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Well if you're asking what people get out of enjoying football then think about the best rave you've been to and the overwhelming feeling you get from being part of a large crowd all enjoying the same thing at the same time. Same thing at football matches and, to an extent, in the pub watching the game.
As people have said, it's a tribal thing and as a still-apparent part of our social evolution we all like (largely) to belong, or feel to belong, to some kind of group or entity bigger than us. That manifests in hobbies, sports, nationalism, religion, etc.

Further more, I would say something like supporting a team is a modern day equivalent/replacement for going to war with the rival tribe. Most of the time bloodshed is avoided but it shouldn't surprise people when instinct bubbles over and fights/riots break out. It seems to be a logical explanation of what happens when we try and gentrify our baser instincts.

imo

Sheff wrote:Now how many of you would honestly say that statement is true in relation to football?

I personally don't, I'm a United fan (Due to them being the nearest team to my home, not because they are the most decorated team in English football history) but am happy to watch their progress through highlights on MOTD or UEFA games on ITV. When football is played well, it's a beautiful game of tactics and skill. All the other shit is irrelevant to me personally, I wouldn't bully someone in the workplace for wearing a sky-blue scarf.

Nice post Laszlo

to play, yes. to watch, no.

Definitely some good points in there Laszlo.
I wouldn't say any of it has to do with why I'm so invested in football.
Personally I enjoy the game by itself. I don't root for a particular club etc.

Look at Muhammed Ali and his whole persona, and how it was a huge part of his game. The arrogance in attitude to taunt the opponent with his movement and so on..
if that was what excited you about Ali, then it would be unfair to assume or state that what you where enjoying was being a part of a crowd and the thrill of violence or whatever. ...

Football is a language just like music is.

^^Yeah, I didn't mean for my post to sound like an exhaustive list or ultimate reason. My bad.

what garethom said about tribalism was spot on

you're kidding yourself if you think football is the only thing that breeds this kind of behaviour. there's people who take their personal preferences, beliefs etc way too seriously in any aspect of life; some just happen to have a bigger potential to end in violence, while others just remain stupid and childish but mostly harmless. be it mini-malas throwing spasms in every bro video on youtube, chavs who beat up goths/metalheads w/e, religious fanatics, izan skinheads, super preachy activists, gang members etc. people will get tribal about anything

Put a bet on, then you'll see closer to what people with an emotional connection feel.

i dont follow any team but ill watch it with mates. its fun getting pissed shouting at players on the screen who are obviously better than you at football etc.. gotta say the anaysis before and after a match though is ridiculous as far as im concerned, oh and the interviews should stop.

but at the end of the day its not a working class sport as someone said. its a classless game that brings together all races and people who wouldn't normally associate with each other for 90 mins where you dont have to think about your shit life. how could you have a problem with football?

I see your point, but if i wanted to take my mind off my shit life i wouldn't want to watch something i don't enjoy. Surely that's just gonna make things worse

i think i watched a bit when Slovakia was in world champs

i dunno whats worse, people being passionate about football or people being passionate about the sociology/socioeconomic reasons behind being passionate about football

cool

lylo wrote:but at the end of the day its not a working class sport as someone said. its a classless game that brings together people who wouldn't normally associate with each other

garethom wrote:cool

that would be a good response to pretty much every post in this thred

m8son wrote:i dunno whats worse, people being passionate about football or people being passionate about the sociology/socioeconomic reasons behind being passionate about football

haha relax im hardly passionate about it