Manchester United fans are all from London, Zinedine Zidane was never offside and Mario Balotelli stories — six football myths busted
FOOTBALL, even today, is littered with myths.
Newcastle have the loudest fans, Stoke are a long ball team, the big clubs always get the decisions.
There have been some brilliant urban legends in football over the years
These are supposed facts which will remain because they can never truly be disproved.
However, some footballing myths that can be challenged.
Here are six urban legends which are simply untrue.
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Manchester United fans are all from London
Manchester United have a massive fanbase wordwide, and most do not come from London
There are 660million Red Devils fans worldwide.
The population of London is 8.5million. Can you see where we’re going with this?
On top of that, Oxford internet Institute researchers analysed geotagged tweets from United fans and came to the conclusion that not that many actually come from Britain’s capital.
But it’s still a good stick to beat fans of England’s most successful club with.
Mario Balotelli stories
Mario Balotelli was a trouble causer at Manchester City — but most stories about him are untrue
The Italian did not set off fireworks in his bathroom — it was his friend.
He didn’t even drive around Manchester dressed as Father Christmas, and hasn’t raked up thousands of pounds in parking tickets or paid the tuition fees for every student at Manchester university.
Former Manchester City ace Balotelli is certainly a character — but stories of his adventures must be taken with a pinch of salt.
John Lukic survived the Munich Air Disaster
John Lukic’s mother was not a survivor of the Munich Air Disaster, she wasn’t there
“Which player survived the Munich Air Disaster and is still playing now?”
This is a question which baffled many in the mid-90s. The answer was Arsenal/Leeds goalkeeper, Lukic, whose mother allegedly survived the crash while pregnant.
While there was a expectant stewardess on board, whose life was saved by United stopper Harry Gregg, it was nearly three years before the Serb was born.
Zinedine Zidane was never caught offside
Zinedine Zidane reacts to being called offside for Real Madrid against Athletic Bilbao in 2005
He was. More than once. See the clip below.
Moving on.
Denis Law’s goal relegated Manchester United in 1974
Denis Law’s famous backheel did not directly condemn Manchester United to relegation
The former Old Trafford legend’s backheeled goal while at bitter rivals City sent United down in 1974.
Law, scorer of 236 goals for the Red Devils, was so distraught with what he’d done, he vowed never to kick a football again.
It’s a great story — just not quite accurate.
Birmingham’s win over Norwich meant that United were relegated whatever the result at Old Trafford.
Ryan Giggs could have played for England
Ryan Giggs made 64 appearances for Wales, the only country he was eligible to represent
If only the Three Lions had had a decent left winger in the 1990s, things would have been different.
No they wouldn’t.
It would have just meant a different focus to excuse the constant failure.
Giggs certainly was a decent left-winger — but he couldn’t have represented England.
He did at schoolboy level, because he was eligible after attending school in Manchester.
However, he was born in Cardiff, and, at senior level, that’s the determining factor.
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