Football: From Argentina to Australia

Football really is the world game and it is serious.  As Bill Shankly the famous Scottish player and manager once said ‘Some people believe football is a matter of life and death...it is much, much more important than that’. I am definitely not a diehard soccer fan. I guess my use of the word soccer shows that. In fact I have only ever gone to two professional soccer matches. Yet both left an indelible mark on me and rate as the most exciting and exhibit sporting events I have ever attended. My first was during my gap break in Argentina, in 2011, the famous ‘Superclásico’ match, and my second was recently at home in Brisbane, the A league grand final.

 My experience on the two games showed that many soccer fans could be considered ‘crazy’ by others there is a big difference between the ‘insanity’ of fans in Argentina and Australia.

The big difference was that while it was an important game for the Brisbane Roar and Perth Glory in the A league Grand Final the rivalry was all in good fun; it was purely about supporting your teams. Compared to this game the Argentine game seemed almost like a war zone.

Superclásico is a game between Boca and River who are recognized as the two greatest teems in football mad Argentina and they have one of the greatest sports rivalries in the world.  The experience of being in the crowd is often more exciting than the game itself. With SWAT teams and barb wire separating teams, the support for your team and hatred of the other team is extreme. The supporter must be separated but depend on your position in the stand, cups, cans, spit, urine and huge amounts of vitriol is sent your way. It was sensational being there.

The world of ‘football’ fandom is a very serious commitment all over the world. Despite the fun in Argentina I am glad that Australia doesn’t go quite as far as fans in South America.