Comments on: Football or Soccer?

By: Prathmesh

Prathmesh — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 22:37:55 +0000

Screw the ‘mericans. FIFA Football IS football and will be football and there ain’t no soccer or sh*t. I ain’t gonna use that crap word for that at all even if I’m the last person to call it football. We must not get soft on this issue so keep calling it football and not soccer. Remember the word is ‘Football’.

Viva FIFA ! ! ! viva Football ! ! !

By: Nuno

Nuno — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 02:57:28 +0000

I honest to God just dont like the word “soccer”…it just seems in a way like America is imposing something again…its been called football for years , in portuguese “futebol” , and the word just seems to take the meaning out of the sport…

I would go crazy if people in Europe start calling it soccer …..i just would…….i just cant accept that…

By: coachie ballgames

coachie ballgames — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 02:48:14 +0000

Great column. As you said, it's not an American problem what with the Aussies, NZ, Ireland, S.Africa etc. all using soccer. The flip side is what NFL football gets called abroad. I see the term "gridiron" used a lot which is just awkward, but so is "American Football," because to me that implies we don't play soccer/football. While the word "footie" already has a strong meaning down under, I think it's a good way for us Americans to refer to soccer without saying "soccer."

By: Eric

Eric — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 15:53:40 +0000

Best post yet by Thomas, and absolutley true. It’s all about culture and context, and always will be.

By: jm

jm — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 13:02:59 +0000

If you are going to call us ‘idiots,’ why are you not taking the time to respond to the serious arguments that I and others have made?

By: Reason

Reason — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 06:26:19 +0000

This article, while rather informative, just seems like an excuse for some good ole European Elitism and American bashing.

By: odessasteps magazine

odessasteps magazine — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 05:04:53 +0000

I just call it “futbol” in print, to distinguish from American Football or “throwball” as some folks like to call it.

By: Jake

Jake — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 04:42:07 +0000

Ha, give me a break. I grew up right next to England in Ireland and we used soccer & football interchangeably. Next please, give me somebody with half a brain….

By: It's called football

It's called football — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 03:51:55 +0000

Wow, you were the one in the special class, Jake. What anton said is right, it is very gay. So did that other guy who said your little word degrades the sport of football. What you American’ts call football, makes football out to be a sport for children and suburban moms. People like you tarnish our sport. Stay the hell away from our game and stick to your Gridiron game.

I’m sick of reading these fools’ arguments defending the degradation of the name of football. The name of the sport is FOOTBALL, and if you deny that, you are an idiot.

By: thomas

thomas — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 03:39:46 +0000

In every English country the dominant code of football is called football. You say football in Australia you are referring to Aussie rules or rugby league. In NZ it refers to Rugby union. In Ireland it means Gaelic football. And so on and so forth. The word football really means nothing by itself without the context of the speakers culture.

Also note that the oldest football games like shrovetide football and whatnot don’t involve too much foot use either.

I, for one, accept the name soccer. It’s a lot better than having to call it Association.

Also, Ive always wondered originally pronounced SO-sher?