Goals for God on pitches of peace

NEW YORK - In Brazil, soccer is a religion and English fans may resort to prayer later this month.

But you can assume that when the crowds exercise their lungs at the World Cup it will not be "Amen" or "Praise Jesus" that echoes most often around the stands.

Yet, these chants are increasingly being heard at sporting events in the United States as professional teams are adopting the latest marketing tool designed to put backsides on seats - and nourish a few souls along the way.

Faith Nights are testament to the church-going traditions that remain strong in the US, especially in the so-called Bible Belt states of the south. Fans who attend have a double priority: cheer for their team and cheer for the Lord while they are at it.

Consider a recent home game of the Steeldogs, an indoor soccer team in Birmingham, Alabama. For the warmup, players wore jerseys with books of the Old Testament and verse numbers printed on their backs.

A Christian rock band played before kick-off and vendors sold bobble-head dolls in the likeness of Moses and Noah.

Most important for the team, the arena was about 15 per cent more full than normal. Giving individual game nights a religious theme taps into Birmingham's huge Christian community.

Churches, with their email lists and pulpit exhortations, are proving to be more effective than regular advertising at swelling ticket sales at such events.

State and church remain separated in America, and the sudden blurring of the line between sport and religion does not sit comfortably with everyone.

The Steeldogs agreed that the Bible-themed jerseys would be jettisoned during play, after the league they belong to threatened to fine them US$25,000 ($40,000).

- INDEPENDENT