The 10 Most Extreme Football Club Rivalries

Ollie Irish

7th, September 2010

45 Comments

By Ollie Irish

Not pure city derbies, but general rivalries (many of which happen to be derbies)…

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10. Club America v Chivas (Mexico) - Also known as the 'Superclasico', this contest is Mexican club football's showpiece - to say these two sets of fans really, REALLY don't get on is an understatement

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45 Comments

  1. Tinez says:

    There is no way Barcelona and Real should be in there. That derby isn’t in the same league as the rest of those which you’ve stated. It’s about as tense as the games between City and Liverpool in terms of whether or not it will all kick-off. For the rest of the derbies you’ve listed it always kicks-off.

  2. Ollie Irish says:

    Tinez, I respectfully disagree – Barca v Real dominates Spain in a way that few other rivalries dominate their country’s football landscape (with an honourable mention for Real Betis v Sevilla). It’s simply a huge rivalry, and though it may not turn violent that much, for me it will always merit a place on lists such as this. Cheers, Ollie

  3. […] Spurs v Arsenal fails to make it onto Pies’ list of the most extreme football rivalries. […]

  4. vimon suckcevik says:

    go check Al Ahly Vs Zamalek, Cairo’s derby, please. Hugh Dallas is a regular as a referee, among other attractions.

    small example: http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2008/jul/18/alahly.zamalek

  5. Riley says:

    Real Madrid/Barca definitely warrants a place on this list as the tension between the two clubs represents the tension that existed in Spain under Franco. Real Madrid represented Franco’s regime as the favored team in Spain and Barca not only play for Barcelona, but all of Catalonia.

  6. Cassious says:

    i cant believe liverpool v man u is not there….

  7. n17ment says:

    tottenham vs arsenal HAS to be on this list

  8. Luke says:

    you have missed out wisla vs cracovia in Poland. To quote the ever reliable wikipedia “The most violent confrontations between firms occurs in Kraków, where the firms of Cracovia Kraków and Wisła Kraków wage a brutal war, using knives, axes and other weapons.”
    If thats not ‘kicking off’ i don’t know what is!

  9. Rob says:

    Leeds v Man Utd anyone? Poison.

  10. Ace says:

    Ollie,

    Looks like you never leave Europe… Palmeiras-Corinthians is easily top 5!

  11. alex says:

    i feel like this list is based more on what happens in the stands as opposed to what happens on the field

  12. mick says:

    Napoli vs. Hellas Verona is a decent one.

  13. The Old Campaigner says:

    Nijmegen v Arnhem is pure hatred, it’s nowhere near the size of Ajax v Feyenoord of course but the intensity is way beyond. Liverpool v Manchester Utd should be on the list as well. Hey ho, it’s all good.

  14. Lee says:

    How have you managed to miss off Swindon Town Vs Oxford?

  15. Stewart Sear says:

    Forget Tottenham v Arsenal it’s Tottenham v West Ham that’s more volatile

  16. leandro says:

    Were is Brazil, guys?

    My top Five:

    5. Palmeiras v Corinthians
    4. Liverpool v Manchester United
    3. Gremio v Internacional
    2. Celtic v Rangers
    1. Boca v River

  17. Jim says:

    St. Pauli v Hansa Rostock is a good one

  18. Reader says:

    Great topic that!
    The OM – PSG duel brings out the nutter side in the Frenchmen. Fla – Flu is massive, Austria Vienna vs Rapid Vienna may not be that heated but worth a note, and there are fiery rivalries going on in Russia within the city of Moscow as well as Moscow and St. Pete’s.

  19. Reader says:

    * BETWEEN Moscow and St. Pete’s

  20. G-man says:

    WERE ARE POLISH CLUBS !? COME ON bRITCH POOR GUYS…U ONLY DRINK BEER AND SMOKE THATS URS HOOLIGANS.

  21. matt says:

    Corinthians/Palmeiras, Flamengo/Vasco, Cruzeiro/Atletico MG, Makes half this list look like a schoolyard squabble.

  22. Anonymous says:

    Swindon v Oxford is the one

  23. APEX 2 ZULU says:

    BCFC ZULUS VS VILE CUNTS
    BEST RIOT IN BRITISH OR WORLD HISTORY.WITHOUT A SHAWOW OF A DOUT. BIRMINGHAM CITY ZULUS VS LEEDS UTD SERVICE CREW 1985.

  24. Chris says:

    I think you’ll all find that the Kidsgrove Athletic vs Leek Town derby makes all the others look like a tea party. The whole of North Staffordshire grinds to a halt when these two giants of the Evo-Stik League South meet and the blood flows free in the bridlepaths of the Staffordshire Moorlands.

  25. Anthony says:

    Swansea v Cardiff?

  26. Samantha Davies says:

    My favourites are the south american ones, the crowd are really amazing – like Premier games of old

    I got bought (by my non football addicted hubby) a few DVDs on the worlds top football rivalries! They were pretty insightful. http://www.cannystore.com I think is where you get them

  27. technowax says:

    Dundee United V Dundee

    The two closest professional football stadiums in the world.

  28. Jovan says:

    What about the Serbian rivalry- Red star Belgrade V Partizan Belgrade. Trust me its the most intense rivalry in the world. Some fans carry rocket launchers to matches.

  29. aldoski says:

    AMIGOS RIVALIDAD EN SERIO ES LA QUE HAY EN ROSARIO,ARGENTINA ENTRE ROSARIO CENTRAL Y NEWELLS,TIENEN QUE ESTAR EN LA LISTA!!!

  30. raj says:

    I’m Not From A Country That play Much Football,I’m From a Country Obsessed With More Like Cricket…But I do Watch Football
    According To me Top 5 most extreme Rivalries Are
    1.Machester united vs Real Madrid
    2. Liverpool vs Manchester United
    3.Barcelona vs Real Madrid
    4.Chelsea vs arsenal
    5.Boca vs River
    I would Enjoy These Teams Playing With eachother :)

  31. Alsan Matos says:

    No way to forget 3 epic derbies from Brazil:

    1. the belligerant and hostile ambient of “Gre-Nal” (Grêmio FBPA vs. SC Internacional), that fiercely halves the city of Porto Alegre on the meridional state of Rio Grande;
    2. the SC Corinthians Paulista vs. SE Palmeiras, from the richest brazilian city of São Paulo (unnamed until today due the lack of agreement between the parts);
    3. the elegant and charming “Fla-Flu” (CR Flamengo vs. Fluminense FC) of Rio de Janeiro, always held at the Maracanã Stadium, enhancing its worldwide known legend.

  32. Luke says:

    5. Flamengo – Fluminense (Fla Flu)
    4. Celtic – Rangers
    3. Manchester United – Liverpool
    2. Boca Juniors – River Plate
    1. Barcelona – Real Madrid

  33. RaNgErS cAsUaLs says:

    i guess none of you’s seen an old firm game, rangers v celtic…

  34. tob says:

    westham UTD vs Millwall is by far the worst

  35. Rishabh says:

    3. Manchester United vs Manchester City (Derby)
    2. Inter milan vs AC Milan (Same Stadium)
    1. Real Madrid vs Barcelona (El Clasico)

    This is what a true fan thinks :)

  36. Tammy says:

    Somebody go and search google.. Kingfisher East Bengal vs Mcdowels Mohun Bagan derby… Yuba Bharati Krirangan is always fully packed with 100000spectators. It must b included in top 10 derby matches list.. Itz a rivalry between Bangladesh(East bengal) and India(Mohun Bagan).

  37. Anonymous says:

    Sheffield United Vs Sheffield Wednesday, probably one of Britains biggest rivalries and a real bitter one too!

  38. Anonymous says:

    preston vs scummy seasiders blackpool lily whites vs tangerines

  39. Anonymous says:

    Blackburn v burnley not the biggest game but for lvls of hate between the two sets of fans it should be up ther

  40. Anonymous says:

    blackburn v burnley name any other uk derby where the away fans arive at the ground with a police escort even though there is only 6 miles between the 2 towns away fans are not allowed to make there own way to the ground for there own safety
    Souness when he was manager of blackburn said its second only 2 celtic rangers in uk
    Mark hughest played in london derbys manchester derbys and claimed it beat them all not the biggest game but 1 of the maddest

  41. Andrew says:

    Those are for newspapper boys.

    My list:
    1-Benfica vs F.C.Porto
    2-Boca vs River
    3-Betis vs Sevilha
    4-Celtic vs Rangers
    5-Marseille vs PSG

  42. Anonymous says:

    Benfica – Porto

  43. David says:

    Rosario Central vs Newell’s Old Boys is tremendous

  44. Anonymous says:

    Benfica vs Porto
    Real vs Barca
    Man U vs Liverpool
    AC vs Inter
    Palmeiras vs Corinthians
    Sparta Moscow vs St.Pietesrburg
    Chiefs vs Pirates

  45. king says:

    Some of these replies!! Wtf! ..English rivals are always up there after all England is a tribal nation born to fight..old firm rfc v cfc that’s even worse to be honest lol BUT for pure madness any south American rivals…

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