In football, it seems that pretty much anything can create hostility between two clubs – and all rivalries have their starting point. These are some of the more unusual feuds in the game, though, not making a whole lot of sense at first. We’re here to delve into the backstories, which range from tactically delaying the kick-off to sitting on a red carpet in protest.
.. Celtic vs Hamburg Celtic’s fiercest foes are, of course, Rangers – but their fans’ dislike of Hamburg is linked to the Old Firm derby.
Ahead of a 2009 Europa League clash in Germany, Hamburg supporters unveiled an enormous Union Jack tifo along with the Ulster loyalist slogan of ‘No Surrender’ – which drew the ire of Celtic’s fan base, one historically associated with support for Irish republicanism (whereas that of Rangers leans the other way). Australia vs Uruguay Australia and Uruguay sit the best part of 10,000 miles apart, but that distance hasn’t diluted the hostility that exists between the countries on the football pitch. It all began during a series of pre-World Cup friendlies in 1974 which turned violent – to the degree that Australian forward Ray Baartz suffered a stroke after having a neck artery damaged by a borderline assault from Uruguay’s Luis Garisto.
The two nations have met in multiple World Cup qualification play-offs since then, with the Socceroos dramatically winning on penalties in 2006. Leeds v Millwall The rivalry between Leeds and Millwall really ramped up during.
