A Game for Hooligans Played by Gentlemen

posted by Sean Fagan

No doubt, you've come across the witty quote - in various forms - about the football codes and whether a particular one is a game for gentlemen, ruffians, hooligans and so forth.

Its most common form is in a comparison between rugby and soccer (Association Football):

"Football is a gentleman's game played by hooligans, and rugby is a hooligans' game played by gentlemen", or "Football - a game for gentlemen played by hooligans. Rugby - a game for hooligans played by gentlemen."