To celebrate the 2012 UEFA Champions League final between Bayern Munich and CHelsea FC, UEFA sponsor Mastercard has conducted research into football fan behavior and unearthed some very interesting statistics on team following, spend and the increasing globalisation of football brands.

Football fans in Europe are collectively spending a staggering €35bn each season supporting clubs from foreign countries. Whether it’s funding their overseas match attendance and PayTV subscriptions or buying merchandise, Fans Without Borders notch up a combined spend per season that would fund the construction of 100 Fußball Arenas München (Allianz Arena to you and me), or buy 372 Cristiano Ronaldos or even 562 Fernando Torres’.

The results show one quarter of Europe’s football faithful (41 million) are classed as Fans Without Borders, with FC Barcelona the most popular foreign team (29%), followed by Real Madrid CF (10%) and Manchester United FC (8%).

How They Spend It

Fans Without Borders ring up €35bn worth of spending each season and here’s how:

• One fifth of the total spend, or €7.5bn, is on Pay TV.
• Merchandising (club-branded goods) earns 13% of our far-away follower’s money.
• Actual match attendance consumes 10% of Fans Without Borders’ spending, with an additional €2.5bn allocated to food, drink and other goods purchased when there.
• 6% of spend is given over to visiting a pub or sports-bar to take in a game on the big screen, and subscription to a club’s own TV channel takes 5%.
• One in four fans attends home matches abroad. Accommodation and travel relating to match attendance, or visits to their favourite stadia, cost Fans Without Borders €8.75bn each year – one quarter of the total spend.
• The impact on tourism is positive; one third of all Fans Without Borders have booked a trip for the sole purpose of watching a match or visiting a stadium. One fifth intentionally combine match attendance with a short city break, or integrate the game into a regular holiday.
• In total, cities hosting Fans Without Borders at live matches, benefit by around €4.5bn per season.

Categories of Fans

The report suggests that Fans Without Borders have been categorised into three groups:

Lead Photo Credit: Hassan Rai.

From Soccerlens.com - Football News

Earlier this week I came across the ‘Global Game‘ initiative launched by Nick Harris (Mail on Sunday, Sporting Intelligence). It’s a great idea, hopefully it catches on and more and more people from different parts of the world who follow football (and especially the English Premier League) can contribute to it.

In the meantime, here’s my submission – and you can make your own submission by following the instructions here.

How It’s Like To Watch The English Premier League In Pakistan

Name:
Ahmed Bilal.

Age:
29.

Occupation:
CEO, Football Media and Editor, Soccerlens.

Club:
Manchester United since 1994. It was a computer game, based on Man Utd. A strange but enduring love.

Last Game watched:
Chelsea 3-5 Arsenal.

Date:
29 Oct 2011.

Time:
Saturday evening local time (early afternoon UK).

Where:
At a friend’s house, in Lahore. You do get people watching together in public places but given that there are no bars, it’s more of a personal / social experience than a public one.

Who else was watching:
Myself and a couple of other friends. Incidentally all Manchester United fans.

TV Channel carrying the game:
ESPN Star Sports (Which is a JV between ESPN and News Corp (STAR)).

How much does it cost:
I pay PKR 350 / month to my local cable company that provides us with 80+ channels, including a handful of sports channels. That’s $4 / month or £2.53 / month. You don’t get HD, but it’s affordable for most people here (i.e. anyone who can at least afford a TV).

What’s the local tipple and how much does it cost:
Fun question. In theory, alcohol is a banned substance, on religious grounds and also by law. Practically, if you are inclined, and you have the money (it’s usually 50% to 100% more expensive than what it would cost you in US or UK) and have the right phone numbers, you can get a limited variety of the average stuff. Since it’s an ‘underground’ market demand drives supply and that in turn means a limited selection to choose from.

Having said that, it’s a lot more common than people think – and if you move in higher circles of society, it’s a must.

Plus we have our own brewery (Murree Brewery) – again something people wouldn’t expect from a country that bans the consumption of alcohol.

One person’s preferences don’t always reflect local culture but usually drinking for me is more of a social experience, so when I’m watching the game at home it’s unlikely to be with a beer or a glass of wine. With friends though, it’s a whole different story.

What’s the popularity of the English Premier League in the country where you live:
Absolutely massive. Whereas a decade or two ago international teams still held greater sway (I remember the 98 and 02 World Cups being more popular than club football (Premier League / Champions League), you’re now seeing a much greater, more widespread interest in the Premier League. Partially it’s because the Premier League is always on TV, which is a bit of a self-fulfilling prophecy. There isn’t enough Spanish, Italian, German or Dutch football to be seen on TV and that’s where you have to commend the marketing machine of the Premier League in getting to international markets first.

TV, then, has had a major role to play in promoting the Premier League in Pakistan and it would be easy to say it’s the only reason – Pakistan hasn’t been the focus of pre-season tours like Far-East Asia or the US, nor have we hosting international / major club teams like India.

But there are other cultural factors as well – the prevalence of football as a sport among the youth, coinciding neatly with the decline of several other major sports in Pakistan (including cricket), the strong social ties Pakistan enjoys with the UK in terms of population movement as well as, at the end of the day, the Internet.

Before the Premier League football used to be a sport people played. Even growing up, football was more of an athletic / social pursuit first, a game to watch on TV second. The liberalisation of TV channels here around the start of the decade coupled with the sheer explosion of the Premier League and it’s success in attracting football fans to a whole new world means that football is easily the second most popular sport in the country (and cricket is rapidly losing it’s charm). The Premier League has a big role to play in that popularity.

Any other observations:
UK fans (and many expats) are traditionally supporters of a team because they grew up watching up, or their family supports them, or even because they are the first team they saw in action. But there is a growing section of the global fanbase that has only ever watched football on TV, so their loyalties are formed by initial exposure to the sport. You can almost tell a person’s age and time of exposure to football by the team they support. At the start of the previous decade many people started supporting Arsenal (the big team of that time). There was a massive increase in the number of Chelsea fans in the Mourinho years. Barcelona has similarly enjoyed an upswing in support, partly because of their phenomenal success but also because of the likes of Ronaldinho and Messi being idolised by young footballers.

Are they glory hunters? Maybe at the start, but a lot of informal research suggests that after a certain period of time supporting a team, a fan will inevitably follow their team through thick and thin and behave like a ‘proper’ fan. Here’s a good article on glory fans that describes this better than me.

Another major factor is how players bring new fans to teams, and it’s something we’ve seen here in Pakistan with how Ronaldinho and Messi brought new fans to Barcelona despite Spanish football coverage lagging far behind the Premier League. But is it the chief cause? No – success, exposure and player appeal, all have a role to play.

It’s a shame that no international football club or team is likely to visit Pakistan in the near future because of the local instability, although like all things on the news there is a lot more propaganda and fear-mongering than reality. I think you would find that, just like everywhere else in the world, Pakistani football fans just want to watch good football, and when it comes to footballing culture, they enjoy being a part of something bigger and more powerful than themselves. It certainly lends to easy friendships (are you a United fan? you must be alright then), arguments (all Arsenal fans are pompous and arrogant) and overall, a good social experience.

Unless you get beaten 6-1 by Man City, that is. That just numbs you to the core.

Check out if your country has been covered yet and if not, make sure you send in your own experiences here.

From Soccerlens.com - Football News

The English Premier League is easily the most watched football league in the world. Although overshadowed by some of their Spanish counterparts on the pitch they still have a much bigger share of international viewership.

Millions and millions of fans around the globe from over 200 countries tune in every weekend to see 90 minutes of football, and in most cases it is the Premier League (fun fact – Manchester United attract 50% of the global Premier League audience).

EPL generates a fortune from overseas TV deals – the current three-year contract pays them £479 million a year. Compare that to their closest rivals La Liga, which earn £132 million a year, and Serie A, £74 million a year.

Since it’s re-branding in 1992, Premier League has risen way above the standards and it has done pretty well in capturing markets far away from home, like Asia and the US. Imagine the diversity of culture and people that one brand of football is covering. In 200 countries, there will be at least 200 different kinds of experiences.

Sporting Intelligence have a wonderful initiative titled ‘The Global Game’ which aims to discover and share the veiws and experiences from football viewers from around the world.

Sporting Intelligence is inviting readers who watch the Premier League overseas to send your experiences at submissions@sportingintelligence.com, answer all the following questions and preferably include an image of yourself (JPEG). If it is the first submission from your country, it is almost certain that it will be displayed for the entire world to see.

The questions are:

• Name?
• Age?
• Occupation?
• Club?
• Game watched?
• Where?
• Who else was watching?
• TV channel carrying the game?
• How much does it cost?
• What’s the local tipple and how much does it cost?
• What’s the popularity of the English Premier League in the country where you live?
• Any other observations?

For details and to view the submissions that have been made live already, visit: Premier League – the global game.

Bonus: Here’s our editor’s entry to the Global Game project: How the Premier League is seen…in Pakistan.

From Soccerlens.com - Football News

Having the opportunity to watch the world’s best football league week in and week out in person, is a very special privilege.

Having had a season-ticket at my boyhood club Aston Villa for well over a decade, I have seen some of the world’s best players come to Villa Park and demonstrate their imperious abilities.

There is nothing quite like a match day buzz in England. Getting up on a cold Saturday morning knowing you are in for a day of nothing but football is a ritual in this country that will continue to last for generations. The pre-match burger/beer, the walk to the ground, the sound of chanting, the banter that goes with it – it is a thoroughly enjoyable routine.

Being a Villan, we have had our fair share of ups and downs. We have been embroiled in mid-table scraps, been gunning for a place in the top-four and even endured a dreaded relegation battle such as last season. Nevertheless, we are the fourth most successful club in England and have a rich, illustrious history which I am extremely proud of and grateful for. It is wonderful to support a club that has contributed both domestically and in Europe.

Being a club that is built on a proud history, we have stuck to our principles for the majority of our existence by investing in British talent and integrating the youngsters from our academy and into our first-team. This has not only benefitted Aston Villa, it has also benefited the English national team. In recent times the likes of Ashley Young, Stewart Downing, Gary Cahill, James Milner, Gareth Barry and Darren Bent have all been affiliated with the club and gone on to play regularly for their country.

Although our investment in overseas talent is a rarity, seeing them sparkle at Villa Park in opposition colours is not. I remember Cristiano Ronaldo in his debut season for Manchester United absolutely ripping us to shreds on the final day of the 2003/2004 season and netted a brace in the first-half. He crushed our aim that day of finishing 5^th and qualifying for the UEFA Cup, with Newcastle United doing so instead.

Seeing magic like that makes you realise just how special this league is. Yes, there are other leagues in football that have more ability in terms of technical flair, possession and geometry, but in terms of entertainment, goals and exhilarating football, this is the place to be.

Football is a religion in this country, you cannot escape it. Wherever you go and do, you will hear or see football in some sort of medium. I have noticed in the last ten years that the sport – although it was already symbolic in this country – is getting bigger and bigger due to the all seater stadiums and the money BSKYB has poured into our domestic game.

The Premier League since its inaugural season in 1992 has developed into this global juggernaut, not just in football but in sport as a whole. Being an Englishman, living through it week after week it will never be novelty that will wear off. The excitement and exhilaration you get from a Premier League match is second to none.

It is quite simply the best league in the world!

From Soccerlens.com - Football News

You can travel to just about any different city throughout the European continent and your footballing experience will differ in one way or another.

Here at Soccerlens we have conjured up a list of some of the best cities in Europe to indulge in a mix of football, culture, sightseeing and maybe a drop of alcohol.

So dust off your passport, get your travel insurance at the ready and discover what Europe and its football has to offer.

Barcelona

Where better to watch your football at the moment than at the Camp Nou among 90,000 screaming Catalans applauding the magnificence of Lionel Messi and FC Barcelona.

The city as a whole is a wonderful hotspot for those football addicts. The Camp Nou runs daily tours where you are granted all access, including a tour of the changing rooms, the press-box, the player’s tunnels and the infamous chapel beside it.

The city itself is full of culture and flair. You will find yourself immersed in the architecture and delights, including the famous Rambla which is bursting with bars, restaurants and shops.

Madrid

If you are more inclined to see the dazzling feet of Cristiano Ronaldo, then the capital of Spain is your prime destination.

Home to the global juggernaut that is Real Madrid, the Santiago Bernabeu is regarded as one of the world’s most theatrical sporting arenas. The stadium has a capacity of just over 81,000, and like their bitter Catalan rivals, they offer daily tours of the ground where you can feast your eyes on their nine European Cups.

With it having its very own metro system, it is easily accessible.

Atletico Madrid, one of Spain’s most prestigious entities also plays their trade in the capital within the 54,000 seater Vicente Calderon. However, there are plans in the pipeline for the club to move to the Estadio La Peineta

The city is the financial heartbeat of southern Europe. Its elegant architecture has been carefully mixed with the more brash and modern sights. It offers an array of museums including the National Archaeological Museum of Spain. So if culture and history is your sort of thing, you will not be disappointed.

Paris

Oui, the city of Paris needs no introduction. One of the world’s most fashionable and glamorous cities offers just the one solitary football club – Paris Saint-Germain.

Like Berlin, Paris is the only other European capital to behold just one club. PSG are making ripples in the transfer market with big lavish signings such as Javier Pastore – giving you all the more reason to visit their Parc des Princes and take in a game.

The city is renowned for its diverse cuisine and cafe bars, so you will have no problem indulging your appetite.

The infamous Eiffel Tower is the city’s most popular attraction and you must pay a visit to the world’s most famous avenue, the Champs-Elysées which has an array of luxury shops, cinemas and bars.

Munich

The capital of Bavaria is the home of Germany’s biggest football club Bayern Munich.

A city that is mixed with modern and traditional architecture, Bayern’s Allianz Arena is an attraction in itself due to its unique facade. It is made up of 2,874 panels that change colour depending on who is playing (White, Germany/Red, Bayern/Blue, 1860) providing a spectacular view at night.

It will play host to this season’s Champions League Final.

The city is renowned for its beer consumption and that will keep the majority of football fans occupied during their stay.

The famous Marienplatz (St, Mary’s Square) is in the heartbeat of the city where both the old and new town hall are erected.

If you’re a shopaholic, then the Viktualienmarkt will catch your eye. It has over 140 shops and stores selling just about anything from a Mario Gomez Bayern shirt to a sack of spuds. A lot of festivals and concerts also take place here.

Prague

A real haven for its nightlife, the Czech Republic capital makes a perfect venue for you to prolong your football experience.

Home to a bundle of clubs including Sparta and Slavia Prague, the city is known for its love of football . Trips to both the Generali Arena (Sparta) and Synot Tip Arena (Slavia) will not be regrettable.

The old town square is a lively hot point bursting with bars, cafes, restaurants and an array of medieval buildings.

Copenhagen

The Danish capital is regarded as being cool, modern and perfect for football.

Home to FC Copenhagen, its Parken Stadium is synonymous for generating ear splitting atmospheres.

Carlsberg beer is iconic within the city, leaving you in no crisis of being unable to find the nearest tavern.

Tivoli Gardens is a must see attraction, a theme park that gave Walt Disney his inspiration for the Disney resort in California.

There are an array of galleries and museums where you can see some of the work from the likes of Andy Warhol and Picasso.

Lisbon

The capital of Portugal is an historic yet charming city.

Home to two of Portugal’s biggest clubs, Sporting Lisbon and Benfica, both can boast at having two of the most beautiful stadiums in Europe.

Benfica’s Estádio da Luz hosted the 2004 European Championship Final with Sporting’s Estádio José Alvalade also being a prominent venue during the tournament.

Lisbon boasts spectacular views and unique architecture. Its traditional continental facades blend in beautifully with the more modern concepts.

The Jeronimos Monastery is a world heritage monument that is a symbol of the country’s power and wealth during the Age of Discovery. This is the most popular landmark with tourists. Must see!

The Oceanarium is one of the world’s largest aquariums. It is filled to the brim with sea creatures– around 25,000 in total. If you love wildlife, then you will love this!

Milan

Italy’s focal point for the glitz and the glamour – and it’s football clubs certainly fit that description.

Milan and Internazioanle dominate the local sports culture in Milano, sharing the infamous San Siro Stadium. With a capacity of over 82,000, the ground has played host to a World Cup and a Champions League Final down the years.

Milan’s Fashion District provides some of the best shopping opportunities in Europe, especially those with exquisite taste. You cannot look one way or the other without seeing an Armani or Versace label.

For those who want a more leisurely experience, the Parco Sempione is the perfect place to stretch those legs and take in the riveting scenic views.

Rome

The Italian capital known for its gladiatorial history – much like its clubs AS Roma and Lazio.

Both clubs occupy the Stadio Olimpico, one of world football’s infamous stadia.

No city in the world boasts the history of the Eternal City. The Colosseum is a pivotal reminder as to just how influential this great city has been to the planet as a whole. Oozing with history and culture, Rome will leave you in awe of your surroundings.

The piazza di Spagna in particular is one of the most elegant squares in Europe and is perfect for social occasions. The steps are usually crowded due to its interest but a definite must see if you are within the city.

From Soccerlens.com - Football News

So that big cup draw has been made, your team has got the tie that they were praying for. A home tie as well. “All you can ask for is a home tie” apparently. It is going to be the game of the season, make no mistake. You simply have to get your tickets for this game. No, you don’t understand – you have to be there.

One snag. Your team’s ground holds 40,000 fans, 25,000 of these are season ticket holders. 7,000 are away fans. This leaves 8,000 seats for Mr. Nobodys like yourself. And about 30,000 people are thinking exactly the same as you.

There are solutions of course, there are loudmouth touts lurking outside the ground, but you are looking at paying through the nose (not even the nose in fact, the eyes) for even the shabbiest seat, with a fair chance that your “Golden Ticket” is in fact Golden Syrup carved into a Ryvita.

Thank the lord then for the internet. Here is your guide to boxing clever in the football tickets market.

Online Ticket Brokers

So to begin with, what exactly are we talking about when we say buying football tickets online? Who is selling these tickets? Well, a ticket broker is a business that sells tickets at market price. Market price is determined by the demand for a football ticket and the price associated with obtaining them. Market price fluctuates, but is often higher than the face value printed on the ticket. There are thousands of businesses that sell football tickets but only a few hundred are ticket brokers, and only a handful of those have experience in the ticket industry.

Ticket brokers like TicketBis sell tickets to events, and specialize in providing premium tickets or tickets for sold out events. Ticket brokers are a service business that save clients time and make buying tickets convenient.

So, what makes the internet any safer for buying football tickets than a shady corner on a shady street round the back of Anfield? After all, at least you can run away from a tout, and the only loss you will make will be a cash one, once a website has your card details it could rinse your account there and then.

But if you are smart, and a bit flush to be honest, there are ways in which you can get hold of priceless football tickets for just about any football match on the planet, and without ensuring that your wife goes without birthday presents for a year or two.

If you decide you fancy delving into this market, there are a number of shipping options which you can select, although obviously some of these are unavailable depending on the location, and the date of the game.

For foreign games, there is either a DHL service which will set you back between £30 & £70 depending on your location, or a hotel/domestic delivery service within Spain, Germany, Portugal, Holland or Italy which costs between £8 & £10.

For UK matches there is a special delivery service which can cost up to £15, or a UPS international delivery that will leave a £40 dent in your pocket, so remember to add that onto your ticket cost before you consider buying. Alternatively, you can in some cases arrange for a collection, free of charge. It just depends whether you fancy marching into the unknown to pick up tickets.

Looking to buy or sell football tickets? Get started with TicketBis.

Selling Football Tickets

In recent years the practice of individuals using football ticket sites to sell their own tickets has grown considerably, and most reliable ticket brokers will now allow you to sell football tickets online as well.

Selling tickets online through a tickets broker like TicketBis usually requires no upfront fees, although if you make a profit then you will need to pay a commission to the broker.

The best part about selling tickets online is that you don’t need to hand your tickets over to a stranger and hope for the best – you only send the tickets to the ticket broker once the sale has been confirmed and you’ve been paid.

It’s a nice way to be able to recover your costs on tickets for events that you can’t attend or, as is the case with many football fans, to make some money back on your season ticket if you’re going to miss a game or two.

Verifying Ticket Brokers

There is always a flip side of course. You do not have to look far on the web to find someone with a horror story to tell about online football tickets not arriving, fake football tickets, double charges and the like. For example, in 2006 two Arsenal fans who paid £1,100 for four tickets for their Champions League final clash with Barcelona in Paris were left heartbroken when said tickets failed to arrive. The online ticket company- The Online Ticket Shop- was named and shamed in the Daily Mirror, and soon after was forced into administration with debts of over £1.1m.

Other risks with buying football tickets online center around one of the fastest growing crimes in the world, identity/impersonation fraud. You are always taking a risk when inputting debit/credit card details onto a website, as in every corner of retail/commerce, there are as many unsavoury characters as there are decent sellers. Here are a few tips in finding a reliable ticket broker, and avoiding online scams:

• Check for hidden fees, some brokers hide their service charge until you have already provided your personal information.
• Know who you are buying from, make sure they have an About Us page and easily accessible contact information.
• Make sure they have a stated return policy.
• Verify whether they offer a money back guarantee.
• Make sure they offer safe, secure ordering on the web. Look for “https” in the URL of the order form, and the secure “lock” symbol somewhere on the browser.
• Ensure they offer a reliable shipping method.
• Look for membership in the Better Business Bureau (BBB).
• Verify they have a stated Privacy Policy.
• Buy from a ticket broker who has been in business for 5 or more years in order to benefit from the experience they have over new brokers
• If the deal seems too good to be true then it probably is, so walk away.
• Be extremely careful when buying tickets on the street from a scalper.
• Do not buy tickets that require you to wire money to a foreign country.
• Be extremely careful buying tickets on free classified sites or auction sites.
• Avoid buying from a ticket broker who is not reliable.
• Buy tickets from a legitimate source, a reputable ticket broker (see above).
• Check the event, date and time to ensure it is correct.
• Know the location of the seats you are buying.
• Understand when the tickets will be delivered to you.
• Pay with a credit card

Recommended Football Tickets Site

Well, typing in “football tickets” will bring you back over 5m matches. These range from the professional to the downright substandard. Whatever your preference, it shouldn’t be hard to find a site that can (at least claim to) match your requirements. We recommend TicketBis – and with good reason:

5 Reasons to buy / sell tickets with TicketBis:

1. A well run, professional looking site that are able to obtain tickets for just about any game in Europe, including many Premier League games. Manchester City playing in the Champions League? No problem. Milan derby? Why not! Barça v Numancia? Easy.

2. You can also get tickets for other sports and events, making it an excellent source for planning a memorable vacation.

3. Accepts all major credit/debit cards, with a 100% guarantee for all transactions.

4. Allows you to both buy and sell tickets (football as well as other events).

5. A range of reliable shipping / delivery methods as well as a hellishly easy to use website.

Buying or Selling?

Selling football tickets online has become a bit of a no-brainer. Sure, you can ask bloggers to retweet you when you’ve got a couple of spare tickets, but it’s a last-ditch, desperate strategy. If you know ahead of time that you’re going to miss a game, a football tickets website is your best bet for selling your tickets / covering your costs / making a profit.

However when it comes to buying, most fans are still hesitant, citing the ticket prices as an obstacle. However you wouldn’t be looking to buy a football ticket online if you already had a friend with a spare ticket or two, would you?

All in all I would say that the thriving online football ticket market has its merits, the better sites should lead you to tickets for just about any match you need, and as seen above there is plenty of scope for organising a barn-storming trip abroad to see a European/South American game.

Yes your success in buying tickets will undoubtedly depend on your budget and the vendor you choose, but there are so many sites around which have pretty good advice on how to avoid getting ripped off (and the points above will help no end) that you really can’t go far wrong, providing you don’t get too desperate.

And let’s face it, anything beats handing over a wad of dirty twenty pound notes to a grubby little man outside Wembley doesn’t it?

Looking to buy or sell football tickets? Get started with TicketBis.

From Soccerlens.com - Football News

Writer’s Note: This is not a “My First Football Match” type article.

The world has been through enough “football revolutions” to know that it is not everyone’s thing. Nothing is. Sure, I can get swept away in the furore and bluntness of the X Factor final but only for that night (that hasn’t happened yet.) In the same way, it is possible to get carried along in the almost evangelical muttering of crowd during a penalty-shoot-out – doesn’t mean you’ll be a die hardcore England fan for life. So when my newly immigrated Canadian flatmate asked me to initiate him into his first football match I was apprehensive, especially when his main comments during Match Of The Day are ironic hyperbole and: “All goals look the same”.

The perfect opportunity presented itself! Brazil v. Ghana at Craven Cottage. It couldn’t be more perfect for commencing a football education; history, flair and the perfect mix of dedicated fans and exhibition hangers-on. A walk down the Thames with a capacity crowd of Brazilians and Ghanaians, how could he not ‘get’ this? With the drums, dancing and colourful kits this was hardly a nervous England team we were approaching, this was a carnival for football. This crowd substitutes ‘Oh no’ for ‘Olé’ and booing for mexican waves.

Of course, this being an article there are bound to be some revelations coming. Maybe your experience is different, I’d like to know. Once we got inside Craven Cottage and took our seats it was clear that he was overwhelmed by the energy in the stands and as we stood for both national anthems I was happy that we’d chosen this game. Sitting between the Brazilians and Ghanaians showed us that theorising about soccer is something that every set of fans do. Ghana-tracksuit-clad BlackBerry wielders in front of us shouted their own formation ideas at the substitutes whilst trying to get an autograph and the Brazilians behind us debated – amongst other things – Pato’s hair, Ronaldinho’s inclusion in the team and if standing should be allowed at a game.

Suddenly I was reminded of my own first game. Liverpool v. Sion, Anfield, 1996. It finished 6 – 3 to Liverpool on the night, yet so many other things stuck out about that gloomy Halloween. I was dumbfounded by the trick-or-treaters who weren’t watching the football; that stadium felt like the centre of the world for me. The politics of seating were clear: kids around, keep the swearing down and make sure he feels welcome. Standing in front of a father and son is a no-no! The food isn’t there to be good, it is there to sustain you until full-time. Any goal should be appreciated as long as you’re still going to win. I was glad we could still exhibit these features of stadium-going to a new fan.

Some football happened too! As you would expect Brazil were confident on the ball but muscled around by Ghana and at times challenged to panic by Muntari et al. This spurred the Ghana fans on, whooping and hollering for the smallest of victories on the turf. At one point the mood was such that Brazil fans were beginning to wonder if the underdogs would outdo the newly forged Brazilian squad.

The showmen of the Brazil team soon took care of any confidence that a robust Ghana team might have harboured. They were only able to do so after Mike Dean had his say on proceedings, showing Daniel Opare red and reducing the Ghana side to 10 men. Ronaldinho and Neymar duly obliged their baying fans and exploited the extra space with flicks and flip-flaps to get the crowd on their feet.

This was turning out to be the perfect match for introducing a disenchanted North American to football. It had a backdrop of Brazilian angst after a disappointing Copa America and Ghana fans who were keen on the giants scalp. It wasn’t to be and hierarchy took control when Leandro Damaio put Brazil 1 – 0 up. That’s how it stayed, not for lack of effort, just accuracy. As the South American stars poured on and off the pitch it was clear that the Black Stars saw a 1 – 0 loss as quite the triumph if they had played entertaining football. This summed up the match and a flatmate’s introduction to football, if the culture surrounding football is full of vibrant people then the score suddenly becomes less significant. Take it on the chin or appreciate football for what it is.

Maybe that is how I will leave the Canadian’s experience of football. After all, he seemed much happier when he facebooked the Michael Jackson statue on our way out. It was nice to reminisce about my first experiences and appreciate football like you do in the World Cup, for the overall experience not just the nail-biting moments.

So if you remember or have a good experience to share then post it in the comments below. When was your first football match? When was your son/daughter’s first football match? What is the best way to introduce someone to football?

Written by Laurence McKenna.

From Soccerlens.com - Football News

How long will it take before employees of Manchester United fathom the club is King and they mere pawns? I fear the answer is ‘longer than they’ll be afforded’.

Public conduct will forever be a subjective topic, but for me, a players behaviour is no business of mine. It should however be of paramount importance to the club that pays his wages. Why should they stand by and watch their assets drag their name through the mud to satisfy the blood thirsty media and the ever flocking fickle fan.

Clubs don’t just hire the modern day footballer to play football, oh no. He’s hired to sell shirts, attract sponsors, satisfy premium paying hospitality guests and lure a constant stream of merchandise hungry foreign tourists into it’s megastore.

It’s a fact that Manchester United held a meeting recently where the first team were informed that their conduct on Twitter was under surveillance. The Reserves were also warned and the Academy players were ordered to refrain from using the site altogether until further notice.

The cause of the meeting was thought to be Ravel Morrison’s misguided remark the day after the clubs prestigious awards ceremony.

Twitter Incidents:

Ravel Tweeted “What a load from last nights awardss well done tunnerz tho appart from dat – Shit”

That came just days after Wayne Rooney had been lured by @sam-oldham-LFC into taking the bait on offer. “Rooney ya fat whore ill smash ya head in with a pitchin wedge an bury ya with a ballast fork ya fat ugly lil nonse” he wrote.

Rooney quickly retorted “I will put u asleep within 10 seconds hope u turn up if u don’t gonna tell everyone ur scared u little nit. I’ll be waiting” and suddenly the mundane public indulged in some excessive overhyping and again the player was dragging the clubs name through the mud.

It’s impossible to escape the fact that we’re also currently watching a real life soap opera unfold elsewhere within the team. That story looks destined to diminish the achievements and the image of Mr You Know Who, and where did that story eminate from…?

Then there’s Darron Gibson. He opens a Twitter account, he gets dogs abuse for two hours then shuts down his account.

Rio Ferdinand, the self proclaimed ‘King of Twitter’ has for weeks bombarded over a million peoples timelines with petty nonsense about Piers Morgan’s alledged ‘man boobs’ or ‘moobs’ as they’re called and that soon became very very tedious.

It’s not acceptable for the England national team to travel to Spain and recieve vile racial abuse but it’s ok to publicly browbeat a fellow user in front of millions of viewers? #hypocrite

The latest revelation is that @rioferdy5 appears to think it’s acceptable to send a private message via Twitter to a journalist who, to Ferdinands disgust, has made it public to the Twitfam (Ferdinands pet name for his Twitter followers). “you fat prick…” the message began……..Are you really that surprised, Rio? And what is it with other peoples weight?

Ferdinand continued “u got something to say about me missing a drugs test say it when u see me.”

Now excuse me for thinking this, but it strikes me there’s an element of immaturity going on here, not to mention unthinkable niavete.

It’s my own opinion that @OllieHoltMirror is a pompous twat but since making the DM (private message) public, he’s been castigated by United fans who mostly support Ferdinand’s actions, whereas fans of opposing teams are unsurprisingly queueing up to pour sympathy over Holt.

Personally, I don’t care for pinning my colours to a single party as support because it just doesn’t matter, they’re both acting like utter buffoons anyway (although Rio did start it!!!).

What’s Important?

What I DO care about though is Manchester United. Its employees come and go, and very few do more for the club than they do for themselves. Some, both past and present, have displayed a certain distain for the club that’s left a bitter taste in the mouth that will never be washed away – Eg: Rooney October 2010. Ferdinand July 2005/Sep 2003. I just wish MY club meant as much to them as it does to me.

How can this incredible platform [Twitter] that offers so many fantastic possibilities between fan and player, be shamefully abused by people who should know better. If I was paid anywhere in the region of what they take out of MY club every week then I’d be extraordinarily careful not to harm the chances of that continuing. Seems to me that unless these players quickly establish the difference between what TO say and what NOT to say, the more time they’ll be gifted to embrace the format. If they don’t, and I’m of the opinion it’s already too late, they risk being shut down completely. Thus destroying what was/is potentially the most auspicious and valuable link between the now untouchable superstar and the flock of following mugs.

Let’s just stick to the football hey lads? I don’t give a shit about Rio burping his latest addition or which act on Britain’s Got Talent Wayne Rooney finds the most exciting, but at least they’re not offensive. How’s about having a conversation about football at some point? #besensible #pleasedon’tspoilit

@Rimmerstweets

From Soccerlens.com - Football News

The Football Supporters’ Federation has launched a petition – visit www.fsf.org.uk/safestanding – as part of our campaign for the introduction of safe standing areas in the top two divisions in England and Wales. We know some of you might think that signing a petition is a bit of a futile gesture, but the timing for the campaign is crucial.

There is currently a bill going through Parliament which faces its second reading in a little under three months time, and for the first time in two decades the Sports Minister has agreed to look at the evidence on safe standing. We have a short timeframe to gather support and prove that there is a groundswell of opinion behind fans’ choice to stand at football in England and Wales. Within a week of launching the petition, nearly 10,000 fans added their voices to our campaign, but we need a great deal more support behind our cause. The more numbers that back our campaign, the stronger our case to the Government and football authorities will be.

There is a great deal of nonsense spoken about standing by the mainstream media and football commentators, and we feel we are constantly fighting an uphill battle. The most common argument is that standing is inherently unsafe. If that is the case, why is it allowed in Leagues One and Two? If standing was truly unsafe, it would be outlawed not only in the lower leagues, but at horseracing, rugby, motorsport and concerts (some of which are held in all-seater football stadiums). Our position is that if standing is safe in the lower leagues, then it must be safe in the top two divisions. We find the idea that safety is dependent upon the quality of football played on the pitch as absolutely absurd, and logically flawed.

Many opponents to standing mistakenly cite Hillsborough as a reason not to allow its introduction. Their argument is that a return to terraces means another Hillsborough disaster is inevitable. The tragic loss of lives in 1989 was not caused by standing; the Taylor Report primarily blamed the failure of police control. It did not ban standing, nor claim it was inherently unsafe. Furthermore, we are not calling for a reintroduction of terraces. Modern safe-standing areas in Germany feature convertible seats, with barriers between every row.

The FSF’s Safe Standing Campaign is also not just about those who prefer to stand. By giving supporters the choice, we think that everyone benefits. Those who wish to stand can do so, while those who prefer to sit no longer have to worry about having their view blocked. Every week thousands of fans stand in front of their seats for large parts of the game, and attempts by the authorities to end this practice have failed. Fans are standing in ever greater numbers, and we think they should be able to do so in safely designed and managed areas where possible.

The FSF does not propose that the stringent safety standards laid down in the Government’s Green Guide be abolished or weakened in any way, and nor are we suggesting that clubs should be forced to provide safe standing areas. Issues around cost and feasibility should be a matter for individual clubs and their fans, not for the government.

If you agree with us that fans should have the choice to sit or stand at football, please add your name to the thousands already in favour of safe standing. Now’s the best chance we’ll have to make a difference. We, as football fans, have to stand up for ourselves.

Add your signature today: www.fsf.org.uk/safestanding

The FSF is the national supporters’ organisation for all football fans and represents more than 180,000 individual fans and affiliate members, such as supporters’ clubs, throughout England and Wales. Once closed this petition will be handed to the relevant government and football authorities.

From Soccerlens.com - Football News

For those of you who support one of the many English Premier League teams with European aspirations this season, it’s never too early to start looking forward to the prospect of some fantastic continental away days.

So before you start changing up your travel money, digging out your passports and replacing that dreary January away match at Bolton with tickets to a slightly more exotic destination – take a look at this list of the best European cities and teams that, if the draw is kind, you could be visiting next season.

Paris St Germain

Birmingham City fans, who after their Carling Cup victory over Arsenal will be relishing the start of next season’s European campaign, should be crossing their fingers that Paris St Germain can hold onto their Europa league spot in Ligue 1 – potentially providing Brummies with an easy hop over (or under) the pond and a fantastic Parisian away day.

Not really a city that needs much selling, with Paris’s many charms well known to all, not least the ultra-convenient Eurostar rail links that will see you sitting aside the Seine sipping a pre-match latte in under 3 hours.

Fenerbahçe

Slightly further a field we have Fenerbahçe, who are currently on course for a Champions League spot next season and call the Şükrü Saracoğlu Stadium in the Turkish city of Istanbul home. Aside from being able to experience the famously passionate Turkish fans first hand, you also have the beautiful city of Istanbul at your disposal.

Visit the Grand Bazaar market and spend some of that foreign currency by haggling yourself a great deal on a Turkish rug, or take a walk around the cities walls that form a 4 mile arc around the ‘old city’ district.

Barcelona

Although the chances are that any trip to the Nou Camp will be a sad disappointment and lesson in football for the visiting team and supporters, it’s difficult to match Barcelona when it comes to a football weekend away.

Apart from your visit to the Nou Camp, one of the most incredible stadiums in world football, you can pay a visit to the cities famous ‘las Ramblas’ or the Gaudi designed Sagrada Familia, to soak in a bit of non-football related culture.

AC Milan & Internazionale

The home of Inter and AC Milan, the San Siro is more than likely to be a destination for at least one the Premier League’s Champions League qualifiers next season and represents what will be an unforgettable away day.

Compliment the renowned atmosphere of a match at the San Siro with some more sedate activities, such as checking out the cities awe-inspiring Roman architecture or catching an opera at Milan’s famous ‘La Scala’ opera house.

What are your favourite football-related travel destinations in Europe?

From Soccerlens.com - Football News