Culture
How to Read a Soccer Referee
There is always a lot going on during a soccer game, and one of the entertaining things to watch for is all the ways a referee communicates with players. One assumes he uses words, and one would love to hear some of the words he hears in response, but unless you can read lips, you…
Some More Thoughts on This Whole “Soccer” Situation
Once again, I shall wade into dangerous cultural waters. But this whole thing about Americans calling the world’s most popular game “soccer” just keeps coming up in lots of ways, and I have some more thoughts on it. First, as I have explained before, the word "soccer" originated in England and was fairly widely used…
Watching English Soccer: Etiquette, Dos and Don’ts
Every year, tens of thousands of Americans go see soccer games in England. But since they are visiting a different sporting culture, they often wonder about etiquette at games. After all, we don’t want to annoy our neighbors … right? So what are some common dos and don’ts at English soccer games? Here are some…
Is It Safe to Go to English Soccer Games?
The question about safety at English soccer games is one I get a lot. I even get comments about "running with the hooligans." And the answers are yes to the first, no to the second. While there are certainly some rowdy boys here and there, you’ll hardly ever see them, and I have only felt…
