Player #12

When a team of footballers run out onto a field, there’s one more player not to be forgotten.

No, it’s not the person on the bench, or the coach nervously pacing up and down: it’s player number 12 — the fans in the stands or watching at home.
It’s you, it’s your neighbour, it’s the youngster with a poster of Lionel Messi on their wall. In essence, one could argue that fans fuel the wonderful game of football.

Remember when, for a brief (and painful) period during strict Covid-19 regulations when fans couldn’t be part of the game?
Stadiums were empty for around 18 months, and we watched matches from our homes with Playstation-styled FIFA sounds as the “crowd”.
Football fans are an essential, passion-invoking part of the game, and have been for decades.
Just watch this video of a football match from 1898 between the Blackburn Rovers and West Bromwich Albion in England.
Undoubtedly not are the crowd in the back isn’t as rowdy or colourful as you would imagine today, but you get the point: fans have always been a part of football.
Sure, seeing 11 players celebrate a goal is exciting, but is there anything better than witnessing the utter joy and excitement of over 70 000 fans on their feet?

If those Covid months of no fans taught us anything, it’s that football lovers make a difference. Here are a few aspects that stand out:

Human interaction and emotions
People and their emotions are what keeps the sport interesting.
Almost everyone has a favourite team.
During the Qatar World Cup, fans from all over travelled to see their stars in action.
The way we feel and the way the sport makes us feel is the reason we keep on coming back.
Interaction between the players and fans can be something special.
Imagine getting your shirt signed by a player from your team.
Players can, at times, feel adored, other times they can be loathed by the fans of the game.
Managers have felt the pressure of fans.
The pressure to perform well at the top level.
But, that’s what football is all about; the fan-fueled passion that drives the game. 

The sport that unites
Football is the biggest sport in the world with the most fans.
Almost anyone can get a football and kick it around to get an idea of how it feels to play the game.
Only a select few make it to the professional ranks and can play the game at the highest level.
Fans from all over play and watch the same game, supporting their teams and players.
This is a sport that brings people together regardless of age and race.
This is one of the reasons it is called the beautiful game.

Money does make the world go round
Billions of Dollars are spent in football every year, and fans contribute to these major funds.
If we look at this year, with a World Cup in Qatar, an estimated $229 billion was spent to get everything ready for the biggest event in world sports.
Every transfer window, millions are spent on acquiring players for teams.
We, the fans, spend money on football goods, from mugs with our favourite club's emblem on to team kits.
Money is betted in almost every match being played by those who feel lucky on the day.
Money is a big driving force behind the game of football, and fans contribute to this world of wealth.