez Oswaldo López Arellano Oscar Colindres Strength 20,000 (Army) 1,000 (Air Force) 12,000 (Army) 1,200 (Air Force) Casualties 700 (including civilians) 1,200 (including civilians) The Football War (La guerra de fútbol... Surveillance cameras. ... The UEFA Champions League (also known as the European Cup, UCL, CE1, C1[1] or CL) is a seasonal club football competition organized by the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) since 1955 for the most successful football clubs in Europe. ... is the 71st day of the year (72nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 72nd day of the year (73rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Violence by fans has also affected players, but this is extremely rare. For example a message to Christian Vieri apparently by a Inter Milan fan threatened to burn down his restaurant, criticising his attitude towards the team.^[9] There is also the notorious incident where the Colombian international player Andrés Escobar was murdered shortly after returning home from the 1994 World Cup. This was reputedly for scoring the own goal which eliminated Colombia from the competition.^[10] Vieri redirects here. ... Internazionale Milano Football Club is an Italian football club based in Milan, Lombardy, which plays in the Serie A. It is more commonly known as Inter, and often named Inter Milan in foreign countries. ... First international  Mexico 3 - 1 Colombia (Panama City, Panama; 10 February 1938) Biggest win  Argentina 0 - 5 Colombia (Buenos Aires, Argentina; 5 September 1993) Colombia 5 - 0  Peru (Barranquilla, Colombia; 4 June 2005) Biggest defeat  Argentina 9 - 1 Colombia (Santiago, Chile; 7 February 1945) World Cup Appearances 4 (First in... Andrés Escobar Saldarriaga (March 13, 1967 - July 2, 1994) was a Colombian football player, who was shot and killed in Medellín. ... The 1994 Football World Cup held in the USA was won by Brazil who beat Italy 3-2 on penalty kicks after the game and extra time ended 0-0. ... An own goal occurs in goal-scoring games when a player scores a goal that is registered against his own team. ...

Accidents and disasters

There have been many accidents and disasters in the history of football. Some of these, such as the Hillsborough and Ibrox disasters, were due to problems with crowd control. The Heysel Stadium disaster was a combination of hooliganism and poor crowd control. The Bradford City Disaster occurred due to poor fire safety in the stadium. Lessons learned from these disasters have led to safer football stadia. The Memorial at Hillsborough. ... Ibrox disaster refers to two accidents which led to major loss of life at Ibrox Stadium (formerly Ibrox Park) in Glasgow, Scotland. ... The Heysel Stadium disaster occurred due to football hooliganism in which a retaining wall of the Heysel Stadium in Brussels collapsed on May 29, 1985 during a football match between Liverpool F.C. from England and Juventus F.C. from Italy. ... ...

There have also been deaths on the pitch and dugouts:

• On 5 September 1931, the Celtic F.C. goalkeeper John Thomson suffered a skull fracture when he collided with the Rangers F.C. player Sam English during an Old Firm match. He was fatally injured and died later that day.^[11]
• On September 10 1985, Scotland national team manager Jock Stein died of a heart attack as his team scored the equaliser against Wales which virtually secured qualification for the 1986 FIFA World Cup finals. He was aged 62.
• In 2003, Cameroon international player Marc-Vivien Foé collapsed during a match of the Confederations Cup against Colombia in 2003 and was pronounced dead later that day. His death was attributed to previously undiagnosed heart problems.
• On 8 September 1990, York City's David Longhurst collapsed and died on the pitch during his team's match with Lincoln City. The game was abandoned. York paid tribute to the player later by naming a stand in his honour at their Bootham Crescent ground.
• In 2004, the Hungarian international Miklós Fehér also died from a heart attack, while playing with Benfica against Vitoria Guimarães.
• On 9 September 2006 Hinckley United player Matt Gadsby collapsed on the pitch during a Conference North game against Harrogate Town and Died. Medical tests have revealed he died from a heart condition known as Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy.
• Several players have also been struck by lightning while playing during sudden storms.^{[citation needed]}
• On 25th August 2007 Sevilla Wing Back Antonio Puerta Suffered a heart attack during Sevilla's first game of the season against Getafe whilst running back towards his own goal. Sevilla Teammate Ivica Dragutinović as well as medical staff rushed to him to stop him swallowing his tongue. He was admitted into hospital and on August 28th at 12:30 he sadly passed away aged 22.

Other disasters have occurred away from any stadia: most notably, the Superga air disaster of 1949 in which the entire Torino F.C. squad perished . The Munich air disaster, involving the 1958 Manchester United F.C team and the loss of the entire Zambia national football team in an air crash in 1993. is the 248th day of the year (249th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1931 (MCMXXXI) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display full 1931 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Celtic Football Club (pronounced seltik in IPA; AIM: CCP)[1] is a Scottish football club, competing in the Scottish Premier League, the highest form of competition in Scotland. ... For other uses, see Rangers F.C. (disambiguation). ... Crowd at football match between Celtic F.C. and Rangers F.C. at Celtic Park. ... First international Scotland 0–0 England  (Partick, Scotland; 30 November 1872) Biggest win Scotland 11–0 Ireland  (Glasgow, Scotland; 23 February 1901) Biggest defeat  Uruguay 7–0 Scotland (Basel, Switzerland; 19 June 1954) World Cup Appearances 8 (First in 1954) Best result Round 1, all European Championship Appearances 2 (First... John Jock Stein CBE (5 October 1922 - 10 September 1985) was one of the most notable managers in British football history. ... First international  Scotland 4 - 0 Wales (Glasgow, Scotland; 26 March 1876) Biggest win Wales 11 - 0 Ireland  (Wrexham, Wales; 3 March 1888) Biggest defeat  Scotland 9 - 0 Wales (Glasgow, Scotland; 23 March 1878) World Cup Appearances 1 (First in 1958) Best result Quarter-finals, 1958 The Wales national football team... In the 1986 World Cup qualification rounds, the dates and results are listed below. ... Qualifying countries The 1986 FIFA World Cup, the 13th staging of the FIFA World Cup, was held in Mexico from May 31 to June 29. ... Year 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... First international Cameroon 9 - 2 Somalia (Madagascar; 13 April 1960) Biggest win Cameroon 9 - 2 Somalia (Madagascar; 13 April 1960) Biggest defeat Norway 6 - 1 Cameroon (Oslo, Norway; 31 October 1990) Russia 6 - 1 Cameroon (Palo Alto, California, USA; 28 June 1994) Costa Rica 5 - 0 Cameroon (San Jose, Costa... Marc-Vivien Foé Marc-Vivien Foé (May 1, 1975 – June 26, 2003) was a Cameroonian midfield football player, born in Nkolo, Centre Province, Cameroon. ... The Confederations Cup The FIFA Confederations Cup is a football (soccer) tournament for national teams, held every four years (previously every two years) by FIFA. It is contested by the winners of each of the six FIFA confederation championships (CAF, CONMEBOL, UEFA, AFC, OFC, CONCACAF), along with the FIFA World... Year 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... First international Austria 5 - 0 Hungary (Vienna, Austria 12 October 1902) Biggest win Russia 0 - 12 Hungary (Moscow, Russia; 14 July 1912) Hungary 13 - 1 France (Budapest, Hungary; 12 June 1927) Hungary 12 - 0 Albania (Budapest, Hungary; 24 September 1950) Biggest defeat Hungary 0 - 7 England Budapest, Hungary; 10 June... Feher after falling unconscious Miklós Miki Fehér (Tatabánya, July 20, 1979 – Guimarães, January 25, 2004) was a Hungarian football player. ... Benfica redirects here. ... Vitória Sport Clube is a Portuguese football club based in the city of Guimarães, located 40 km north of Oporto in Portugal. ... Arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia (ARVD, also known as arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy or ARVC) is a type of nonischemic cardiomyopathy that involves primarily the right ventricle. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the. ... This article is about the city in Spain. ... Antonio José Puerta Pérez (26 November 1984 – 28 August 2007) was a Spanish international football midfielder. ... This article is about the city in Spain. ... Location Location of Getafe Coordinates : 40° 18’N , 3°43′0″W Time Zone : CET (GMT +1) - summer: CEST (GMT +2) General information Native name Getafe (Spanish) Spanish name Getafe Founded 1326 Postal code 28901-28909 Area code 34 (Spain) + 91 (Madrid) Website http://www. ... This article is about the city in Spain. ... Ivica Dragutinović (Serbian Cyrillic: Ивица Драгутиновић; born November 13, 1975 in Prijepolje, Serbia, Yugoslavia) is a Serbian footballer. ... The Superga air disaster happened on Wednesday, May 4, 1949, when a plane carrying almost the entire Grande Torino squad (18 players), plus management, journalists and crew, crashed into the Superga hills near Turin, killing everyone on board. ... Torino Football Club is one of the most popular Italian football clubs, based in Turin. ... A plaque at Old Trafford Football Ground remembering the Munich air disaster The Munich air disaster took place on February 6, 1958, when the British European Airways Flight 609 crashed on its third attempt to take off from a slush-covered runway at the Munich-Riem airport in Germany. ... Manchester Uniteds emblem Manchester United F.C. (often abbreviated to Man United or just Man U, pronounced man-yoo) is an English football club based at Old Trafford in Greater Manchester. ... First international  Southern Rhodesia 0 - 4 Northern Rhodesia (Southern Rhodesia; 1946) Biggest win Zambia 9 - 0 Kenya  (Malawi; 13 November 1978) Biggest defeat  Congo DR 10 - 1 Zambia (Congo-Kinshasa; 22 November 1969)  Belgium 9 - 0 Zambia (Brussels, Belgium; 3 June 1994) African Nations Cup Appearances 12 (First in 1974...

Stadia and seating

The atmosphere at football matches is a major part of the whole experience for football supporters, and is also a major part of the "wow factor" that youngsters get when they go to their first football match. However, after the Hillsborough Disaster, the British government of the time commissioned the Taylor Report which resulted in standing being banned from many places, to include every top league stadium. As a result, the atmosphere has suffered. Although it is clear that standing wasn't the sole cause of the tragedy, and that standing areas have been proved safe since, especially in Germany, the authorities in many countries still won't allow it. Groups like Stand Up Sit Down are campaigning for its return. The Memorial at Hillsborough. ... The Taylor Report is a document, whose development was overseen by Lord Justice Taylor, concerning the aftermath and causes of the Hillsborough disaster in 1989. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ...

Women and football

Main article: Women's football (soccer)

Women have been playing football as long as the game has existed. Their numbers, as both football players and fans, increased with the lifting of bans on women playing football and attending matches. In Iran however women are still (2006) forbidden from attending matches, although many try to sneak into the stadiums. The first FIFA Women's World Cup was held in 1991, and has drawn worldwide television interest. Football matches now tend to have increased numbers of women supporters attending at the stadium itself, as well as watching the matches at home or in pubs or bars. In the USA, the Women's United Soccer Association League was formed in 2001 in response to growing interest in women's football around that country. Unfortunately the league collapsed in 2003, but grassroots football was not affected in the country. The semi-professional W-League continues to operate with 38 teams (as of 2006). Japan's women's league, the L. League is very well supported, and many other countries' women's football leagues are popular and growing. UEFA Womens Cup Final 2005 at Potsdam Womens association football is the most prominent team sport for women in many countries, and one of the few womens team sports with professional leagues. ... UEFA Womens Cup Final 2005 at Potsdam Womens association football is the most prominent team sport for women in many countries, and one of the few womens team sports with professional leagues. ... UEFA Womens Cup Final 2005 at Potsdam Womens association football is the most prominent team sport for women in many countries, and one of the few womens team sports with professional leagues. ... The FIFA Womens World Cup is recognized as the most important International competition in womens football and is played amongst womens national football teams of the member states of FIFA, the sports global governing body. ... Year 1991 (MCMXCI) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the 1991 Gregorian calendar). ... The Womens United Soccer Association (WUSA) was the worlds first womens soccer league in which all the players were paid professionals. ... Year 2001 (MMI) was a common year starting on Monday (link displays the 2001 Gregorian calendar). ... Year 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The W-League is the first modern womens soccer league in the United States pyramid. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The L. League(in Japanese: L・リーグ, Officially 日本女子サッカーリーグ,Nihon Joshi Sakkā Rīgu, Pet name なでしこリーグ,Nadeshiko Rīgu) is the top league for womens football (soccer) in Japan. ...

Drinking and disorder

In some countries football has been associated with alcohol consumption ^[12]. This can be before, during and after the game, with drinking occurring inside the stadium (sometimes illicitly) as well as in pubs and bars outside. However, unwanted behaviour caused by drinking has led to the banning of the sale of alcohol to general supporters in stadia across the United Kingdom, although most English and Welsh sides continue to sell alcohol within general stadium areas, with only clubs in Scotland being subject to a blanket ban. Sales of alcohol still occur in executive lounges. Some teams and countries have supporters' clubs which have 'friendly' drinking reputations. However some countries are more associated with 'drunken hooliganism' (see Violence section above). One interesting story is that of a Member of the Scottish Parliament being arrested for being 'drunk and disorderly' while on a trip to see Scotland playing England at Wembley Stadium.^[13] This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Football culture is a descriptive term of the cultural aspects surrounding the game of association football. ... Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) (Ball Pàrlamaid na h-Alba (BPA) in Gaelic) is the title given to any one of the 129 individuals elected to serve in the Scottish Parliament. ... First international Scotland 0–0 England  (Partick, Scotland; 30 November 1872) Biggest win Scotland 11–0 Ireland  (Glasgow, Scotland; 23 February 1901) Biggest defeat  Uruguay 7–0 Scotland (Basel, Switzerland; 19 June 1954) World Cup Appearances 8 (First in 1954) Best result Round 1, all European Championship Appearances 2 (First... First international  Scotland 0 - 0 England (Partick, Scotland; 30 November 1872) Biggest win  Ireland 0 - 13 England (Belfast, Ireland; 18 February 1882) Biggest defeat  Hungary 7 - 1 England (Budapest, Hungary; 23 May 1954) World Cup Appearances 12 (First in 1950) Best result Winners, 1966 European Championship Appearances 7 (First in... Wembley Stadium was a football stadium located in Wembley, London. ...

Pitch invasions

Main article: Pitch invasion

Pitch invasions are occasions when supporters move from the stands onto the football pitch for the express reason of disrupting a match. This has to be distinguished from times when, due to safety reasons, fans are let onto the pitch. Pitch invasions in football tend to be rare as clubs are punished heavily for letting any unauthorised persons on the pitch. A pitch invasion occurs when a crowd of people who are watching a sports game run onto the field, to celebrate or protest about an incident, for example in games of football or cricket. ...

Mass pitch invasions tend to be rare, but famous examples can be found. One is the 1923 "White Horse" FA Cup final between Bolton and West Ham at Wembley.^[14] Due to the overwhelming numbers in the stadium the police had to bring order back to the stadium. Another example is the 1977 British Home Championship match between England and Scotland, again at Wembley. Here, after a Scottish 2-1 victory, the "Tartan Army" decided to invade the pitch and managed to break down the goalposts, as well as help themselves to some of Wembley's turf.^[15][16] Year 1923 (MCMXXIII) was a common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Crowds define the edges of the pitch and watch from the roof. ... This article is about the English FA Cup. ... Bolton Wanderers Football Club (also known as The Trotters) are an English professional football club based in Horwich, in the Borough of Bolton, Greater Manchester, North West England. ... West Ham United Football Club is an English football club based in West Ham, London Borough of Newham, East London, and have played their home matches at the 35,146 capacity Boleyn Ground stadium since 1904. ... Wembley Stadium was a football stadium located in Wembley, London. ... Also: 1977 (album) by Ash. ... The British Home Championship (also known as the Home International Championship) was an annual football competition contested between the UKs four national teams, England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland (Northern Ireland after 1921-1922), from the 1883-1884 season until the 1983-1984 season. ... The Tartan Army are travelling supporters of the Scottish national football team. ...

Solo invasions are more common although few in number. In some cases these people are streakers who try to invade the pitch while nude. Many supporters view this as harmless fun, although the security personnel at the club do not agree with this view. A more recent pitch invasion was at Euro 2004, where, in the final game between Portugal and Greece, Jimmy Jump ran onto the pitch to disrupt the game.^[17] Another famous 'invasion' was carried out by Karl Power, who managed to sneak into Manchester United's team photo before their Champions League game with Bayern Munich;^[18] his other stunts have involved the England national rugby union team and the British Grand Prix. A participant of the Bay to Breakers. ... The 2004 UEFA European Football Championship, commonly called Euro 2004, was held in Portugal between June 12 and July 4, 2004. ... Jimmy Jump is a Spanish Catalan jumper, or pitch invader. ... Manchester United Football Club are a world-famous English football club, based at the Old Trafford stadium in Trafford, Greater Manchester, and are one of the most popular sports clubs in the world, with over 50 million supporters worldwide. ... The UEFA Champions League (also known as the European Cup, UCL, CE1, C1[1] or CL) is a seasonal club football competition organized by the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) since 1955 for the most successful football clubs in Europe. ... FC Bayern Munich (German: FC Bayern München) is a German football club based in Munich, the capital of the state of Bavaria. ... First international (also the worlds first)  Scotland 4–1 England  (27 March 1871) Largest win  England 134–0 Romania  (17 November 2001) Worst defeat  Australia 76–0 England  (6 June 1998) The England national rugby union team is a sporting side that represents England in rugby union. ... The British Grand Prix is a race in the calendar of the FIA Formula One World Championship. ...

Sticker Albums

Usually collected by children, a sticker album is a book where a collector sticks in pictures of players from different teams in a certain league. The most widespread are those that have been produced by Panini worldwide. A Sticker Album can be compared to the USA's baseball cards. Panini is the brand name of an Italian firm which produces collectable stickers. ... An example of a 1915 Cracker Jack Charles Comiskey card. ...

Teams and players

From the beginnings of football, clubs and players have contributed greatly to the culture of society. Teams have moved from amateur status to (in some cases) big commercial concerns. Players have also managed to increase their earnings massively during this change.

Teams

Money

Main article: Richest football clubs

Nowadays football has become big business for the privileged few. While most grassroot clubs and lower division league teams struggle to make ends meet, the big clubs can make a lot of money. Teams such as Manchester United and Real Madrid are considered amongst the richest in the world with a global support base.^[19][20] Chelsea has also undergone a transformation, buying up the services of many expensive football players, due to being bought by the billionaire Roman Abramovich. This is a list of the richest football clubs in the world, as ranked by Forbes magazine on their worth in United States dollars. ... Manchester United Football Club are a world-famous English football club, based at the Old Trafford stadium in Trafford, Greater Manchester, and are one of the most popular sports clubs in the world, with over 50 million supporters worldwide. ... Real Madrid Club de Fútbol is a Spanish sports club most widely known for its professional football team based in Madrid. ... Chelsea Football Club (also known as The Blues or previously The Pensioners) are an English professional football club based in west London. ... Roman Arkadyevich Abramovich (IPA: ) (Russian: ) (born 24 October 1966 in Saratov, Russia) is a Russian oil billionaire and the main owner of private investment company Millhouse Capital, referred to as one of the Russian oligarchs. ...

The catalyst for this change was the arrival of satellite television. Satellite TV companies paid massive sums for the rights to cover football matches, and in turn have recouped this investment from the many fans who are unable to catch the game in person. This benefits the 'hardcore' and 'casual' fan as they have more choice of which game they want to watch.

While some clubs do well out of the increased money in football, other clubs can get into trouble trying to keep up. Leeds United attempted to do this by spending a lot of money, and were successful for a few seasons. However the debts became unmanageable, and the successful players were sold off, and the team were eventually relegated twice, first from the FA Premier League to the Football League Championship and later to League One. Leeds United Association Football Club are an English professional football club based in Leeds, West Yorkshire. ... For other sports leagues which may be referred to by this name, see List of professional sports leagues. ... The Football League Championship (often referred to as The Championship for short, the Coca-Cola Football League Championship for sponsorship reasons) is the highest division of The Football League and second-highest division overall in the English football league system after the Premier League. ... Football League One (often referred to as League One for short or Coca-Cola Football League 1 for sponsorship reasons) is the second-highest division of The Football League and third-highest division overall in the English football league system. ...

Not all clubs do well out of television money. Clubs in lower leagues receive less money for matches and, if promoted to higher leagues, can have trouble matching the spending power of bigger clubs. This leaves them more likely to be relegated again.

Clubs from smaller countries also have problems with this issue. Due to their smaller population base they receive less money from television rights. This leaves them comparative paupers compared to clubs from the big countries, and can lead to debt problems if they try to match spending in trans-national competitions. Some clubs have managed to buck the trend by training players through their youth academies, as well as making wise investments. Examples of these clubs are FC Porto and Ajax Amsterdam, although it must be noted that when these teams become successful, as in Porto's case winning the 2003/04 Champions League, the team tends to get sold off due to financial pressures. Futebol Clube do Porto (pron. ... Amsterdamsche Football Club Ajax (Euronext: AJAX) also referred to as Ajax Amsterdam, AFC Ajax, or simply Ajax (pronounced /ˈʌɪjaks/), is a professional football club from Amsterdam, Netherlands. ... The UEFA Champions League (also known as the European Cup, UCL, CE1, C1[1] or CL) is a seasonal club football competition organized by the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) since 1955 for the most successful football clubs in Europe. ...

Corruption

Allegations of corruption, e.g. match fixing, in football have always been present. This level of corruption can vary from country to country, and can involve players, agents, and teams. The 2005-2006 football season saw many corruption scandals. This included the refereeing scandals of Robert Hoyzer in Germany (see 2005 Bundesliga scandal), and Edilson Pereira de Carvalho of Brazil (see Brazilian football match-fixing scandal).^[21] This was followed by the 2006 Serie A scandal where five clubs so far have been found guilty of match fixing. Match fixing or game fixing in organized sports occurs when a match is played to a completely or partially pre-determined result. ... Robert Hoyzer (born August 28, 1979 in Berlin, Germany) is a former football referee who scandalized German football by fixing matches. ... In early 2005, German football was overshadowed by the discovery of a 2 million Euro match-fixing scandal centered on second division referee Robert Hoyzer, who confessed to fixing and betting on matches in the 2nd Bundesliga, the DFB-Pokal (German Cup), and the third division Regionalliga. ... Edílson Pereira de Carvalho (born August 4, 1962 in Brazil) is a former international football referee. ... Máfia do Apito (literally meaning Whistles Mafia), sometimes called Escândalo do Apito (meaning Whistles Scandal), was the name given by the Brazilian press to the football match-fixing scandal denounced by Veja magazine on September 23, 2005. ... The tone or style of this article or section may not be appropriate for Wikipedia. ...

Football players

Football players, especially in the top levels of the game, have become role models and aspirational ideals for many people. The game itself has now become glamourised, with many children practising the game and aspiring to the wealth shown off by the top footballers (it may be argued that for most footballers that this extravagant lifestyle is unrealistic). The top footballers also have "hangers-on", best compared to the groupies of rock stars. Such extravagance has recently been satirised in the UK TV show Footballers' Wives. For another example of notable "hangers-on", see WAGs (wives and girlfriends, more specifically those of the England national team at the 2006 FIFA World Cup). A groupie is a person who, while he/she may be a fan at some level, seeks intimacy (most often physical, sometimes emotional) with a famous person. ... See also WAGs, acronym for footballers wives and girlfriends. Footballers Wives was a British television drama surrounding the fictional premiership football club Earls Park F.C., its players, and their wives. ... WAGs (or Wags) was an acronym used particularly (but by no means exclusively) by the British tabloid press to describe the Wives And Girlfriends of the England national football team. ... First international  Scotland 0 - 0 England (Partick, Scotland; 30 November 1872) Biggest win  Ireland 0 - 13 England (Belfast, Ireland; 18 February 1882) Biggest defeat  Hungary 7 - 1 England (Budapest, Hungary; 23 May 1954) World Cup Appearances 12 (First in 1950) Best result Winners, 1966 European Championship Appearances 7 (First in... “2006 World Cup” redirects here. ...

Bad behaviour

While many footballers can be argued to be "good role models", there have been many headlines in the news regarding bad behaviour by footballers.^[22] Such is the influence of footballers, their activities tend to be reported widely in the media and also bring condemnation from the government of the countries of which they play.

One famous player was Diego Maradona. While he had exceptional skill and was voted FIFA's Player of the Century (alongside Pelé), he also suffered problems with drug abuse. He was also sent home from the 1994 FIFA World Cup for doping offences. His cocaine abuse has led to his medical problems in recent times.^{[citation needed]} Diego Armando Maradona (born October 30, 1960) is an Argentine former footballer. ... “Pele” redirects here. ... Comparison of the perceived harm for various psychoactive drugs from a poll among medical psychiatrists specialized in addiction treatment[1] This article is an overview of the nontherapeutic use of alcohol and drugs of abuse. ... Qualifying countries The 1994 FIFA World Cup, the 15th staging of the FIFA World Cup, was held in the United States from June 17 to July 17, 1994. ...

There have been several incidents in UK of players being accused of violence and misconduct off the pitch. Although on many occasions, players have been found not guilty, such cases are very controversial. In 2001, two Leeds United players, Jonathan Woodgate and Lee Bowyer, appeared in court over the assault of a student outside a nightclub. Woodgate was found guilty of affray.^[23] In 2002 three players, two from Chelsea (John Terry and Jody Morris) and one from Wimbledon (Des Byrne), appeared in court of charges of affray. All were acquitted.^[24] Leeds United Association Football Club are an English professional football club based in Leeds, West Yorkshire. ... Jonathan Simon Woodgate (born January 22, 1980 in Middlesbrough) is an English footballer, who plays as a defender for Premier League side Middlesbrough. ... Lee David Bowyer (born January 3, 1977 in Newham, London) is an English professional footballer who currently plays for FA Premier League side West Ham United. ... In law, the affray is the fighting of two or more persons in a public place to the terror (in French: à leffroi) of the lieges. ... Chelsea Football Club (also known as The Blues or previously The Pensioners) are an English professional football club based in west London. ... John George Terry (born December 7, 1980 in Barking, London) is an English professional football player. ... Jody Morris, (born December 22, 1978 in Hammersmith, London, England), is an English footballer playing in the midfield position. ... Wimbledon F.C. crest This article refers to the original club from London which existed until 2003. ... Des Byrne (born in Dublin, April 10, 1981) is an Irish footballer currently playing for Bohemians in the League of Ireland. ...

In 2004, the Leicester City trio of Paul Dickov, Frank Sinclair and Keith Gillespie spent a week in jail after being accused of sexual assault while on a training break at the La Manga resort in Spain with their team.^[25] However, the case was dropped after forensic evidence showed the accusations to be baseless.^[26] Although the players accused were ultimately innocent, the scandal led to a media outcry about footballers and their behaviour, especially with regard to children who look up to them. Year 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Leicester City Football Club, (also known as The Foxes) are an English professional football club based in the city of Leicester. ... Paul Dickov (born November 1, 1972 in Livingston, Scotland) is a Scottish football player currently playing for Manchester City. ... Frank Mohammed Sinclair (born December 3, 1971 in Lambeth, London, England) is a professional English-born Jamaican International footballer, who currently plays for Huddersfield Town in Coca-Cola League One. ... Keith Robert Gillespie (born 18 February 1975 in Larne, County Antrim) is a Northern Irish professional footballer, who plays in midfield. ... Sexual assault is any physical contact of a sexual nature without voluntary consent. ... La Manga del Mar Menor is a resort town in Murcia, Spain. ...

Wayne Rooney was also attacked in the media for alleged visits to prostitutes in 2004, a claim he later admitted was true.^[27] More recently, Adrian Mutu admitted cocaine use after failing a drugs test,^[28] and Graham Stack was charged with rape but cleared in 2005.^[29] Bowyer would again make headlines in 2005 when he and Newcastle teammate Kieron Dyer fought each other near the end of a Premiership match.^[30] This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Prostitution is the sale of sexual services (typically manual stimulation, oral sex, sexual intercourse, or anal sex) for cash or other kind of return, generally indiscriminately with many persons. ... Adrian Mutu (born January 8, 1979 in Călineşti, Argeş County) is a Romanian striker and vice-captain of the Romanian national team, he is currently at Fiorentina. ... Graham Stack (born 26 September 1981 in Hampstead, London) is a former Republic of Ireland U21 international football goalkeeper currently on loan at Leeds United from Reading. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Newcastle United Football Club (also known as The Magpies or The Toon) are an English professional football team based in Newcastle upon Tyne. ... Kieron Courtney Dyer (born 29 December 1978 in Ipswich, England) is an English footballer, currently playing for West Ham United. ... For the Scottish equivalent see Scottish Premier League The FA Premier League (often referred to as the Barclays Premiership in England and the Barclays English Premier League or just simply The EPL internationally) is a league competition for football clubs located at the top of the English football league system...

Ethnicity and football

Main article: Ethnicity and football

People of different races have sometimes not been accepted as players in European football. This is changing during the start of the 21st century due to societal change as well as campaigning on the part of the football authorities in different countries. UEFA and the European Union support the Football Against Racism in Europe (FARE) project^[31] which aims to stop racism. Many black players were not accepted initially into European football, even though the earliest black player was in 1881. However in the 1970s onwards players were increasingly accepted leading to a situation where many club and national teams have players of varying ethnicities. However, full acceptance in the large footballing nations did not occur until the 1990s, and racism still exists at some levels: Samuel Eto'o, for example, was once racially insulted by some Real Zaragoza fans at a match against the FC Barcelona, and threatened to quit the game if they kept insulting him; the same happened to Messina defender Marc Zoro in a match against Inter Milan. Ethnicity and football is a description of the global acceptance of the sport of Association Football, with players from many different races and countries participating. ... The Union Européenne de Football Association or Union of European Football Associations in English, almost always referred to by the acronym UEFA (pronounced (you-AY-fuh) or (oo-Ay-fuh) or ), is the administrative and controlling body for European football. ... Football Against Racism in Europe (FARE) is a an organisation set up to counter racism and xenophobia [1] in European Football. ... Year 1881 (MDCCCLXXXI) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Thursday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... For the band, see 1990s (band). ... Samuel Etoo (born March 10, 1981 in Nkon, Cameroon) is a professional footballer, who currently plays for FC Barcelona. ... Real Zaragoza is a Spanish football team from Zaragoza in Aragón. ... Futbol Club Barcelona, known familiarly as Barça (IPA: baɾ.sə), is a sports club based in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. ... F.C. Messina is an Italian football club based in Messina, Sicily. ... Zoro Warms The Bench Image © http://soccer-europe. ... Football Club Internazionale Milano (commonly, but incorrectly, known as Inter Milan) is an Italian football club, playing in the Serie A (first division). ...

While smaller countries without a large ethnic population have been seen to have problems with racism, there have been recently notable incidents of racism in bigger leagues. There have also been problems with religious identity and football. Racism is the prejudice that members of one race are intrinsically superior or inferior to members of other races. ...

In some countries (England, Germany) there have been strong campaigns to remove racism and intolerance from football on the field and on the terraces. In other countries despite visible problems, little action has been taken (Spain, Italy).

Globalisation and players

Globalisation has benefited current and former players, coaches, teams and others involved in football. For the best players it means their services can be offered to clubs in various different countries, and for whatever the price they want. The top players can make salaries of millions in a year, plus whatever additional endorsements they receive.

Teams have also benefited from this by being able to find a wider support base outside their traditional local areas. They can also scout for talent from a wider area. However some European clubs have been accused of exploitation for doing this, as some African youngsters they have recruited for football teams have eventually been left with nothing after the team no longer requires their services.

Coaches are also becoming sought after expertise internationally. This extends to national team coaches, once being native to their country, being brought in from other countries. Examples include Brazilian legend Zico coaching Japan, Sven-Göran Eriksson, a Swede who coached England, as well as Berti Vogts, a German who until recently coached Scotland. Another German, Otto Rehhagel, is practically a national icon in Greece, especially after leading that country's national team to a shocking victory in Euro 2004, and shortly afterwards turning down an offer to coach the German national team to stay with Greece. Dutch coach Guus Hiddink has a similar iconic status in South Korea after coaching its national team to the semifinals of the 2002 World Cup—so much so that one of Korea's World Cup stadiums was renamed in his honor shortly after the competition. Arthur Antunes Coimbra (born in March 3, 1953), better known as Zico , is a former Brazilian footballer, one of the best midfielders in the world and possibly the worlds best player in the early 80s[2] He was named by Pelé as one of the top 125 greatest...   (IPA: , born February 5, 1948) is a Swedish football manager. ... First international  Scotland 0 - 0 England (Partick, Scotland; 30 November 1872) Biggest win  Ireland 0 - 13 England (Belfast, Ireland; 18 February 1882) Biggest defeat  Hungary 7 - 1 England (Budapest, Hungary; 23 May 1954) World Cup Appearances 12 (First in 1950) Best result Winners, 1966 European Championship Appearances 7 (First in... Hans Hubert (Berti) Vogts (born 30 December 1946 in Büttgen) is a former German international football player and manager. ... First international Scotland 0–0 England  (Partick, Scotland; 30 November 1872) Biggest win Scotland 11–0 Ireland  (Glasgow, Scotland; 23 February 1901) Biggest defeat  Uruguay 7–0 Scotland (Basel, Switzerland; 19 June 1954) World Cup Appearances 8 (First in 1954) Best result Round 1, all European Championship Appearances 2 (First... Otto Rehhagel (born August 9, 1938 in Essen) is a German football coach and former football player. ... First international Greece 1 - 4  Italy (Athens, Greece; 7 April 1929) Biggest win Greece 8 - 0  Syria (Athens, Greece; 25 November 1949) Biggest defeat  Hungary 11 - 1 Greece (Budapest, Hungary; 25 March 1938) World Cup Appearances 1 (First in 1994) Best result Round 1, 1994 European Championship Appearances 2 (First... Euro 2004 Logo The 2004 UEFA European Football Championship, commonly called EURO 2004, was held in Portugal between 12 June and 4 July 2004. ... First international  Switzerland 5 - 3 Germany (Basel, Switzerland; 5 April 1908) Biggest win Germany 16 - 0 Russia (Solna, Sweden; July 1, 1912) Biggest defeat England amateur 9 - 0 Germany (Oxford, England; 16 March 1909) World Cup Appearances 16 (First in 1934) Best result - Winners, 1954, 1974, 1990 European Championship Appearances... Guus Hiddink (born 8 November 1946 in Varsseveld) is a Dutch football manager. ... First international South Korea 5 - 3 Mexico (London, England; August 2, 1948) Largest win South Korea 16 - 0 Nepal (Incheon, South Korea; September 29, 2003) Worst defeat Sweden 12 - 0 South Korea (London, England; August 5, 1948) World Cup Appearances 6 (First in 1954) Best result Fourth place, 2002 AFC... The 2002 FIFA World Cup (Official name: 2002 FIFA World Cup Korea/Japan) was held in South Korea and Japan from May 31 to June 30. ...

Society

In many countries football has ingrained itself into the national culture, and many parts of life revolve around it. Many countries have daily football newspapers, as well as football magazines. The mood of regions and countries has been seen to be connected to football. Victory in a major tournament can bring happiness to the local community or country. Conversely defeat can lower spirits, and has been seen to be connected to mortality in the population.^[32] Withdrawal symptoms when the football season finished have also been reported.^[33] The economy can also be seen to be connected to major football tournaments,^[34] although the precise association is disputed.^[35]

The terms soccer mom and soccer dad (popularized in the USA) refer broadly to a demographic group of parents with school-age children playing football (soccer). In North American social, cultural and political discourse, soccer mom (and less used soccer dad for the male equivalent) refers broadly to a demographic group of women with school-age children. ... This article details minor villains on the animated series Codename: Kids Next Door who have only appeared once or a few times. ...

Arts, literature & film

The popularity of football has been reflected in the arts, books and films in many countries. Many books have been written dealing with the culture, such as violence, surrounding football, as well as detailed histories of events or rivalries. Many clubs have one or more fanzines, one example being TOOFIF. A fanzine (see also: zine) is a nonprofessional publication produced by fans of a particular subject for the pleasure of others who share their interest. ... Theres Only One F in Fulham (TOOFIF) is an independently owned magazine dedicated to Fulham Football Club. ...

Many consider that British football's image of a nasty working-class pursuit was changed into something far more respectable after Fever Pitch, a memoir (later adapted very loosely into a movie) by Nick Hornby about his life as an Arsenal fan, was published. The book also provided Hornby's big break. Films have been made ranging from the celebrated Bend It Like Beckham, to a more serious film, The Football Factory, based on the book by John King, dealing with hooliganism and it's relationship to socio-economic realities in Britain. In Germany, The Miracle of Bern (2003) revived the euphoria of the national team's victory in the 1954 FIFA World Cup and was a huge hit. This article is about the Nick Hornby book and related films. ... Nick Hornby (born 17 April 1957 in Redhill, Surrey, England) is an English novelist and essayist. ... Arsenal Football Club (also known as Arsenal, The Arsenal or The Gunners) are an English professional football club based in Holloway, north London. ... Bend It Like Beckham is a British film released in 2002 in the UK and released in the United States in March 2003. ... The Football Factory is a 2004 English film, directed by Nick Love and starring Danny Dyer and Frank Harper. ... The Miracle of Bern film poster The Miracle of Bern (German title: Das Wunder von Bern) is a 2003 film by Sönke Wortmann, which tells the story of the unexpected West German victory in the 1954 World Cup Final in Bern, Switzerland, on July 4, 1954, and the story... Year 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... First international  Switzerland 5 - 3 Germany (Basel, Switzerland; 5 April 1908) Biggest win Germany 16 - 0 Russia (Solna, Sweden; July 1, 1912) Biggest defeat England amateur 9 - 0 Germany (Oxford, England; 16 March 1909) World Cup Appearances 16 (First in 1934) Best result - Winners, 1954, 1974, 1990 European Championship Appearances... Qualifying countries The 1954 Football World Cup was held in Switzerland. ...

One film that has a historical basis is Escape to Victory (known as Victory in the USA).^[36] This was based on the true World War II story where a Dynamo Kiev team, which defeated a German Luftwaffe team, was subsequently persecuted, and some team members executed. The story has also been recounted in the book Dynamo by Andy Dougan. Escape to Victory is a 1981 film about Allied prisoners of war who are interned in a Nazi prison camp during World War II. It was directed by John Huston and stars Michael Caine and Sylvester Stallone. ... Combatants Allied powers: China France Great Britain Soviet Union United States and others Axis powers: Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Chiang Kai-shek Charles de Gaulle Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki Tōjō Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead: 33,000... FC Dynamo Kyiv is a professional football club from the Ukrainian capital, Kiev (Kyiv). ... The Deutsche Luftwaffe or   (German: air force, literally Air Weapon, pronounced lufft-va-fa, IPA: ) is the commonly used term for the German air force. ...

Football and celebrities

Such is the popularity of football that some players become better known for their 'off-the-pitch' activities. The celebrity status is such that advertisers and sports goods manufacturers hire them to sponsor their products. The Brazilian footballer Pelé is such a player; he was so admired as a player during his time that he went on to become a UNICEF ambassador, as well as being a spokesman in advertisements for many different companies (most famously advertising Viagra). He also spent some time in politics in Brazil. “Pele” redirects here. ... UNICEF Logo The United Nations Childrens Fund or UNICEF (Arabic: ; French: ; Spanish: ) was established by the United Nations General Assembly on December 11, 1946. ... // ...

Former FIFA World Player of the Year, European Footballer of the Year, and African Footballer of the Year George Weah secured most votes in the first round of the 2005 Liberian presidential election, but was defeated in the run-off ballot. The FIFA World Player of the Year is a football award given annually to the male and female player who are thought to be the best in the world, based on votes by coaches and captains of international teams. ... The Ballon dOr trophy, as awarded to Hristo Stoichkov in 1994. ... The African Footballer of the Year award, presented to the best African football (soccer) player each year, has been confered by the Confederation of African Football since 1992. ... George Manneh Oppong Ousman Weah (born October 1, 1966 in Monrovia[1]) is a Liberian politician and former football forward. ...

Another (current) football celebrity is the English footballer David Beckham. While he is talented on the football pitch, he is also admired off it. He is a trend-setter in England, with his frequent hairstyle changes triggering copycat looks in the country. He is also married to the former Spice Girl Victoria Beckham, and his relationship difficulties were widely reported in the UK press in 2004 and 2005. Statues have been made of him, notably at a Buddhist temple^[37] as well as made out of chocolate.^[38] David Beckham David Robert Joseph Beckham OBE (born May 2, 1975) is an English footballer born in Leytonstone, London. ... For other uses, see England (disambiguation). ... The Spice Girls were a British vocal girl band. ... Victoria Caroline Beckham (née Adams; born 17 April 1974) is an English singer, songwriter, fashion designer and television personality. ... Year 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Many other players have also become celebrities and are treated as heroes in the cities or countries that they have played for. Retired players, such as Gary Lineker, have also become celebrities in their own right by working on television or radio. Even non-footballers who are connected to football have become famous through their association alone. After the 2002 World Cup the head of the South Korean Football Association decided to run for president of the country.^[39] Gary Winston Lineker, OBE (born 30 November 1960 in Leicester) is a former English international football striker who scored ten goals in two World Cups for the England national team and is currently a sports broadcaster for the BBC. He is also known for appearing in adverts for the Walkers... Qualifying countries The 2002 FIFA World Cup, the 17th staging of the World Cup, was held in South Korea and Japan from May 31 to June 30. ...

Football as a religion?

It has been said that in some countries football has become the new religion (although this is a contentious issue).^[40] Many people tend to avoid their traditional places of worship, and are now regular attenders at football matches. Religious aspects of large, popular sporting events include:

- the widespread use of ritual: pre-game, gametime and post-game traditions, ritualized group responses to ques such as on-field events, etc.

- group chanting, singing, dancing

- the widespread use of symbols: team colors and logos take on an almost sacred meaning and insulting these symbols is a grevious insult to the whole side, wearing them marks the wearer as an adherent of a certain group and divides the world, almost cult-like, into "us" and "them". In this regard, football approaches religion in its influence on dress and, to some degree, behavior.

- idol-worship of heroes...

- ...which is associated with relics: balls, jerseys, numbers, etc. associated with players and events are highly valued

- pilgrimages: some fans will fly to another country to see a game live or travel in large groups to far-away places, caravaning, to see events

- deep emotional involvement, ecstatic participation which can go in various directions: cathartic, fun, violent, etc.

Football/soccer and other such sports lack some aspects usually associated with religion, however:

- There is, in football, only a hint of transcendence. The memory of some players might be "immortal" and some teams "legendary," but there is little in the way of an idea or ideology that so thoroughly orders the world and human history as you find in the major world religions.

- There are no holy texts. There are famous sayings, but no ideological/theological battles and split-offs over their interpretation. They do not carry ideological authority for regulating belief or behavior.

- Prayers are common, but they are usually directed _outside_ the system. Fans and players to not pray "to" football or "to" football heroes, but to the supernatural entities of other religions "about" football.

- There are god-like figures, but this is usually with a subtle sense of self-irony and fun. Franz Beckenbauer is referred to as "Der Kaiser" (the emperor), for example, because of his legendary role as a player, coach and administrator. But his authority hardly extends beyond the system. He has little political or moral influence in the way that a "real" Kaiser or pope or even priest would.

Religious beliefs are also in common use throughout football. Many players are quite religious and can be seen to cross themselves before a game. In Africa, traditional belief rituals are used to help teams win important games.^[41] In Argentina an official religion around the football player Diego Maradona has been formed called "Iglesia Maradoniana". Diego Armando Maradona (born October 30, 1960) is an Argentine former footballer. ... Religious display on Maradona in Naples. ...

Famous sayings

• "Someone said 'football is more important than life and death to you' and I said 'Listen, it's more important than that'." — Bill Shankly, 1981, on 'Live from Two', a Granada Television talk show hosted by Shelley Rohde.
  • This is frequently mis-quoted, usually along the lines of "Football isn't a matter of life or death, it's much more important than that".
• "In Latin America the border between soccer and politics is vague. There is a long list of governments that have fallen or been overthrown after the defeat of the national team." — Luis Suarez.
• "To say that these men paid their shillings to watch twenty-two hirelings kick a ball is merely to say that a violin is wood and catgut, that Hamlet is so much paper and ink." — J. B. Priestley, The Good Companions, 1928.
• "Football is a simple game; 22 men chase a ball for 90 minutes and at the end, the Germans win." — Gary Lineker, July 4, 1990 (after playing for England in a World Cup semi-final against Germany that was lost after a penalty shootout)
• "If God had meant us to play football in the sky, he'd have put grass up there." — Brian Clough, 1991, when manager of Nottingham Forest, bemoaning the method of football known as the 'long ball game'.
• "The ball is round and there are two goals." (Piłka jest okrągła, a bramki są dwie.) — Kazimierz Górski.
• "Football is war." — Rinus Michels, former Dutch national coach, known as the General
• "All I know most surely about morality and obligations, I owe to football." — Albert Camus, French philosopher, novelist and goalkeeper
• "Football is a game of four halves." — Gary Lineker, referring to the home and away legs of cup competitions.
• "The ball is round, the game lasts ninety minutes, and everything else is just theory." — Sepp Herberger, German coach.
• "After the game is before the game", — Sepp Herberger, German coach.
• "The first 90 minutes are the most important." — Bobby Robson.
• "It's a funny old game." — Jimmy Greaves.
• "Ein, zu zvei, zu drei - drun! (One, two, three - bang!)" — Hristo Stoichkov, Bulgarian soccer player before 1994 World Cup Game Bulgaria-Germany. Bulgaria won surprisingly.
• "Football. Bloody hell." — Alex Ferguson, just after Manchester United won the 1999 UEFA Champions League final by scoring two goals in the 91st and 93rd minute of the game against FC Bayern Munich to win the match by 2-1.
• "I spent a lot of my money on booze, birds (women) and fast cars...the rest I just squandered." — George Best
• "Every disadvantage has its advantage", Johan Cruijff

The tone or style of this article or section may not be appropriate for Wikipedia. ... Year 1981 (MCMLXXXI) was a common year starting on Thursday (link displays the 1981 Gregorian calendar). ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... A talk show (U.S.) or chat show (Brit. ... A famous non-quotation is a well-known phrase attributed to someone who, in fact, did not say it. ... Luis Suarez-Isaza EDUCATION Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, May 2006 University of Florida, Gainesville, FL Pursuing certificates in International Relations and Latin American Studies, and a minor in Sociology Financed 100% of educational expenses through scholarships and full time work WORK EXPERIENCE Resident Assistant, Housing and Residence Education... John Boynton Priestley, OM (born 13 September 1894, Bradford, West Riding of Yorkshire, died 14 August 1984, Warwickshire) was an English writer and broadcaster . ... Gary Winston Lineker, OBE (born 30 November 1960 in Leicester) is a former English international football striker who scored ten goals in two World Cups for the England national team and is currently a sports broadcaster for the BBC. He is also known for appearing in adverts for the Walkers... is the 185th day of the year (186th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1990 (MCMXC) was a common year starting on Monday (link displays the 1990 Gregorian calendar). ... First international  Scotland 0 - 0 England (Partick, Scotland; 30 November 1872) Biggest win  Ireland 0 - 13 England (Belfast, Ireland; 18 February 1882) Biggest defeat  Hungary 7 - 1 England (Budapest, Hungary; 23 May 1954) World Cup Appearances 12 (First in 1950) Best result Winners, 1966 European Championship Appearances 7 (First in... The 1990 Football World Cup was designated by FIFA in 1984 to be held in Italy, making it the second country to host the event two times. ... Penalty shootouts, officially named kicks from the penalty mark, are a method sometimes used to decide which team progresses to the next stage of a tournament (or wins the tournament) following a draw in a game of football. ... Brian Howard Clough, OBE (21 March 1935 – 20 September 2004) was a successful footballer and subsequently football manager, most notable for his success with Derby County and Nottingham Forest. ... Year 1991 (MCMXCI) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the 1991 Gregorian calendar). ... Nottingham Forest Football Club is an English professional football club based at The City Ground in Nottingham, England. ... Kazimierz Klaudiusz Górski (born 2 March 1921 in Lwow, now Ukraine, died 23 May 2006) was a legendary coach of Poland national football team and honorary president of Polish Football Union (Polski ZwiÄ…zek PiÅ‚ki Nożnej, PZPN). ... Marinus (Rinus) Jacobus Hendricus Michels (February 9, 1928 – March 3, 2005) was a Dutch football player and coach. ... First international Belgium 1 - 4 Netherlands (Antwerp, Belgium; 30 April 1905) Biggest win Netherlands 9 - 0 Finland (Solna, Sweden; 4 July 1912) Netherlands 9 - 0 Norway (Rotterdam, Netherlands; 1 November 1972) Biggest defeat England Amateur 12 - 2 Netherlands (Darlington, England; 21 December 1907) World Cup Appearances 8 (First in 1934... Albert Camus (IPA: ) (November 7, 1913 – January 4, 1960) was a French author and philosopher. ... A philosopher is a person who thinks deeply regarding people, society, the world, and/or the universe. ... A novel is an extended work of written, narrative, prose fiction, usually in story form; the writer of a novel is a novelist. ... A football goalkeeper leaves the ground to parry a shot on goal In many team sports, a goalkeeper (termed goaltender, netminder, goalie, or keeper in some sports) is a designated player that is charged with directly preventing the opposite team from scoring by defending the goal. ... Gary Winston Lineker, OBE (born 30 November 1960 in Leicester) is a former English international football striker who scored ten goals in two World Cups for the England national team and is currently a sports broadcaster for the BBC. He is also known for appearing in adverts for the Walkers... Josef (Sepp) Herberger (28 March 1897 in Mannheim, Germany — 20 April 1977 in Weinheim-Hohensachsen, Germany) was a German football player and manager. ... Josef (Sepp) Herberger (28 March 1897 in Mannheim, Germany — 20 April 1977 in Weinheim-Hohensachsen, Germany) was a German football player and manager. ... Sir Robert William Robson CBE (born February 18, 1933, in Sacriston, County Durham, England), commonly known as Bobby Robson (IPA: ), is an English football manager and former international football player. ... James Peter Jimmy Greaves (born 20 February 1940) is an English former football player, Englands third highest goalscorer, and more recently a television pundit. ... Hristo Stoichkov alternatively spelt Stoitchkov (Bulgarian: ) (born February 8, 1966, in Plovdiv, Bulgaria) is a football manager and former striker who was a member of the Bulgaria national team that finished fourth at the 1994 FIFA World Cup. ... -1... For other persons named Alex Ferguson, see Alex Ferguson (disambiguation). ... Manchester United Football Club are a world-famous English football club, based at the Old Trafford stadium in Trafford, Greater Manchester, and are one of the most popular sports clubs in the world, with over 50 million supporters worldwide. ... The 1998-99 season of the UEFA Champions League football club tournament was won by Manchester United, coming back from a goal down in the last two minutes of injury time to defeat Bayern Munich 2-1 in a memorable final. ... The 1999 UEFA Champions League Final took place at the Nou Camp in Barcelona on 26 May 1999 between English Champions Manchester United and German Champions FC Bayern Munich. ... Wikinews has related news: 2007/08 Bundesliga: Bayern Munich vs. ... George Best (22 May 1946 – 25 November 2005) was a Northern Irish football player best known for his years with Manchester United. ... Hendrik Johannes Cruijff ( ) - often spelled Cruyff outside the Netherlands; see IJ (digraph)); born April 25, 1947 in Amsterdam) is a Dutch football manager/coach and former player. ...

References

Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 199th day of the year (200th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

External links

• FootballCulture.net - a website run by the British Council exploring Football Culture (Internet Archive copy)
• Footballers are Idiots - a website compiling the best of footballers' bad behaviour
• FIFA Code of Conduct for Football
• Football Against Racism in Europe
• The Global Game - World Football, Women's Football, Media, Culture
• Nouvelle Fédération Board website