football
When US football mascots go bad
At American college football games it’s not just the football players who do the tackling, but also the two opposing teams’ mascots. Videos of scuffles have become huge online hits. Are these fights staged, or is the violence real? Read more...
The risky business of being a Chinese 'hooligan'
Chinese football fans clashed with riot police on the night of August 18 at the Hanghai stadium in Zhengzhou, leaving dozens of supporters injured. Read more and see the photos...
South Africa's grannies play football too
The Bafana Bafana may be the stars of the 2010 World Cup, but a team of spunky grandmas have also won South African hearts. Read more and watch the video...
Turkey “not European enough” to host Euro 2016
France has been chosen to host the World Cup in 2016, leaving Turkey's hopes thwarted for a third time. One of our Observers in Istanbul says that the decision was swayed by political arguments. Read more...
The alternative football World Cup – in the Gaza Strip
They are massively into their football and dream of going to South Africa for the World Cup. But they live in the Gaza Strip and the borders are closed. Read more...
Black Stars spoil Angola's party
Hosts Angola bowed out of the Africa Cup of Nations on Sunday before 50,000 dismayed fans after a 1-0 defeat to the Black Stars of Ghana. Read more...
Follow the Africa Cup with our Observers!
Who will win this year's Africa Cup of Nations - Ghana's Black Stars, Algeria's Fennecs or Ivory Coast's Elephants? Anything could happen, but one thing's for sure - you'll get firsthand reactions to the results from the fans on The Observers. For three weeks, we're devoting ourselves to the beautiful game. Read more...
They know who'll win the cup, do you?
It's five months to go before the start of the first ever World Cup to be held on African soil, but football mania has already gripped the continent. Our Observers take you to the heart of the 27th Africa Cup of Nations. Read more...
The Irish take on "Thievery" Henry
The Web is ablaze over France's controversial qualification for the World Cup, or to be precise, Thierry Henry's handball, which shattered Ireland's chances of taking part in the 2010 tournament. Read more and see the images...
