In the Previous Year [2007], a Croatian Priest tried to ban football in his neighborhood so he could say Mass.

In the Present Year [2008], Pope Benedict XVI talked football in the Vatican.
According to reports from Vatican Radio [which I heard on my shortwave radio], a group of football teams from Latin America had an audience in the Vatican with Pope Benedict XVI. He was presented with many gifts including a namesake football.

Pope Benedict XVI responded by saying that “Football is Educational since it promotes Mental and Physical Health. The World will be at peace when it plays football”.

Pope Benedict XVI also added that he would like to “see an end to the violence, racism, and hooliganism that have damaged football”. One could imagine that he was thinking about the recent wave of hooliganism in Italy, France, and Russia [especially against supporters of English Teams visiting those countries.

I am in agreement with the Pope on the good and bad aspects of football. Football is the promoter of peace, positive physical and mental health. Football is one of the greatest sports where teams play in everyone has a good time. I have seen games on TV, heard them on the radio, and had the thrill of seeing my first game: Miami VS Charleston, South Carolina in September 2006.

Unfortunately, Football is one of the sports where there have been acts of hooliganism. No Sport is free of its delinquents. We the Supporters, Fans, and the Leadership of Football should not pay for the mistakes of those who have made Anti Social Behaviour their career. Hooliganism, Violence, and Racism in Football should NOT be tolerated.

The fact that the Pope has addressed this issue in his audience to the football team stresses the fact that racism, hooliganism, and violence remains prevalent in our noble sport of football.

LIKE THE POPE SAYS AND I AGREE: SAY YES TO FOOTBALL AND NO TO HOOLIGANISM

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