Football's faith unshaken

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By Jim Wirth

Christmas and the New Year is a time for celebration and quiet reflection, and if you are particularly bored, perhaps it is worth pondering the unusual role that faiths of all kinds have played in football this year.

Papal assent
The fact that the Pope was a goalkeeper in his days in the seminary should represent proof enough that, if God were to choose His favourite game, it would probably be football. Mind you, for all of the irritation caused by fans' constant prayers for intercession on major match days, He could be excused for being slightly sick of the game in 2002.

Impartial God
God is impartial in football matters, and despite many efforts to court His favour for this summer's FIFA World Cup, he was to remain so. Nigerian supporters failed to win His approval despite going on a three-day fast to boost their team's hopes.

Soccer nuns
Four nuns from the Bavarian Congregation of the Merciful Sisters of St Vincent gave their full support to Germany on their way to the finals. "We scream whenever Germany score a goal," said Sister Theodolinde.

The great Kahn
Big fans of FC Bayern München and Germany goalkeeper Oliver Kahn, the nuns wore the club's shirts on a visit to the Bavarian capital last year. "Kahn was so surprised he promptly signed all of them," said Sister Theodolinde, although she was keen to point out that they made no attempt to influence God in Germany's favour. "There are so many problems more worthy of prayer," said Sister Theodolinde.

Older beliefs
With God not prepared to lend a hand, older beliefs proliferated, and the Pataxo tribe performed an elaborate ritual on the day before the World Cup final to ensure Brazil's victory. Some 30 men, women and children stamped their bare feet, danced and sang in a ritual called "awe," which signifies love and victory in their native tongue. "We are asking God and our forefathers for spiritual strength so that Brazil becomes world champion tomorrow," said Arua, one of the Indian tribesmen.

Köln mystics
Germans have a tendency towards mysticism too: 1. FC Köln consulted a fortune teller at the end of last season to ask when their run of nine 1. Bundesliga games without a goal would end. Lilo von Kiesenwetter told club officials: "I can clearly see that the team will score goals soon. In the next couple of games Köln will score some goals, but not enough to survive in the Bundesliga."

Dogged by bad luck
Disturbingly, she was right, although the same can hardly be said of supporters of Ecuadorian club Manta FC who finally gave up the practice of sacrificing dogs this season. For the last ten years, Manta fans sacrificed a dog before every game, throwing the animal's carcass on to the pitch when their side are losing in the belief that it will bring them good luck.

Hail Diego
Finally, if conventional religion does not provide the results on the field that you are after, then you can always take the path of a bunch of lunatics from Argentina and form a religion of your own. Fans of Argentina legend Diego Maradona took their obsession to a whole new level by setting up a church in his honour. About 100 members of the new church held a special ceremony to mark their own Christmas - Maradona's birthday on 30 October. "We believe he is football's god," said one of the group.