Rivalries in football usually revolve around geography, history or competing for trophies. But sometimes, the reasons behind hatred between teams seem absurd or unbelievable. In this piece, I will walk you through some weird football rivalries, even the most bizarre across the globe. They all have strange origins—like controversial incidents, political differences, and bad luck.
13 Weird Football Rivalries to Know About
1. Argentina vs England: More Than Just Football
This is one of the biggest and strangest rivalries in international football, as it combines sport with history and politics. It started in the quarter-finals of the 1966 World Cup at Wembley, where England won in controversial circumstances. Argentine captain Antonio Rattin was dismissed for “violence of the tongue” but refused to leave the pitch, even sitting on the Queen’s red carpet in protest.
The competition between the UK and Argentina ramped up significantly in 1986, only four years after the Falklands War. Another infamous factor was Diego Maradona’s ‘Hand of God’ goal, when he scored with his hand, which was allowed. In 1998, England’s David Beckham was sent off against Argentina, which added to the drama even more heat. Beckham made amends by scoring the winner in 2002.
2. LA Galaxy vs North Carolina FC: David vs Goliath in the US Open Cup
In the US, Major League Soccer (MLS) does not use relegation like so many other leagues around the globe. So, top teams rarely face lower-league clubs. However, the US Open Cup brings them together, and that is where this odd rivalry brewed.
A second-tier team named North Carolina FC (then Carolina RailHawks) shocked the soccer world in 2012 and 2013 by eliminating MLS champions LA Galaxy twice. The two sides met again in 2014, with LA Galaxy hoping for a different outcome, but North Carolina were victors once more.
Landon Donovan, Galaxy’s star, expressed his frustration with losing to Carolina, yet the underdogs persistently proved their worth.
3. Hansa Rostock vs St. Pauli: Politics on the Pitch
This German rivalry is unique in the sense that the teams are over 150 miles apart, so it is not a local derby in the traditional sense. Instead, it is driven by sharp political divisions.
Hansa Rostock has a history of far-right proliferation, and the city is not particularly welcoming to outsiders, whereas St. Pauli is internationally known for its left-wing, anti-fascist identity. The clashes of ideology, not just of football, are sizzling in the atmosphere when these two meet.
This really intrigues me because it shows how football clubs can be about more than just football—they can be about social and political identity issues. Battles between Hansa Rostock and St. Pauli often feel like a continuation of the Cold War with kicks and shoves, which creates additional tension and passion.
4. Bolton Wanderers vs. Tranmere Rovers: A Feud Born from Celebration
This rivalry started with a single moment in the 1991 Third Division play-off final. Tranmere’s Chris Malkin scored the winning goal at Wembley, and the celebrations in front of the Bolton bench did not go down well.
The rivalry deepened when Tranmere beat Bolton again in the 2000 League Cup semi-final. Since then, the two sets of fans have not seen eye to eye.
5. Iran vs. South Korea: Asian Football’s Fierce Contenders
Iran and South Korea are on opposite sides of Asia, yet their football rivalry is intense. They have met repeatedly in the Asian Cup, including the 1972 final, which Iran won.
They also faced off in five consecutive quarter-finals from 1996 to 2011. Despite the distance, their matches are always competitive and emotionally charged.
6. Aberdeen vs Rangers: The Scottish Rivalry That Challenges the Old Firm
In Scotland, the biggest rivalry is Celtic vs Rangers, known as the Old Firm. Still, Aberdeen and Rangers have a fair amount of baggage themselves, particularly during the dark days of the 1980s.
Aberdeen beat Rangers in back-to-back Scottish Cup finals, including a 4-1 thrashing in 1982 under legendary manager Alex Ferguson. It was this era that made Aberdeen a competitive force and helped fuel the fire in the rivalry.
7. Everton vs Manchester United: Rival Cities, Rival Clubs
The rivalry between Liverpool and Manchester goes back to before football, to the Industrial Revolution and the competition between the two cities. While Liverpool FC vs Manchester United is the headline clash, Everton (Liverpool’s other big club) also has a long-standing rivalry with Manchester United.
The rivalry has experienced events such as the enormous crowd trouble during the 2005 FA Cup tie.
8. Sheffield United vs West Ham: A One-Sided Grudge
This rivalry is unique for its one-sidedness. Sheffield United’s anger towards West Ham stems from the 2006/07 Premier League season’s final day.
West Ham avoided relegation at Sheffield United’s expense, only for it to later be revealed West Ham had breached transfer regulations by signing Javier Mascherano and Carlos Tevez. Sheffield United was calling for a points deduction, but nothing happened. However, they did receive a £20 million out-of-court settlement.
9. Brighton vs Crystal Palace: The Mysterious “M23 Derby”
Despite being 50 miles apart, Brighton and Crystal Palace maintain a fierce and peculiar rivalry. Their rivalry stems from their personal animosity dating back to the 1970s, and some of their matches are steeped in controversy.
One notorious moment was in 1976, when Brighton’s Brian Horton took and missed a penalty that was then retaken and missed again, leading to defeat for Palace. Manager Alan Mullery’s act of throwing loose change on the ground, saying “That’s all your worth, Crystal Palace!” rubbed salt on their wound.
10. Australia vs Uruguay: The “Karate Chop” Incident
This feud was initially sparked in 1974, when Uruguayan Luis Garisto delivered a “karate chop” to the neck of Australian Ray Baartz, damaging his neck and ending his career. Baartz later said he bore no grudge over the incident.
The rivalry was rekindled decades later when Australia defeated Uruguay in the penalty shootout following the 2006 World Cup qualification play-off, a moment known simply by its date: 16 November.
11. Besiktas vs. Bursaspor: A Turkish Rivalry Fueled by Relegation Drama
This rivalry started on the 2003/04 season’s dramatic final day. Bursaspor were fighting to avoid relegation and blamed Besiktas for their downfall because Besiktas lost to teams Bursaspor believed should have lost.
Fans of Bursaspor reacted violently, even damaging their own stadium seats in frustration. The trouble led to a seven-year ban on away fans from Besiktas’ stadium.
12. Celtic vs. Hamburg: The “Friend of My Enemy” Rivalry
Celtic’s rivalry with Rangers is legendary, but their hatred extends to Hamburg SV because of Hamburg’s close ties with Rangers.
When Hamburg played Celtic in the 1996 UEFA Cup and again in the 2009/10 Europa League, Rangers fans supported Hamburg, which Celtic fans saw as betrayal. A banner reading “No Surrender” with a Union Jack at Hamburg’s stadium further inflamed tensions.
13. Coventry City vs Sunderland: The Traffic Jam That Sparked Hate
In 1977, Coventry’s chairman Jimmy Hill caused his team’s game to be put back 15 minutes when they were caught in a traffic jam because he wanted them and their opponents to know Sunderland’s result first. Sunderland lost, and Coventry drew which secured both clubs’ safety from relegation as Sunderland went down.
Sunderland fans never forgave Coventry or Hill, and his statue is still abused by visiting fans.
Final Thoughts on Weird Football Rivalries
These weird football rivalries remind us that the game is so much more than the 90 minutes on the pitch. They reveal how football can be filled with passion and hatred, driven by history, politics, rivalry, and even accidents. Injustice, absurdity, and societal divides can ignite such rivalries.
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Sources:
- www.fourfourtwo.com/features/unusual-football-rivalries
- www.givemesport.com/strangest-rivalries-world-football/
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