|
In terms of sheer size I'd have to say Real Madrid vs Barcelona. Both massive, world renowned clubs with giant stadiums (80,000 and 100,000) and world class sides, and an absolute hatred for one another.
In terms of hatred and passion there are many but Galatasaray vs Fenerbahce is absolutely mental. The two clubs are from opposite sides of Istanbul, a city which spans the two continents of Europe and Asia. Fenerbahce are on the Asia side of the city, Galatasaray on the Europe side. Galatasaray are the most famous of the two because of their exploits in European football and visitors to the stadium are greeted with banners which read "Welcome to Hell". Another famous rivalry is Boca Juniors vs River Plate, one which frequently results in deaths. They are two sides from Buenos Aires and the trouble between them has been so serious that they have had to halt the football season in the past to try and stop the violence. About 50 people have been murdered at football games in Argentina in the last 10 years.
In International football there are also many. England are obviously rivals with Scotland, Brazil are obviously rivals with Argentina. But other rivalries just develop, many England fans have hated Turkey ever since two English fans were murdered before a game between Leeds and Galatasaray in Istanbul in 2000. When Turkey played England in Sunderland last year there was a lot of trouble outside the stadium and England fans were banned from attending the game in Turkey. This rivalry has only really existed for the last few years, noone cared about Turkey before that. England vs Germany is always full of emotion, many idiots still go on about the war at every opportunity but there is more to it than that. The football games between the two sides have produced some classic matches and I'd say they are, for most England fans, our biggest rivals. Whether the Germans feel the same way I don't know, as their games with Holland are always very heated as well.
For me obviously the most important is Newcastle United vs Sunderland. The rivalry between the cities has been around since long before the clubs were founded, hundreds of years in fact. The two cities have a very industrial past based around coalmining and shipbuilding, but as they lie on two parallel rivers 10 miles apart they have fought over trading rights for centuries. Once one of the most industrial places in the world there grew a strong rivalry between the 'Geordies' of Newcastle, Tyneside and the 'Mackems' of Sunderland, Wearside. But the industrial bubble burst and massive unemployment followed in the early 20th century (over 80% in my town). Being the two cities furthest from the capital there was always a strong sense of regional pride, but this has never united the two cities. The region lives and breathes football, Newcastle haven't won a trophy for 35 years but have the 2nd biggest stadium in the country while Sunderland aren't in the top division and have the 3rd biggest stadium in the country. Yet somehow the game rarely gets TV coverage but is worth watching for any neutral if you ever get the chance. Sunderland look like they could be promoted this season, we haven't played them for about 18 months now.
Last edited by evil_bastard on Dec-24-2004 at 04:30
|
