Rituals

Zoals gebruikelijk schudden spelers elkaar de hand en wisselen van shirt na afloop van de wedstrijd. Hier zien we de Braziliaan Ronaldinho met de Belg Simaeys dat doen tijdens de Olympische Spelen in China (2008). EPA/MARCELO SAYAO Brazilian Ronaldinho (L) and Belgium's Jeroen Simaeys exchange their shirts after their soccer match for the bronze medal at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games in Shanghai, China, 22 August, 2008. Brazil won 3-0. EPA/MARCELO SAYAO

After a week of hard work, many get together to watch football, and sing and shout. The match is the sacred highlight of the week. And it involves all kinds of rituals.

Sociologists and anthropologists identify many similarities between religion and football. Like the exuberant joy that fans experience when their team scores. The release is like the ecstasy that religious congregations experience. Fans adopt each other’s rituals around the world: marching in procession to the stadium, singing, Mexican waves, smoke bombs and fireworks. Some rituals are collective, others are individual. Like players kissing the goalkeeper’s head, and fans who always wear the same lucky shirt.

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Rituals

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