Futbol!

Yesterday I got the chance to FINALLY experience some European futbol, and let me tell you it was insane!  It was Olympiakos vs. Iraklis.  Olympiakos is an Athenian team and Iraklis is a team from Thessaloniki.  It was opened to all Arcadia students and before going we were warned that we should avoid wearing red (Olympiakos) and blue (Iraklis) so that why we wouldn't be targeted for any riots.  We met a good chunk of Arcadians down at Syntagma and jumped on the metro towards the stadium.  Once we got there, it was a sea of red.  The loyal fans of Olympiakos were showing their pride and representing the local team.  Once we got through security we found our seats in the upper level.  The stadium was incredible!  It was huge!  Fans started to fill the seats and the warm ups began and as soon as Olympiakos stepped out on the field the cheers started, and they did not stop until probably five minutes after the game!  There were unified cheers, well more like songs that the crowd would sing over and over again.  There was literally never a moment of silence during the game, they fans were on their feet hollering the entire time!  There was even a guy with a huge drum who was keeping beat for the cheers.  It was crazy!  But the one thing that I thought was absolutely insane was that they all had red flares that they would light when they were announcing the players, or after a goal.  Fire at a professional game... what?  

Right before half time my friend Kristen and I got thirsty so we decided to go grap a coca-cola from the concession stand.  We walked out towards the food and drinks and there was literally not a single person out there.  In America there are ALWAYS people roaming around on the concourse during the game, either getting something to eat or drink or going to the bathroom or something like that.  But this was not the case.  They had some die hard fans- I mean 

they wouldn't leave their seats during play!  It was almost eerie being out there all alone.  But it was kinda cool to know that everyone was so into the game

 and didn't want to miss a minute of it!  

Olympiakos were up for most of the game, and the fans were pretty excited about that.  But then the refs apparently gave us a bad call... offsides perhaps (I tried REALLY hard to learn the rules of soccer... just one sport I never got into....) and the crowd was in an uproar.  Everyone was on their feet, screaming and yelling.  They were even throwing their trash and drinks onto the field.  It was crazy!  After that the fans were 

all hyped up, and during the last minute of play Iraklis scored a goal tying it up.  Again the fans were in an frenzy!  Unfortunately Olympiakos could not come back during that last minute of play and the game ended in a tie (which I think is dumb, no sporting event should EVER be allowed to end in a tie).  The fans again went crazy, throwing more stuff and some even jumped the barrier and rushed the field.  It was a sight to see!  I really had no desire for soccer, excuse me futbol, before, but now seeing it live and actually understanding some of the rules, its a pretty fun sport to watch.  I was even getting into it, standing up waving my arms.  But I do have to say the fans made the game interesting and fun!  Gotta love the die hard fans of gate 7!!!!  GO OLYMPIAKOS!!!!!