This volume discusses such topics as: successes and contradictions in "multiracial" Brazilian football; the political role of football for Palestinians in Jordan; and football and violence in war-torn Africa - soccer and social rehabilitation in Sierra Leone.

Anthony Giddens, Foreword -- Richard Giulianotti & Gary Armstrong, Reclaiming the Game: An Introduction to the Anthropology of Football -- Eduardo P. Archetti, 'And Give Joy to my Heart': Ideology and Emotions in the Argentinian Cult of Maradona -- Jose Sergio Leite Lopes, Successes and Contradictions in 'Multiracial' Brazilian Football -- Rocco De Biasi & Pierre Lanfranchi, The Importance of Difference: Football Identities in Italy -- Dag Tuastad, The Political Role of Football for Palestinians in Jordan -- Paul Nchoji Nkwi & Bea Vidacs, Football: Politics and Power in Cameroon -- Paul Richards, Football and Violence in War-Torn Africa: Soccer and Social Rehabilitation in Sierra Leone -- Anne Leseth, The Use of Juju in Football: Sport and Witchcraft in Tanzania -- Gary Armstrong & Malcolm Young, Legislators and Interpreters: The Law and 'Football Hooligans' -- Richard Giulianotti, Enlightening the North: Aberdeen Fanzines and Football Identity -- Hans Kristian Hognestad, The Jambo Experience: An Anthropological Study of Hearts Fans -- John Hughson, The Bad Blue Boys and the 'Magical Recovery' of John Clarke -- David L. Andrews, Robert Pitter, Detlev Zwick & Darren Ambrose, Soccer's Racial Frontier: Sport and the Suburbanization of Contemporary America

'Illuminating, entertaining and ...well-written.'When Saturday Comes"[A] valuable contribution to an expanding field of academic interest in global sport and world football. Furthermore, its interpretative approach provides a richness to the study of sport which has been relatively absent until recent years.'Journal of European Area Studies'An absorbing in-depth and profound academical study which brings to light new perspectives on world football ... a most important addition to one's library because it offers a completely new study of football spectator perception.'Malta Sunday Times'The first serious attempt to treat the phenomenon of football in an intercultural and comparative context on a universal scale ... Encompasses a rich panorama of the 'state of the art' and prefigures the future research locations of a genuine anthropology of football.'Social Anthropology'... an excellent anthology of 13 essays that affirm football as an important cultural instituti