Soccer

Analysis and Comment (17)

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When you’re going for goals, seeing is believing. Johnson Cameraface

RoboCup 2013: new moves to keep players on the ball

By David Budden, University of Melbourne

In just a few weeks, soccer-playing robots from around the world will converge on Eindhoven in the Netherlands to compete for the prestigious RoboCup 2013. With around 2,500 particpants, competition is…
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The Western Sydney Wanderers have had a ‘fairytale’ debut season in the A-League – but does this say more about how the league is run than the team itself? AAP/Dean Lewins

The A-League’s Western Sydney Wanderers: the fairytale in context

By Ross MacKenzie

Western Sydney Wanderers’ inaugural A-League season is the feel-good sports story of the year. The team is undefeated in 13 matches, won the league (generally regarded as the “real” championship in soccer…
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The Herald Sun has described fans of A-League soccer club Melbourne Victory as ‘soccer hooligans’, a label many fans feel is unfair. AAP/Martin Philbey

‘Soccer hooligans’ of the Herald Sun’s making

By NAJ Taylor, La Trobe University

In 2011, I attempted to warn then-Victorian Police Superintendent Rod Wilson and Australian soccer’s governing body, Football Federation Australia, from “amplifying the actions of a few unruly football…
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Fans of English soccer club Brighton & Hove Albion have faced constant homophobic taunts over the years – and they’ve had enough. rockjimford

Soccer and homophobia: why even homophobes are sick of it

By Andy Ruddock, Monash University

It’s been an ugly week in English soccer. Up north, outrage of many persuasions flowed around Paolo Di Canio’s politics. Down south, supporters from Championship side Brighton & Hove Albion presented…
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The DARwIn-OP humanoid soccer-playing robot may look like a toy, but is a platform for groundbreaking artificial intelligence research. David Budden

Robots will be FIFA champions – if they keep their eyes on the ball

By David Budden, University of Melbourne

We already know robots manufacture cars, work in factories, even vacuum our homes – but could they form a world-beating soccer team? The question seems like ripe pickings for a movie mogul, given Hollywood…
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Families of the victims of the Hillsborough disaster have never given up their campaign for justice. EPA/Lee Sanders

Cruel summer: how Hillsborough brought Britain down to earth

By Andy Ruddock, Monash University

The release of Hillsborough Independent Panel’s report into the death of 96 football fans at the 1989 FA Cup Semi Final between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest is not just a landmark in British history…
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Former England captain John Terry was cleared of racially abusing Anton Ferdinand last Friday. EPA/Facundo Arrizabalaga

Twitter, John Terry and the Sunshine Tigers: how racism dogs the world game

By Andy Ruddock, Monash University

As iconic sporting images go, there are few finer specimens than the picture of Brazilian genius Pele shaking hands with England captain Bobby Moore, after their teams battled to a 1-0 victory for Brazil…
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It’s obvious: better referee performance is better for players and better for spectators. Right? AAP Image/Joe Castro

Sports referees should take performance-enhancing drugs

By Bob Stewart, Victoria University and Simon Outram, Victoria University

Late last week football (soccer) website football365.com reported that FIFA, the international governing body for the world game, is considering forcing referees to pass fitness tests prior to games…
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Iranian soccer players cry after FIFA cancels their match due to the nature of their headware. EPA

Storm in a headscarf: FIFA was wrong to ban hijabs in soccer

By Nasya Bahfen, RMIT University

Five years after ruling against the wearing of headscarves by female football players, the sport’s world governing body FIFA has taken initial steps to lift the hijab ban. In March 2012, the International…
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Palmer and former Gold Coast coach Miron Bleiberg address a press conference. AAP/Laine Clark

Cash or glory? Funding the A-League and the quest for silverware

By David Lowden, La Trobe University

The public slanging match between two heavy-hitters of Australian business, Clive Palmer and Frank Lowy, has highlighted football’s reliance on private ownership. Private ownership is a logical model…
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Soccer fans in NSW in 2005 after a disturbance between supporters of rival teams. AAP

A-League fans: don’t label them football hooligans

By NAJ Taylor, La Trobe University

The late Johnny Warren deftly described some Australians' attitude to football as being a game for “sheilas, wogs, and poofters”. Whilst public interest has increased markedly following successive World…
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Harry Kewell and Brett Emerton (front row far right) in the 1994 NSW under 15 soccer team that won the Australian championships. Roy Hay

A-League: Kewell and Emerton come home

By Ian Syson, Victoria University and Roy Hay, Deakin University

Harry Kewell and Brett Emerton’s recent signings for Australian clubs have, in the blink of an eye, skyrocketed interest levels in the coming A-League season. Their return represents the closing of a…
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Australian fans at the women’s soccer World Cup this month. AAP

The genesis of soccer in Australia

By Ian Syson, Victoria University

Soccer in Australia has a long and misunderstood history. Where many assume it only gained popularity with the arrival of large numbers of migrants from Europe post-WWII, the reality is that the round…

Research Briefs (3)

Health researchers can learn from soccer

The George Institute

Health care could be improved by taking lessons from the complexities of soccer, according to researchers writing in the…

The physics of a soccer strike

American Institute of Physics

The success of soccer player Christiano Ronaldo’s powerful “knuckleball” strike is due to fluctuating aerodynamic lift forces…

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