Football and rituals

I went through a session of football 101 with a friend last night.
The last time I had such a session was in secondary school.

What I found interesting this time was that football fans have rituals.
That's right.
Rituals that fans go through before their team plays.
And going against those rituals is a jinx to the game.
Oh wow... ;)
Apparently, this is serious stuff. Heh.

These are some of the rituals I learned. Applicable mostly before and during the match:

1) Clap 3 times before the match
2) Wear team jersey
3) Brush teeth
4) Eat steak and wear football socks
5) Wear team jersey and watch the match behind a door
6) Eat only spaghetti before and during the match
7) Wear 3 days old boxers
8) Have a dump before the game
9) Don't read anything in the papers.

I'm sorry. I can't seem to go beyond 9 items. It's tough when I'm holding back from LOL.

Anyway, below is a fan going through the agony of defeat because she jinxed the game by not going through her ritual (item 5 above). When she finally decided to put on the old red jersey, she was just too late.

Liverpool trashed Manchester United 4-1, and on MU's home ground Old Trafford.
Painful. For MU fans. :)



(top left: MU scored, top right: Liverpool scored, bottom left: too tensed, bottom right: making amends)

Photo courtesy of Tunku Izzat.