The most passionate footballing nation in Europe

[Dostoyevsky]

Surprising winner

http://theballisround.co.uk/2012/06/12/the-most-passionate-football-nation-in-europe/

[mystical_goat]

A good read!

[Chubbs]

good read that.

[BruceChatwin]

There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies, and statistics.

[flammableBen]

Was an interesting read, but I don't know why the line should be drawn at top flight attendance for passion. Surely totalling up the total attendance for all football matches each week would be better. I guess the attendance figures for iceland pub division 4 are hard to get, although you could probably guess.

[4D]

They probably have the highest percentage of league players too

[Dostoyevsky]

Was an interesting read, but I don't know why the line should be drawn at top flight attendance for passion. Surely totalling up the total attendance for all football matches each week would be better. I guess the attendance figures for iceland pub division 4 are hard to get, although you could probably guess.

That's a very good point Ben - i'd completely overlooked the fact that this was purely based on those spectating top flight games. When you take into account attendences throughout the English football league pyramid, the percentage of people who watch football weekly in this country must surely be unsurpassed elsewhere globally? I mean, check out the top 30 non-league average attendences from season 2011/12. Very impressive:

http://www.thefootballforum.net/index.php?/topic/212147-average-attendance-league-table/

I think about 4-5% of the population of England must take in a game at some level or another on a weekly basis?

[Honkytonk]

That's a very good point Ben - i'd completely overlooked the fact that this was purely based on those spectating top flight games. When you take into account attendences throughout the English football league pyramid, the percentage of people who watch football weekly in this country must surely be unsurpassed? I mean, check out the top 30 non-league average attendences from season 2011/12. Very impressive:

http://www.thefootballforum.net/index.php?/topic/212147-average-attendance-league-table/

I think about 4-5% of the population of England must take in a game at some level or another on a weekly basis?

There's also the argument that the really passionate fans are the ones outside the top tiers. Why else would people follow clubs in league 1/2 up and down the country, or turn up in their thousands to watch their club play Coventry? It's not as if it's season after season of victory, bragging rights, and big money signings like those who follow Premiership teams.

[Dostoyevsky]

Valid point Honkytonk. I would also ascribe the amount of decibels created in an arena as being indicative of "passion", in which case the likes of Turkey, Serbia, Bosnia and Poland could rightly stake their claim.

[Amir]

Is it still Albania?  My internet connection is shite and I can't open the link.

It used to be them followed by Scotland, meaning there was even less to do in Albania than Scotland.

[Langers]

Is it still Albania?  My internet connection is shite and I can't open the link.

It used to be them followed by Scotland, meaning there was even less to do in Albania than Scotland.

No, it's Faeroe Islands. Albania aren't in the top 10 and Scotland are 4th.