This book provides a comprehensive introduction to the study of football.

"At last, a real sociology of football which, crucially, examines central elements of the game as well as the cultures and behaviour patterns of its fans. Worldwide in its scope, and both perceptive and provocative in its conclusions, this book will become a key text for academics, students and lay readers who profess a serious interest in understanding why football, above all sports, exercises such a long--standing and tenacious hold on the global sporting imagination." ----John Williams, Sir Norman Chester Centre for Football Research, University of Leicester "This book is full of insight, well written and with praiseworthy clarity of ideas. It is an important and synthetic work which covers the social and cultural complexity of football dealing with class, gender, ethnicity, business and nationalism. At the same time the inner meanings, the profound emotional attachments of the supporters, the role of football heroes and the aesthetics of the game are discussed in a fascinating comparative perspective. The comparison of the football world--views in the United Kingdom, Europe, South America and Africa is presented in a masterly way. Giulianotti has produced a pioneering book that surpasses by far previous and partial attempts to discuss the complexity of football." ----Eduardo P. Archetti, Department of Social Anthropology, University of Oslo "This study brings together more than 600 historical, anthropological, geographic, as well as sociological and theoretical sources, in an integrated analysis of world (association) football, or soccer.With a welcome eclecticism, Giulianotti draws upon Baudrillard, Bourdieu, Bakhtin, Giddens, Foucault, Goffman and Appadurai, among others, to relate to wider sociological debates." ----Alan Tomlinson, University of Brighton, British Journal of Sociology "Football is a masterly example of soccer as an academic subject. Giulianottia s knowledge of the sport is without question, while his grasp and application of theory is superb. In each subject area Giulianotti applies different theories to provide a detailed understanding of the game and its complexities ... Football is readable, original and its primary focus is the game. Although it has large theoretical content, it is never dry or obtrusive. Giulianottia s pleasing style is crucial in making the book a success, and it should be considered as a seminal text in the field of football academia." (International Sports Studies) "A comprehensive and studied project that ably expresses the maturity and significance of Giulianottia s work ... One cannot help but be impressed by Footballa ssheer substantive range, within which Giulianotti displays an enviable knowledge and command of a myriad of national football cultures." (Soccer and Society)

Richard Giulianotti is Lecturer in Sociology at the University of Aberdeen.

Acknowledgements. Glossary. Foreward. 1. The Essence of Football: the historical and social bases of the global game. 2. The Twentieth--century Sport: football, class and nation. 3. Spectator Cultures: passion at play in Europe and Latin America. 4. Football Grounds: emotional attachments and social control. 5. The Price of Victory: football finance and the television revolution. 6. Footballa s Players: from local heroes to international stars. 7. The Goal of Winning? football, science, tactics and aesthetics. 8. The Cultural Politics of Play: ethnicity, gender and the a post--fana mentality. Afterword. Notes. References. Index.