Although some of the greatest players, such as Pele and Diego Maradona, famously claimed their devotion to the game put it on a par with a religion, a court has now concluded this is not the case.
A judge ruled football does not constitute a 'philosophical belief' in the same way. The tribunal was ruling in the case of subcontractor Edward McClung, who insisted he was discriminated against by two firms because he is a diehard fan of Rangers Football Club.
Mr McClung sued, claiming his avid allegiance to the Glasgow club was such it should be viewed as "a way of life" and that instead of going to church he went to watch Rangers. However, the judge ruled that being a football fan is merely "a lifestyle choice" and "does not represent a belief as to a weighty or substantial aspect of human life".
