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 fans, the teams, the players, as well as on society itself. Football (soccer) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia /**/ @import /skins-1. ...

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 that this extravagant lifestyle is unrealistic). A collection of magazines A magazine is a periodical publication containing a variety of articles, generally financed by advertising and/or purchase by readers. ...

The game

'Derbies'

Main article: Local derby In many countries the term local derby, or simply just derby (pronounced dar-bee in UK English), is used to mean a sporting fixture between two (generally local) rivals, particularly in (Association) Football. ...

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. Politics is a process by which collective decisions are made within groups. ... Sectarianism refers (usually pejoratively) to a rigid adherence to a particular sect or party or denomination. ...

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. This article deals with major football (soccer) rivalries around the world. ...

Examples of famous football derbies include ^[1]:

• Milan Derby - A.C. Milan v Internazionale - Italy
• Al-Ahly v Zamalek - Egypt
• Boca Juniors v River Plate - Buenos Aires, Argentina
• Old Firm Derby - Celtic F.C. v Rangers F.C. - Glasgow, Scotland
• Everton F.C. v Liverpool F.C. - Liverpool, England
• Fenerbahçe v Galatasaray - Istanbul, Turkey
• Manchester City F.C. v Manchester United F.C. - Manchester, England

Milan (Italian: Milano; Milanese dialect: Milán) is the main city in northern Italy, and is located in the plains of Lombardy, the most populated and developed region in Italy. ... AC Milan is an Italian football club. ... 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. ... Al-Ahly (Arabic: الأهلى ) is an Egyptian football club founded in April, 1907 and based in Cairo, Egypt. ... Zamalek is a district of Cairo, Egypt. ... Club Atlético Boca Juniors is an Argentine football club. ... Club Atlético River Plate, known also as River Plate or simply River, is a football team of Argentina, founded in 1901. ... Buenos Aires (Good Airs in Spanish, originally Ciudad de la Santísima Trinidad y Puerto de Santa María de los Buenos Aires meaning City of the Holy Trinity and Port of Saint Mary of the Fair Winds) is the capital of Argentina and its largest city and port, as... The name Old Firm is a collective term for the Glaswegian football clubs, Rangers and Celtic. ... Celtic Football Club, more commonly referred to simply as Celtic (pronounced seltik), is a famous football club. ... Rangers Football Club is a football club from Glasgow, Scotland which plays in the Scottish Premier League. ... Glasgow (or Glaschu in Gaelic) is Scotlands largest city and unitary authority area, situated on the River Clyde in the countrys west central lowlands. ... Royal motto: Nemo me impune lacessit (English: No one provokes me with impunity) Scotlands location within the United Kingdom Languages English, Gaelic, Scots Capital Edinburgh Largest city Glasgow First Minister Jack McConnell Area - Total - % water Ranked 2nd UK 78,782 km² 1. ... Everton Football Club are an English football club from the city of Liverpool, founded in 1878. ... Liverpool Football Club (usually known simply as Liverpool) is an English football club based in Liverpool, Merseyside; the current champions of Europe, they are also statistically the most successful English football team to date. ... Liverpool waterfront by night, as seen from the Wirral. ... Royal motto (French): Dieu et mon droit (Translated: God and my right) Englands location within the British Isles Official language English de facto Capital London de facto Largest city London Area – Total Ranked 1st UK 130,395 km² Population – Total (mid-2004) – Total (2001 Census) – Density Ranked 1st UK... Fenerbahçe is the name of a district in Kadikoy region of Istanbul, Turkey. ... For Galatasaray High School, visit Galatasaray Lisesi Galatasaray Spor Kulübü (Galatasaray Sports Club, or Galatasaray SK) is a Turkish sports club based in İstanbul which is most famous for its football section. ... Istanbul is the largest city in Turkey, and arguably the most important. ... Manchester City Football Club are a football club based in Manchester, United Kingdom. ... Manchester United Football Club is an English football club, based at Old Trafford Football Ground located just outside of the city boundaries of Manchester, Lancashire. ... Manchester is a city in the North West of England. ... Royal motto (French): Dieu et mon droit (Translated: God and my right) Englands location within the British Isles Official language English de facto Capital London de facto Largest city London Area – Total Ranked 1st UK 130,395 km² Population – Total (mid-2004) – Total (2001 Census) – Density Ranked 1st UK...

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 mince pies and Bovril are a staple of food outlets in stadia. (It must be noted that some people consider football stadia 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]. A slice of strawberry-rhubarb pie à la mode A pie is a baked dish, with a baked shell usually made of pastry that covers or completely contains a filling of meat, fish, vegetables, fruit, cheeses, creams, chocolate, custards, nuts, or other sweet or savoury ingredient. ... Bovril, formerly a beef extract, now is the trademarked name of a thick, salty yeast extract, sold in a distinctive, bulbous jar. ... For other uses, see London (disambiguation). ... 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...

Match programmes

Match programmes (or souvenirs as they are sometimes called) 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 collectable items, and can fetch a lot of money on auction.

"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. Sportsmanship is, in a basic sense, conforming to the rules of sport. ...

The principles of the Fair Play programme can be summarised as follows:

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

The full text of the Fair Play 'Code of Conduct' can be found on the FIFA website ^[3].

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" ^{[4] [5]}. The Fédération Internationale de Football Association, universally known by its acronym FIFA, is the international governing body of football (soccer). ... UEFA logo The Union of European Football Associations, almost always referred to by the acronym UEFA (pronounced you-AY-fuh), is the administrative and controlling body for European football. ... Paolo Di Canio (born July 9, 1968 in Rome) is an Italian football player who currently plays for the Italian Serie A club Lazio. ...

Fans

Football chants

Main article: Football chants Football chants are repetitive chants generated by the crowd at football (soccer) matches, particularly professional ones. ...

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. 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" ^[6], after the disorder caused by English fans travelling abroad to support either their club or national team. However organised violence surrounding football has spread to other countries, most notably by the Ultras in Italy and the Barras Bravas in Argentina. Football hooliganism is a distinct form of disorderly behaviour or hooliganism in which participants are supporters or adherents of one or more football clubs or national teams, and is frequently, although not exclusively, evidenced at or immediately before or after matches. ... A football firm is an organized gang – mostly supporting a football club – that engage in fights with firms supporting other clubs. ... Royal motto (French): Dieu et mon droit (Translated: God and my right) Englands location within the British Isles Official language English de facto Capital London de facto Largest city London Area – Total Ranked 1st UK 130,395 km² Population – Total (mid-2004) – Total (2001 Census) – Density Ranked 1st UK... Ultras at FC Twente - SC Heerenveen in 2002 Hooliganism is unruly and destructive behaviour, usually by gangs of young people. ... FC Porto Ultras Super Dragões, Portugal The Ultras movement, or simply Ultras, is the name given to organized supporters groups for sports teams, mostly European supporters of football (soccer) teams. ...

Violence by fans has had varying degrees of seriousness, ranging from scuffles between fans to tragedies (see Heysel Stadium disaster, Football War). There have been some incidents in fixtures abroad of fans being murdered: for example, two Leeds United supporters in Turkey in 2000^[7]. Juventus fans celebrate after the game, surrounded by anti-riot police. ... The Football War (or Soccer War), as it was named by the international mass media, was a shortlived war (only 6 days in duration) fought by El Salvador and Honduras in 1969. ...

AC Milan goalkeeper Dida being hit by a flare at the San Siro stadium (March 12, 2005)
Image: soccer-europe.com

As of 2004 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 their displays of hatred. 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 ^{[] [8] [9]}. Image File history File linksMetadata Dida_hit_by_flare. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Dida_hit_by_flare. ... AC Milan is an Italian football club. ... Nelson de Jesus Silva (born October 7, 1973 in Irara, Bahia), commonly known as Dida, is a Brazilian footballer. ... The Stadio Giuseppe Meazza, also known as the San Siro, is a football stadium in Milan,Italy. ... The UEFA Champions League is an annual club football competition organized by the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) for the most successful football clubs in Europe. ... March 12 is the 71st day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (72nd in Leap years). ... March 13 is the 72nd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (73rd in leap years). ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday 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 threathened to burn down his restaurant, criticising his attitude towards the team ^[10]. 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 ^[11]. Christian Vieri (born 12 July 1973 in Bologna) is an Italian football player, a striker who currently plays for French club AS Monaco FC and the Italian national team. ... 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) Largest win Argentina 0 - 5 Colombia (Buenos Aires, Argentina; 5 September 1993) Worst defeat Argentina 9 - 1 Colombia (Santiago, Chile; 7 February 1945) World Cup Appearances 4 (First in 1962) Best result Round 2, 1990 Copa América... Andrés Escobar (March 13, 1967-July 2, 1994) was a Colombian football player, who was shot and killed for an own goal that he scored in the 1994 Football World Cup. ... 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 association football (soccer) when a player kicks or otherwise causes the ball to go into his own sides goal, thus resulting in a goal being scored for the opposition. ...

Football violence has also occurred among players during games. For examples, see:

• Battle of Bordeaux, in the 1934 World Cup
• Battle of Berne, in the 1954 World Cup
• Battle of Santiago, in the 1962 World Cup
• Battle of Bramall Lane, a 2002 regular-season game in England
• Lee Bowyer and Kieron Dyer, Newcastle United teammates who fought each other near the end of a Premiership match against Aston Villa in 2005

The Battle of Bordeaux is an informal name for the World Cup football match between Brazil and Czechoslovakia on June 12, 1938 in Bordeaux. ... The 1934 Football World Cup was hosted by Mussolinis Italy. ... The Battle of Berne is the informal name given to the football match between Brazil and Hungary during the World Cup finals on June 27, 1954 in Berne. ... The 1954 Football World Cup was held in Switzerland. ... For the real-life battle fought between the US and Spain in Cuba, see Battle of Santiago de Cuba. ... In 1962 the Football World Cup returned to the continent of South America. ... The Battle of Bramall Lane is the informal name given to an English First Division football match between Sheffield United and West Bromwich Albion at Sheffields Bramall Lane ground on 16 March 2002. ... For the Cusco album, see 2002 (album). ... Royal motto (French): Dieu et mon droit (Translated: God and my right) Englands location within the British Isles Official language English de facto Capital London de facto Largest city London Area – Total Ranked 1st UK 130,395 km² Population – Total (mid-2004) – Total (2001 Census) – Density Ranked 1st UK... Lee David Bowyer (born January 3, 1977 in Newham, London) is a professional football player who currently plays for FA Premier League side Newcastle United. ... Image © soccer-europe. ... Newcastle United Football Club (NUFC) is an English professional football team based in Newcastle upon Tyne, nicknamed the Magpies. Newcastle United supporters are known as the Toon Army, or simply The Toon. The club currently plays in the FA Premier League. ... FA Premier League logo The FA Premier League (which, for sponsorship/legal reasons, is often referred to as the Barclays Premiership in the UK and the Barclays English Premier League internationally) is a league competiton for English Football clubs located at the top of the English football league system (above... Aston Villa redirects here. ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

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 better and safer football stadia. The Hillsborough disaster was a deadly human crush that occurred on April 15, 1989, at Hillsborough, a football stadium in Sheffield, England, resulting in the loss of 96 lives. ... There have been two accidents leading to major loss of life at Ibrox Park in Glasgow, Scotland. ... Juventus fans celebrate after the game, surrounded by anti-riot police. ... The Bradford City Disaster took place on May 11, 1985 when a flash fire occurred at the Valley Parade stadium of Bradford City F.C. during a football match against Lincoln City F.C.. On that day, Bradford City were celebrating winning of the Third Division Championship trophy. ...

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 ^[12].
• 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 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.
• In 2004, the Hungarian international Miklós Fehér also died from a heart attack, while playing with Benfica against Vitoria Guimarães.
• Several players have also been struck by lightning while playing during sudden storms.

Other disasters have occurred away from any stadia: most notably, the Munich air disaster, involving the 1958 Manchester United team and the Superga air disaster of 1949 in which the Torino squad perished. September 5 is the 248th day of the year (249th in leap years). ... 1931 (MCMXXXI) is a common year starting on Thursday. ... Celtic Football Club, more commonly referred to simply as Celtic (pronounced seltik), is a famous football club. ... Rangers Football Club is a football club from Glasgow, Scotland which plays in the Scottish Premier League. ... The name Old Firm is a collective term for the Glaswegian football clubs, Rangers and Celtic. ... First international Scotland 0 - 0 England (Partick, Scotland; 30 November 1872) Largest win Scotland 9 - 0 Wales (Glasgow, Scotland; 23 March 1878) Worst 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 (October 5, 1922 - September 10, 1985) was one of the most notable managers in British football history. ... First International Scotland 4 - 0 Wales (Glasgow, Scotland; 26 March 1876) Largest win Wales 11 - 0 Ireland (Wrexham, Wales; 3 March 1888) Worst defeat Scotland 9 - 0 Wales (Glasgow, Scotland; 23 March 1878) World Cup Appearances 1 (First in 1958) Best result Quarter-finals, 1958 European Championship Appearances none (First... In the 1986 World Cup qualification rounds, the dates and results are listed below. ... The 1986 Football World Cup was held in Mexico from May 31 to June 29. ... 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... First International Cameroon 9 - 2 Somalia (Madagascar; 13 April 1960) Largest win Cameroon 9 - 2 Somalia (Madagascar; 13 April 1960) Worst defeat South Korea 5 - 0 Cameroon (Seoul, South Korea; 4 October 1984) Norway 6 - 1 Cameroon (Oslo, Norway; 31 October 1990) Russia 6 - 1 Cameroon (Palo Alto, California, USA... 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... 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... First International Austria 5 - 0 Hungary (Vienna, Austria 12 October 1902) Largest win Russia 0 - 12 Hungary (Russia; 14 July 1912) Hungary 13 - 1 France (Budapest, Hungary; 12 June 1926) Worst defeat Hungary 0 - 7 England (Budapest, Hungary; 10 June 1908) Germany 7 - 0 Hungary (Cologne, Germany; 6 April 1941... Miklós Miki Fehér (Tatabánya, July 20, 1979 – Guimarães, January 25, 2004) was a Hungarian football player. ... Sport Lisboa e Benfica (commonly referred to as simply Benfica, SL Benfica or Benfica Lisbon; pron. ... Vitória Sport Clube is a Portuguese football club based in the city of Guimarães, located 40 km north of Oporto in Portugal. ... A plaque at Old Trafford Football Ground commemorating the Munich air disaster The Munich air disaster occurred on February 6, 1958, when Flight BE609, a British European Airways Elizabethan class Airspeed Ambassador charter aircraft G-ALZU Lord Burghley, carrying players and backroom staff of Manchester United F.C., plus a... 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. ...

Women and football

This topic is covered in the main article Women's football (soccer). UEFA Womens Cup Final 2005 at Potsdam Association Football (soccer) is the most prominent team sport for women in many countries, and one of the few womens team sports with professional leagues (the other global one being basketball). ...

Increasingly women have taken a role in football, both in playing the game as well as watching it. The FIFA Women's World Cup was started in 1991, and has drew worldwide television interest. The FIFA Womens World Cup is the most important competition in international football for women. ... 1991 (MCMXCI in Roman) is a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

In the USA, the Women's United Soccer Association League was formed in 2001 due to the interest in Women's football in the country. Unfortunately the league collapsed in 2003, but grassroots football was not affected in the country. // Bio The Womens United Soccer Association formed in 2001 as a soccer league for women in the United States. ... 2001: A Space Odyssey. ... 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

In many countries there are Women's football leagues; however they are not as prominent as the equivalent Men's leagues.

Football matches now tend to have increased numbers of female supporters attending the stadium itself, as well as watching the matches at home or in pubs or bars.

Drinking and disorder

In many countries football has been associated with alcohol consumption. 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, the chaos caused by drinking has led to the banning of the sale of alcohol to general supporters in stadia across the United Kingdom. It must be noted that sales of alcohol still occur in executive lounges. For other uses, see Alcohol (disambiguation). ...

A lot of teams and countries have supporters clubs which have 'friendly' drinking reputations. However some countries are more associated with 'drunken hooliganism' (see Violence section above). Football culture is a descriptive term of the cultural aspects surrounding the game of association football. ...

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]. Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) 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) Largest win Scotland 9 - 0 Wales (Glasgow, Scotland; 23 March 1878) Worst 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) Largest win Ireland 0 - 13 England (Belfast, Northern Ireland; 18 February 1882) Worst 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... Old Wembley Stadium (1923-2000) Wembley Stadium is a football stadium in Wembley, London, England, which is currently being rebuilt. ...

Pitch invasions

Main article: Pitch invasion A pitch invasion is an occasion 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. ...

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.

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] (RealVideo)}. 1923 (MCMXXIII) was a common year starting on Monday (link will take you to calendar). ... Crowds define the edges of the pitch and watch from the roof. ... The FA Cup - this is the fourth trophy, in use since 1992, and identical in design to the third trophy introduced in 1911. ... Bolton Wanderers F.C. are an English professional football club. ... West Ham United Football Club are a professional English football club based in East London. ... Old Wembley Stadium (1923-2000) Wembley Stadium is a football stadium in Wembley, London, England, which is currently being rebuilt. ... For the album by Ash, see 1977 (album). ... 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 Northern Ireland (Ireland before 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. In many cases these people are streakers, that is they try to invade the pitch while nude. Most of the time the other 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. This article is about being nude in public places. ... Euro 2004 Logo The 2004 UEFA European Football Championship, commonly called Euro 2004, was held in Portugal between 12 June and 4 July 2004. ... Jimmy Jump is a Spanish Catalan jumper, or pitch invader. ... Manchester United Football Club is an English football club, based at Old Trafford Football Ground located just outside of the city boundaries of Manchester, Lancashire. ... The UEFA Champions League is an annual club football competition organized by the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) for the most successful football clubs in Europe. ... Bayern Munich or FC Bayern München is a German football club based in Munich, capital of the state of Bavaria. ... England Rugby is the name of the English national rugby union team. ... The British Grand Prix is a race in the calendar of the FIA Formula One World Championship. ...

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

Nowadays football has become big business for the privileged few. While most grassroots clubs and lower division league teams struggle to make ends meet, the big clubs can make a lot of money. Manchester United F.C. is considered the richest club in the world, and has a global support base ^[19] (although Real Madrid recently declared themselves to be richest ^[20]. Chelsea F.C. has also undergone a transformation, buying up the services of many expensive football players, due to being bought by the billionaire Roman Abramovich. Manchester United Football Club is an English football club, based at Old Trafford Football Ground located just outside of the city boundaries of Manchester, Lancashire. ... Real Madrid is a football club ranked as The 20th Centurys Best Club by FIFA. Their home stadium is the Santiago Bernabéu in Chamartín, Madrid. ... Chelsea Football Club (also known as the Blues, previously known as the Pensioners, a reference to the Chelsea pensioners), founded in 1905, is a Premier League football team that plays at the Stamford Bridge football ground in south-west London. ... Roman Arkadievich Abramovich (Russian: Рома́н Арка́дьевич Абрамо́вич) (born October 24, 1966 in Saratov, Russian SFSR, USSR) is a Russian oil billionaire, 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 F.C. 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 from the FA Premier League to the English 1st Division. Leeds United Football Club is the only professional association football club in the city of Leeds. ... FA Premier League logo The FA Premier League (which, for sponsorship/legal reasons, is often referred to as the Barclays Premiership in the UK and the Barclays English Premier League internationally) is a league competiton for English Football clubs located at the top of the English football league system (above... From 1889 until 1992, this was the highest division overall of organized football in England. ...

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. FC Porto emblem (Larger version) Futebol Clube do Porto (short: FC Porto, FCP) is a Portuguese sports club, best known for its football section. ... Amsterdamsche Football Club Ajax (Euronext: AJAX) also referred to as Ajax Amsterdam, AFC Ajax, or simply Ajax (pronounced Ah-yahx), is a football club from Amsterdam, Netherlands. ... The UEFA Champions League is an annual club football competition organized by the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) for the most successful football clubs in Europe. ...

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 Footballer's Wives. A groupie is a person who, while she/he may be a fan on some level, seeks intimacy (most often physical, sometimes emotional) with a famous person, usually a rock band member. ... Footballers Wives is a UK television drama surrounding the private lives of a group of professional footballers. ...

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. 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, he also suffered problems with drug abuse. He was also sent home from the 1994 World Cup for doping offences. His cocaine abuse has led to his medical problems in recent times. Diego Armando Maradona (October 30, 1960, Lanús, Buenos Aires), nicknamed El Diez, Pelusa, El Diego and El pibe de oro, is a former Argentine football player. ... Drug abuse has a wide range of definitions, all of them relating to the use, misuse or overuse of a psychoactive drug or performance enhancing drug for a non-therapeutic or non-medical effect. ... 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. ...

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. In 2002 three players, two from Chelsea (John Terry and Jody Morris) and one from Wimbledon, appeared in court of charges of affray. All were acquitted. Leeds United Football Club is the only professional association football club in the city of Leeds. ... Jonathan Woodgate (born January 22, 1980 in Middlesbrough, England, UK) is an English footballer, who plays as a defender for Spanish club side Real Madrid. ... Lee David Bowyer (born January 3, 1977 in Newham, London) is a professional football player who currently plays for FA Premier League side Newcastle 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, previously known as the Pensioners, a reference to the Chelsea pensioners), founded in 1905, is a Premier League football team that plays at the Stamford Bridge football ground in south-west London. ... Image:John terry with england. ... Jody Morris, (born December 22, 1978), is an English footballer playing in the midfield position. ... Wimbledon F.C. logo This article is about the football club known as Wimbledon F.C. between 1889 and 2003. ...

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 ^[21]. However, the case was dropped after forensic evidence showed the accusations to be baseless ^[22]. 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. 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Leicester City Football Club, nicknamed the Foxes, are an English football team, playing in the Football League Championship. ... Paul Dickov (born November 11, 1972 in Livingston, Scotland) is a Scottish football player who currently plays for Blackburn Rovers F.C. as a forward. ... Frank Sinclair (born December 3, 1971 in Lambeth, England) is a Jamaican international footballer, who currently plays for Burnley. ... Kieth Gillespie (born February 18, 1975 in Larne, County Antrim) is a Northern Irish professional footballer, who currently plays for Sheffield United in the English Football League Championship. ... Rape is forced sexual activity. ... 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 ^[23]. More recently, Adrian Mutu admitted cocaine use after failing a drugs test, and Graham Stack was charged with rape but cleared in 2005 ^[24]. Bowyer would again make headlines in 2005 when he and Newcastle teammate Kieron Dyer fought each other near the end of a Premiership match. Wayne Mark Rooney (born October 24, 1985, Liverpool, Merseyside, England) is widely considered to be one of the leading young talents in world football - in September 2005 he was selected by his fellow professionals as the inaugural FIFPro World Young Player of the Year. ... 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) is a Romanian footballer born in Călineşti, Arges County. ... Graham Stack (born September 26, 1981 in Hampstead, London) is a Republic of Ireland international football player and goalkeeper for Arsenal F.C.. He joined Arsenal for the start of the 2000/01 season, but for the following, 2001/02, he was plagued with injury and loaned out to K... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Newcastle United Football Club (NUFC) is an English professional football team based in Newcastle upon Tyne, nicknamed the Magpies. Newcastle United supporters are known as the Toon Army, or simply The Toon. The club currently plays in the FA Premier League. ... Image © soccer-europe. ... FA Premier League logo The FA Premier League (which, for sponsorship/legal reasons, is often referred to as the Barclays Premiership in the UK and the Barclays English Premier League internationally) is a league competiton for English Football clubs located at the top of the English football league system (above...

Ethnicity and football

Main article: Ethnicity and football 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. ...

People of different races have sometimes not been accepted as players in European football. This is happily 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 (http://www.farenet.org/) 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. UEFA logo The Union of European Football Associations, almost always referred to by the acronym UEFA (pronounced you-AY-fuh), 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. ... 1881 (MDCCCLXXXI) was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ...

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. It has been suggested that Racism in Mass Media be merged into this article or section. ...

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 coaches 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, was a famous Brazilian football sensation and one of the best midfielders the worlds ever seen. ... Sven-Göran Eriksson England Manager (help· info) (born February 5, 1948) is a Swedish football manager. ... First international Scotland 0 - 0 England (Partick, Scotland; 30 November 1872) Largest win Ireland 0 - 13 England (Belfast, Northern Ireland; 18 February 1882) Worst 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... Hans Hubert Berti Vogts (born 30 December 1946, Büttgen, Germany) is a former German international football player and manager. ... First international Scotland 0 - 0 England (Partick, Scotland; 30 November 1872) Largest win Scotland 9 - 0 Wales (Glasgow, Scotland; 23 March 1878) Worst 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) Largest win Greece 8 - 0 Syria (Athens, Greece; 25 November 1949) Worst defeat Greece 1 - 11 Hungary (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) Largest win Germany 16 - 0 Russia (Stockholm, Sweden; 1 July 1912) Worst defeat England 9 - 0 Germany (Oxford, England; 16 March 1909) World Cup Appearances 16 (First in 1934) Best result Winners, 1954, 1974, 1990 European Championship Appearances 9... Image: soccer-europe. ... First International South Korea 5 - 3 Mexico (London, England; August 2, 1948) Largest win South Korea 16 - 0 Nepal (Incheon, Rep. ... The 2002 Football 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 ^[25]. Withdrawal symptoms when the football season finished have also been reported ^[26]. The economy can also be seen to be connected to major football tournaments ^[27], although the precise association is disputed ^[28].

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 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. Fever Pitch is the title of a 1992 book by British author Nick Hornby. ... Nick Hornby (born 17 April 1957) is an English novelist and essayist who lives in Highbury, Islington (London). ... Arsenal Football Club (also known as Arsenal, The Arsenal or The Gunners) are an English professional football club based in north London. ...

Films have been made ranging from the celebrated Bend It Like Beckham, to a more serious film, The Football Factory, dealing with hooliganism. In Germany, The Miracle of Bern (2003) revived the euphoria of the national team's victory in the 1954 World Cup and was a huge hit. Bend It Like Beckham is a British film released in 2002, directed by Gurinder Chadha from an original screenplay written by Chadha, Paul Berges, and Guljit Bindra. ... Promotional poster for The Football Factory The Football Factory is a 2004 British 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... 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... First International Switzerland 5 - 3 Germany (Basel, Switzerland; 5 April 1908) Largest win Germany 16 - 0 Russia (Stockholm, Sweden; 1 July 1912) Worst defeat England 9 - 0 Germany (Oxford, England; 16 March 1909) World Cup Appearances 16 (First in 1934) Best result Winners, 1954, 1974, 1990 European Championship Appearances 9... 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) ^[29]. 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 movie poster Escape to Victory was a 1981 movie directed by John Huston. ... Combatants Allies: • Soviet Union, • UK & Commonwealth, • USA, • France/Free France, • China, • Poland, • ...and others Axis: • Germany, • Japan, • Italy, • ...and others Commanders Strength Casualties Full list Full list World War II, also known as the Second World War, was a large scale military conflict that took place between 1939 and 1945. ... Club Crest FC Dynamo Kyiv is the main professional football club in the Ukrainian capital, Kiev (Kyiv). ... The Deutsche Luftwaffe or (help· info) (German: Air Arm, IPA: [luftvafə]) is the commonly used term for the German air force. ...

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. ...

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. Edson Arantes do Nascimento, KBE (born October 23, 1940), nicknamed Pelé (pron. ... UNICEF logo The United Nations International Childrens Emergency Fund (UNICEF) was established by the United Nations General Assembly on December 11, 1946. ... Sildenafil citrate, sold under the name Viagra, is a drug used to treat male erectile dysfunction (impotence), developed by the pharmaceutical company Pfizer. ...

Another (current) football celebrity is the English footballer David Beckham. While he is very 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. Beckham has even had statues made of him, notably at a Buddhist temple ^[30] as well as made out of chocolate ^[31]. David Beckham David Robert Joseph Beckham OBE (born May 2, 1975) is an English footballer born in Leytonstone, London. ... Royal motto (French): Dieu et mon droit (Translated: God and my right) Englands location within the British Isles Official language English de facto Capital London de facto Largest city London Area – Total Ranked 1st UK 130,395 km² Population – Total (mid-2004) – Total (2001 Census) – Density Ranked 1st UK... The Spice Girls were a British vocal girl band. ... Victoria Caroline Beckham (born Victoria Caroline Adams on 17 April 1974) is an English popular music singer, who first came to prominence as a member of girl band the Spice Girls, as Posh Spice, a nickname given to her by the BBCs Top of the Pops magazine. ... 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday 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. Gary Winston Lineker OBE, (born 30 November 1960), was an England international footballer and is now a broadcaster. ...

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 ^[32]. (Redirected from 2002 World Cup) The 2002 Football 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 ^[33] (although this is a contentious issue). Many people tend to avoid their traditional places of worship, and are now regular attenders at football matches. Their devotion includes celebrating their footballing heroes, and it has been seen that people take time off to go and catch a glimpse of their idols. Other 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 ^[34]. In Argentina an official Diego Maradona religion has been formed. Called "Iglesia Maradoniana". Diego Armando Maradona (October 30, 1960, Lanús, Buenos Aires), nicknamed El Diez, Pelusa, El Diego and El pibe de oro, is a former Argentine football player. ... Iglesia Maradoniana (English: Church of Maradona) is a religion (more likely a parody religion) formed by fans of the Argentine football player Diego Maradona. ...

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, 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 again?), 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.

• "The first 90 minutes are the most important." Bobby Robson.

• "It's a funny old game." Jimmy Greaves.

• "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 to win the match by 2:1.

William Bill Shankly, OBE (September 2, 1913 – September 29, 1981) was one of the most successful and respected football managers. ... 1981 (MCMLXXXI) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Current ITV Granada logo A Granada TV logo from the black and white era. ... 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... J. B. Priestley John Boynton Priestley, OM (September 13, 1894, Bradford, England - August 14, 1984, Stratford-upon-Avon) was an English writer and broadcaster. ... Gary Winston Lineker OBE, (born 30 November 1960), was an England international footballer and is now a broadcaster. ... July 4 is the 185th day of the year (186th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 180 days remaining. ... This article is about the year. ... First international Scotland 0 - 0 England (Partick, Scotland; 30 November 1872) Largest win Ireland 0 - 13 England (Belfast, Northern Ireland; 18 February 1882) Worst 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... 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 referred to as kicks from the penalty mark) are sometimes used to decide which team progresses to the next stage of a tournament following a tied result in a game of association football (soccer). ... Brian Clough, OBE Brian Clough, OBE (March 21, 1935–September 20, 2004) was a talented footballer and subsequently a successful football manager, most notable for his success with Derby County and Nottingham Forest. ... 1991 (MCMXCI in Roman) is a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Nottingham Forest Football Club are an English football club, based at the City Ground, which is just outside the official boundary of Nottingham on the south side of the River Trent. ... Kazimierz Górski Kazimierz Klaudiusz Górski (born 2 March 1921 in Lwów, now Ukraine) is the legendary Polish football player, coach of Poland national football team and honorary president of Polish Football Union (Polski Związek Piłki Nożnej, PZPN). ... Marinus Jacobus Hendricus Rinus Michels (born February 9, 1928) is a Dutch football coach. ... First international Belgium 1 - 4 Netherlands (Antwerp, Belgium; 30 April 1905) Largest win Netherlands 9 - 0 Norway (Rotterdam, Netherlands; 1 November 1972) Worst defeat Netherlands 2 - 12 England Amateur (The Hague, Netherlands; 1 April 1907) World Cup Appearances 8 (First in 1934) Best result Runners-up, 1974 and 1978 European... Albert Camus Albert Camus (pronounced Kam-oo, IPA: ka. ... 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 goalkeeper leaves his feet to parry a shot on goal In many team sports, a goalkeeper (termed goaltender 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), was an England international footballer and is now a broadcaster. ... Josef Sepp Herberger (born 28 March 1897 in Mannheim, Germany, died 28 April 1977 in Weinheim, Germany) was a German football player and manager. ... Sir Bobby Robson Sir Robert William Robson CBE, known as Sir Bobby Robson (born February 18, 1933) is a football manager and former football player. ... James Peter Jimmy Greaves (born 20 February 1940) was an English football player, and more recently a televsion pundit. ... Sir Alex Ferguson Sir Alex Ferguson OBE (born Alexander Chapman Ferguson December 31, 1941 in Govan, Glasgow) is a Scottish football manager and former player, currently managing Manchester United F.C. He has won more trophies than any other manager in the history of English football and been in charge... Manchester United Football Club is an English football club, based at Old Trafford Football Ground located just outside of the city boundaries of Manchester, Lancashire. ... The Season 1998-99 of the European UEFA Champions League football club tournament was won by Manchester United, coming back from a goal in two minutes to Bayern Munich. ...

External links

• FootballCulture.net - a website run by the British Council exploring Football Culture
  • Sacred Soccer? - an article exploring football as a religion
• FIFA Code of Conduct for Football
• Football Against Racism in Europe
• The Global Game|World Football, Women's Football, Media, Culture
• Related articles on the BBC website
  • "Which is football's fiercest derby?"
  • "Beckham meets Buddha"
  • "Japan unveils chocolate Beckham"
  • "Footballers behaving badly