Swapping jerseys,footballs unique ritual

The exchanging of jerseys at the end of a soccer match is a longtime ritual that is well established in the sport. It is believed to have begun in 1931,when France beat England for the first time. The French players were so ecstatic they asked the English players if they could have their jerseys as keepsakes. The English obliged. According to FIFA.com,it was not until 1954 that exchanges took place at a World Cup.

However,one of the more memorable moments in the ritual was an exchange that could not take place. In 1966,England defeated Argentina,1-0,in the quarterfinals,but the play was so vicious that when Englands manager,Alf Ramsey,who had referred to Argentinas players as animals,spotted one of his players exchanging jerseys with an Argentine,he stepped in and yanked the jersey away.

Quite contrary to that incident, Clint Mathis,who scored for the United States in the 2002 World Cup believes,Its just a sign of respect.

He said,Youre out there trying to kick each other and kill each other,but when the games said and done,its back to being friends. But there is more to this exchange than simply respect or rivalry. Over the last two decades,soccer has evolved from strictly sport to a division of the entertainment industry. Players like Beckham,Lionel Messi,Cristiano Ronaldo,Wayne Rooney and Ronaldinho are worldwide brands as much as they are soccer stars.

Thus,some jerseys can be more than keepsakes they can be commodities. The Brazil jersey worn by Pelé in the 1970 World Cup was sold in 2002 by the family of the Italian player he had traded it with for $310,000.

Nigel Spill,a sports memorabilia dealer in Los Angeles,said a game-worn jersey of a player like Messi,the reigning world player of the year,would easily fetch something into five figures. Its not an innocent jersey swap anymore, Spill said.

Indeed not. When the Los Angeles Galaxy played Barcelona and A. C. Milan in exhibitions last summer,many of the Galaxys younger and less-well-compensated players schemed about trying to get the jerseys of Ronaldinho and Messi. Similar conversations took place among players on the United States team in South Africa,the American left back Jonathan Bornstein said.

Bornstein,25,is not yet cool to collecting. He kept his jersey from the Algeria game,the first he played at the World Cup,and had it signed by all his teammates. In all,he has close to 30 jerseys he has traded for since he turned pro. I do wash them. I dont want the stench of the other player. Actually,I thought about that this morning. I have to wash the Australia jersey.

A fine idea,as long as he remembers not to send the laundry out.