I weep for the football fans who only watch premier league games

I weep for the football fans who only watch premier league games,

who are only focused on their beloved Arsenal. Believing premier league to be the pinnacle of football leagues and sports entertainment. What every fans needs to realize is every league across Europe has something unique and attractive about them. In this post, I'll be talking about Bundesliga, Serie A and La Liga.

The Bundesliga consists of 18 teams that play 34 matches compared to 38 games in the premier league. The thing that attracts me most about the Bundesliga is the fans. The fan culture which includes flags, banners and choreographed chants generate an incredible atmosphere around the stadium. The best known ultras of the footballing world is The Yellow Wall that supports Borussia Dortmund. The success of bundesliga fans is from:

• Support Ownership: This is where fans own 50% + 1 ownership and voting majority of a club. This prevents commercialization of the league by foreign investors.
• Low Ticket Prices: A Dortmund home match costs an average of $92 while the match between Fulham against Manchester United was around $200.
• Community Outreach and Stunning Action: Recently, German football fans protested against 1 billion euros foreign investment towards digital marketing and broadcasting. They threw tennis balls, plastic balls and chocolate coins onto the pitch disrupting matches for nearly 30 minutes. Citing, the investment would to lead to more attention being provided to TV supporters than stadium goers.

German football is about the fan culture, closeness of the team to their fans. During the crowning of Bayer Leverkusen as Deutsche Meister, the fans were able to touch the Bundesliga trophy and Xabi Alonso climbed to the foootball stands to celebrate with the fans. I can't wait to see the eneregy German fans will bring during the 2024 Euros.

La Liga is the gold standard of football. Each season, it attracts elite players to their league. This isn't done by splurging millions of dollars in transfer fees but by the prospect of playing quality football, winning European trophies and getting their names written in the books of history alongside football legends. La Liga teams have also outclassed other leagues in European competitions.

What makes them dominant and powerful is their style of play. Most teams, for example, Real Madrid, have skilled players who hold possession and are composed with the ball. They are great at creating chances and taking advantage of spaces. They do this by widening the play and having midfield fluidity. During the 2023/2024 Champions League season, I have seen Real Madrid not look superior on paper, look down and out in certain matches clinch the win. The prowess of Real Madrid can also be seen in other teams such as Sevilla, Barcelona that have also dominated Europe. Atletico Madrid are nicknamed the bullies of Europe. This is by defending using a low block, sometimes with 10 men in the box and using tactical fouls to disrupt play. Managers such as Carlo Ancelotti and players such as Erik Lamela who have played in both Premier League and La Liga have made comparisons. They have stated that although Premier League is more competitive than La Liga, La Liga is more technical and tactical.

When we talk about the impact of football culture on community, Serie A is the protagonist. Besides the angelic cities of Italy holding art, fashion and history they are home to majestic football clubs. Rome plays host to AS Roma and Lazio while Milan plays host to my beloved Inter Milan and AC Milan. For the inhabitants of these cities, these football clubs are a religion, a cult. Naples, home to Napoli where Maradona played, is a Mecca for Maradona supporters. Naples is filled with blue and white flags,  murals of Diego Maradona and a stadium named after him. Match results of these clubs have an influence on the atmosphere and vibe of the city. Derby matches can get worse even leading to violence as they determine which club has bragging rights over the city. The final straw of Mourinho's tenure in Roma was when he lost the Derby Della Capitalle to Lazio.

Their stadiums are iconic and filled with history. You should see how players jump over the ramp to celeberate with fans in the Stadio Olympico. I also love seeing Lautaro Martinez climbing the walls of San Siro after a goal to celebrate with the fans.

There was a time we could only watch one premier league match in a weekend. The burst of the internet and streaming services has given us options on what we can watch. The Premier Leage will always be dominant but take a chance on other leagues, experience the football culture of other countries. This will give you a new perspective and understanding of the game. In Clarence Seedorf words, "Playing in different countries and experiencing various football cultures has enriched me not only as a player but also as a person.  Football transcends borders and languages, allowing us to connect and understand each other in unique ways."