Soccer or football? The results are in

Lionel Messi kicks a soccer ball during a football match for Argentina. Photo / AP

The people have spoken and the New Zealand Herald will now refer to the beautiful game as football.

After three days of polling, many colourful debates and 11,350 votes, football gained 59% of the public vote, forcing the change from soccer.

It's been an intense few days for football lovers, with many passionate discussions on Facebook and Twitter. Here are some of our favourites:

Football or soccer - it's football to 279m players (2006) and soccer to 5m rugby players you do the maths - we live in a democracy

@nzheraldsport Football! the beautiful game, the people's game, the world's game... anything but Soccer - wash your mouth out

.@nzheraldsport I think you know our preference! #votefootballpeople

@nzheraldsport It's football. Ask the NZ Football Association Or watch the NZ Football championships!! It's not soccer.

@tmurphyNZH @nzherald Nothing wrong with either. But there's no mistaking what the sport is if u call it soccer.

@JamesMcOnie @tmurphyNZH @nzherald Exactly. As journalists, we should favour a term that is concise and recognisable to more people.

@JamesMcOnie @tmurphyNZH @nzherald Also: Everytime it's called soccer, Sepp Blatter shed a solitary tear.

@JamesMcOnie @tmurphyNZH @nzherald And each time it's called football, an underpaid Brazilian puts a peso in his pocket.

@nzheraldsport ever since 2006 "soccer" has been an offensive term. Unless you are American. Football Ferns. NZ Football. FIFA. #football