Bill Shankly said football was much more important than life and death

Arrogant isn't a strong enough word for this individual. I was listening to the radio earlier today and apparently 'something has come to light' making him change his mind, something pretty big I suspect.

I can't believe his attitude at all, clearly deluded about his indispensability I suggest.

Yes Jane10, something corrupt perhaps

Wonder what's just about to be exposed?

Thank goodness Sepp Blatter's actually agreed to resign - under duress of course. What a pompous, arrogant man he is.

That sounds quite scary!

janerowena I totally agree! You don't seem to get rugby hooliganism!

May be going against the majority, but I hate, loathe and detest football.

Quite a few years ago I had the kernel of an idea for a play, basically two old gents that played war games/battles against each other on-line. In my idea, it then progressed to them actually controlling their own "armies" (fans of particular clubs) and playing out battles for real.

Unfortunately I think that while I was still in then planning stage, someone beat me to it! Such is life.

My son in law is the same janerowena, mad on football, his son not in the least bit interested, archery, swimming, squash, dancing!(much to his dad's displeasure) and music - which they do both enjoy. It takes all sorts fortunately. Incidentally with regard your last paragraph, any photos of our grandson on Facebook and he is surrounded by very lovely girls, and he himself is nothing to write home about!

My son said that at his school (rugby only) the two games were defined as

Football is a gentleman's game played and supported by hooligans.

Rugby is a hooligan's game played and supported by gentlemen.

Defined by character, not class. I know it's a generalisation, but I have often wondered how the atmosphere at a rugby game can be so different. DBH is a gentleman who supports football, sadly for me. He fondly imagined that DS would share his enthusiasm, and was quite despondent when it became obvious that DS likes squash, trampolining, going to the gym etc. and can only stand about ten minutes more of any football game than I can.

I tell him that if ever he has to join a dating site, put at the top 'Do not like watching football' and the girls will be queuing up!

Well, thank goodness the Cup Final has finally been played for another year. The game was discussed beyond it's merit (yes our t.v. was on because my son and husband like the game), and the usual prancing of egoists was accepted as being o.k. We seem to have lost our perspective as regards to professional football being a sport.

janerowena is, sadly, absolutely correct about the incidence of domestic abuse rising enormously around major football matches.

I haven't seen any research about comparisons between the numbers of people (men we're talking about in truth) who follow footi and those who support cricket and rugby. I suspect there may be a class element here. I am not consigning domestic abuse to working class men I hasten to add, domestic abuse happens in all social classes/races.

I didn't know that janer, that is truly appalling.

It's odd that in rugby the fans sit side by side and rarely (if ever) have I heard about any sort of violence and the players don't get the obscene salaries of prima Donna footballers yet football violence is common with opposing fans needing security fencing etc.

The incidence of wife-beating goes up hugely after major football matches.

There was a chap promoting Sky TV in our local shopping centre. He asked me if we had Sky TV, and I said that we did. Then he asked me if we had the Sky Sports channels and I said that we did not. So he turned to my wife and said "Come on, missus - let him have the Sports channels", stereotyping (and insulting) us both at a stroke.

The ridiculous salaries being paid to footballers will continue as long as people are prepared to pay the price being asked either at the turnstile (Do they still have turnstiles?) or through subscription services like Sky Sports. I am pleased to say the personally I do not contribute to either.

My DH is watching the Cup Final as we speak. There are two main teams in this city, Aston Villa is one of them, my DH supports the other one. The two teams' supporters absolutely detest each other (team-wise I mean). My DH is whooping and cheering because Arsenal have just scored against Villa. Other close members of my family are Villa supporters and have travelled to Wembley today to watch their team. I am appalled at my DH for not wanting Villa to win for the sake of our relatives. He just says 'you don't understand football'. No I don't. It's childish and pathetic (IMHO).

I have a husband and a son who are season ticket holders to our local club. I have to endure the gloom and doom of every lost game for days after the match. I would rather gouge out my eyes with a rusty spoon than watch football at professional level. I hate the obscene amounts of money involved in it and the fact that these players are supposed to be role models for the likes of my grandson (8) who, during the past year, has become obsessed with the game. And don't get me started on the amounts of money the clubs are making out of replica kit for youngsters!

Yes, it's the Stretford End - famous for singing ….

Think we referred to it as 'the' Stretford End.

I went with a boyfriend to Stretford End once - all standing of course in those days! Nearly got trampled underfoot on the way out and vowed 'never again'!

I love footi, love the drama, the skill and if given the opportunity to watch a match at the Theatre of Dreams, I'm thrilled and enjoy every second of it. I don't mine others not liking footi, and getting wound up about the huge amounts of money involved at every level. That walk down from Salford to Old Trafford is such a delight, crowds of people of all ages, genders, races etc - love it

I really can't understand it. It's illogical.

Obscenely salaried individuals who are now classed as celebrities.....all for kicking a ball.

Even better use of their time - how about litter-picking by the sides of motorways? He who nabs the most pieces, wins. Then all their little adoring fans would think twice about littering - or would they throw even more?

Grossly overpaid, overhyped individuals and I hate football ( in case you hadn't guessed!)

If they all wore lawn spikes on their boots, they would have some purpose. Or had to chase errant chickens back to a barn. Or piglets.

DBH complained many years ago that I wouldn't sit down with him and watch a game. I said I would one day - if he would sit there for an hour and a half and watch me knit, first.

He has never asked again.

Oh! yes! Jud, when did football become the God that it has? Just do not get me on my soap-box. SPORT is important in life - professional football no longer deserves to come under that heading.