1SHARDS OF FLAME: A STUDY OF RIVALRY IN FOOTBALL HISTORY
"Football is much more than a game… it is a way of life." Perhaps that is why "treacherous" Luis Figo found himself pelted with plastic bottles, missiles and even a stuffed pig's head as he stepped up at the Nou Camp to take a corner in the white of Real Madrid. Or perhaps why "defector" Harry Redknapp was greeted with cries, shouts and banners proclaiming "Judas!" on his first return to Fratton Park as manager of Southampton.
There is probably no other sport which generates as much emotion, as much intensity and as much passion as does football. And that is also the reason why it has played host to some of the most bitter and storied rivalries in the annals of sports. Tradition, history, pride… all this and much more is at stake when the best in the business take to the field to clash with each other. From religion to politics, and from geography to history- all these factors have played determining roles in the conflicts between clubs.
In European competition, there are three matches, it is said, where you can get killed for supporting the wrong team at the wrong place. These are…
REAL MADRID and FC BARCELONA: The bitter enmity between Spain's two greatest clubs has, by now, become the stuff of legend. With the possible exception of Arsenal and Spurs, it is the oldest rivalry in footballing history, going back to the 1940s. The two annual matches between the white of Real Madrid, and the blue, yellow and purple of Barcelona are dubbed the "El Derbies", or rather more romantically, the "El Classicoes."
Yet why is there such animosity between Real and Barca? Put simply, Real Madrid are the club of the capital, and stand for Spain. Barcelona are the club of Catalonia, and stand for Catalan nationalism, and the desire for an independent state. The divide between Madrid and its environs, and Catalonia has roots seeped in cultural, social and political differences, and as such can never be bridged.
Yet would that be enough to create the hate that undoubtedly exists between the two clubs? No. The fact is that for a long time, Real Madrid were unofficially sponsored by General Franco, Madrid legend Santiago Bernebeu being a close confidante of the dictator. Franco's repressive policies were aimed especially at suppressing any hints of Catalan nationalism. And it was Madrid the club which played a large role in keeping Franco in power. For all of Catalonia then, Madrid was Franco. And since they could not rebel on the battlefield, it was FC Barcelona who rebelled for them, on the football pitch. FC Barcelona came to be attached with all things Catalan, with freedom, justice and peace. And as with financial and moral backing from Franco, Real Madrid enjoyed a hugely successful period in the 1960s, bitterness within the Catalan ranks grew. Franco realised the power football had over the minds and hearts of the people, and he made sure that Barcelona would never have the money or the clout to emulate their rivals of the capital.
It is said that on the night Franco died, not one shopkeeper in Catalonia had a bottle of champagne left unsold. And like a phoenix rising from the ashes, Barcelona now came out of the shadows. As Real Madrid languished in the "wilderness" years, Barcelona went from strength to strength, culminating in the early 90s with four straight titles and a Champions' League win.
Franco and Santiago Bernebeu are long dead, yet Real versus Barca remains Madrid versus Catalonia. And for the tens of thousands of people involved, defeat for their club is defeat for their ideal, their countrymen, their nation. Unless Catalonia someday becomes a separate State, matches involving Real Madrid and Barcelona will always remain explosive, highly charged and incident-packed.
CELTIC and RANGERS: The Scottish Premier League is not as highly regarded as its equivalents in England, Spain and Italy but it is famous for two teams both with colourful history and great tradition.
Celtic and Rangers are both based in the city of Glasgow; that in itself is enough to provide an added edge to their matches. For these two teams however, it runs much, much deeper than that.
Celtic is Catholic. Rangers is protestant. Glasgow is divided.
So where Real and Barca look back on a bitter history, the rivalry of Celtic and Rangers is based on religion. A match between the "Old Firm" turns into a religious battleground, with supporters probably gaining conviction in their beliefs in case of victory.
AC MILAN and INTER MILAN: Is it merely a normal city rivalry gone out of hand because of the enormous success of both clubs involved? Or is it the notoriously "hot" Italian blood at work? In truth, it is probably a bit of both.
At any rate, the flares on the pitch in last season's Champion's League encounter served painful reminder to those who thought that the flames of Rivalry between AC and Inter were dying out.
Regarding success, both the clubs have had their glory years, and the rise of one has invariably coincided with the downfall of the other. Inter had a period of success in the late 1960s before fading into obscurity only for Milan to take over. Inter then regained their crown briefly in the early eighties only to lose it again. At present, Carlo Ancelotti's AC are dominating, with two European finals in the last three years, as well as winning the Italian Serie A two seasons ago. Inter on the other hand are struggling to find rhythm, and that has not gone down too well with the fans, who indicated their displeasure only too clearly with use of the aforementioned flares.
And now… on to two more.
4) ARSENAL and TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR: One of the two most famous rivalries in English football, and also probably the oldest. Arsenal and Tottenham both play in North London, and back in 1920 both were playing in the Southern League. It was decided that year to promote two teams to the top tier, Division One. Arsenal finished fifth that year, yet with the supposedly "dubious" assistance of one Henry Norris, got promoted to the First Division. One of the teams who lost out, despite finishing above, was Spurs. Things have never been the same again between the two London giants. A common sight at White Hart Lane is T-Shirts bearing the legend "Me and my dad hate Arsenal", while over at Highbury, after the record-breaking 2003-04 season was won at the Lane, chants of "We won the title at White Fart Lane" were doing the rounds.
MANCHESTER UNITED and LIVERPOOL: Probably a straight case of success breeds jealousy. Man United and Liverpool have had no troublesome dictators between them. Neither have they had religious fundamentalists, hot blooded Italians or dubious members of Parliament. They are, however, England's second most and most successful club respectively. Liverpool have won the league eighteen times and United have won it fifteen times. Liverpool have won the Champions' League five times and United have won it twice. Such close competition is probably what has led to the animosity between the Scousers and the Mancs. Though not city rivals, Liverpool and United do play in close vicinity.
Traditionally, it is these five rivalries which are the most intense, bitter and passionately fought over. In light of recent events including three red cards, a missed penalty, a mass brawl and a food fight, Arsenal vs United seems to be shaping into a rivalry easily matching United-Liverpool or Spurs-Arsenal. Also, considering the astonishingly humble and chaste behaviour of one Jose Mourinho, Chelsea vs Rest of Europe will probably become a fixture in the years to come. Whatever the case, it is certain that footballing rivalries and their effects on players and staff will continue to entertain and amuse us over the years.