Despite the best efforts of Philly fans, we really don't have any fanbases over here in the States that rival soccer fans in Europe and abroad. That's because, quite frankly, soccer fans are insane. And these two example will make that quite clear.

Yesterday in Ireland, immediately following the final whistle of a Belfast-area tournament final match between Linfield and Cliftonville, Linfield player Conor Hagan got drilled in the head by a rocket (read firework) fired from the stands fired by Cliftonville fans. To make it even worse for Hagan, his team had just lost 2-1. That's what you call a rough day at the office.





Kagan wound up being all right, but can you guess what happened outside of the stadium? If you said a riot, you guessed right. Cliftonville's predominantly Catholic fanbase got into a tussle with Linfields predominantly Protestant fanbase.

Now, you may be saying to yourself, religion has no place in any sport, least of all soccer. Oh, but you're wrong my friend. So very wrong.

As some of you may know, Argentina soccer great Diego Maradona was recently named head coach of the struggling national team. Sure he has almost no experience coaching, but so what, he's a God in Argentina. Literally. Yes, in Argentina there's a real religion based around Maradona which has 120,000 followers. Even better, their idol is a football with a crown of thorns around it. The "celebration" you see below is of Maradona's 48th birthday, which was on October 30th.


By the way, the members baptize themselves by slamming a soccer ball with their hand in honor of Maradona's famous "Hand of God" goal in the 1986 World Cup. Nothing blasphemous about this at all. No sir.

Anyway, when people wonder why Americans fail to embrace soccer, it's reasons like these that are the answer. We like to draw the line on our fandom at cults.

Soccer player struck by rocket during match [SPORTSbyBROOKS]
The Church of Maradona makes baby Jesus cry [Deadspin]