FANS of FC Schalke 04, which represents western Germany’s Ruhr Valley in the country’s top league, the Budesliga, support their team with a round of Blue and White, how I love you.
The third verse contains the line:
Mohammad war ein Prophet, der vom Fussballspielen nichts versteht/ Doch aus all der schoenen Farbenpracht hat er sich das Blau und Weisse ausgedacht.
(Mohammed was a prophet who understood nothing about football/ But of all the lovely colours he chose [Schalke's] blue and white.)
But since a reference to the ode to the team’s colours was carried in Turkish media, the club has received hundreds of complaints from Muslims, according to this report.
A spokesman said the club had hired an expert on Islam to look into the question.
Hamit, left, and Halil Altintop wearing FC Schalke 04 colours
Aiman Mazyek, the head of Germany’s Central Council of Muslims, said his group would not call for a ban on the song, but acknowledged that the line could anger some. He noted that the area represented by the team had a large Turkish population.
German has a Muslim population of over four million.
FC Schalke 04 is the second largest club in Germany, and at one point had two top Muslim players on their team – Turkish twins Hamit and Halil Altintop. Hamit has since moved to another club, Bayern Munich. The name Altintop translates from Turkish as “Golden Ball”.
The Freethinker was founded in 1881 by GW Foote, an outspoken critic of religion. After the publication of 
August 7th, 2009 at 8:57 am
,i>"Mohammed was a prophet who understood nothing about football/ But of all the lovely colours he chose [Schalke's] blue and white."
Gosh, those Germans are a laugh a minute, aren't they? My poor sides. Odd, though, that the song doesn't mention any other historical figures, only Mo.
Ah well, fuck 'em.
August 7th, 2009 at 9:00 am
"Mohammed was a prophet who understood nothing about football/ But of all the lovely colours he chose [Schalke's] blue and white."
Gosh, those Germans are a laugh a minute, aren't they? My poor sides. Odd, though, that the song doesn't mention any other historical figures, only Mo.
Ah well, fuck 'em.
BTW, the song dates back to 1924. You'd have to wonder why it's taken them so long to get around to being outraged…
August 7th, 2009 at 9:43 am
Mo – if indeed he did exist – would know nothing of football because the game is relatively modern. The muzzies must be struggling if they have to dig into their back catalogue to find something to offend them.
August 7th, 2009 at 9:47 am
If blue and white are Mohammed's favourite colours, then that makes the Israeli flag "halaal", doesn't it?.
When is the world going to stand up to this endless round of silly objections and tell the objectors to go to hell?
August 7th, 2009 at 9:55 am
Mohammed was a prophet who got girls in the sack;
But of all the colours they could wear he chose black and black!
(Apologies to any Schalke supporters who may be "offended" by this little ditty!!)
August 7th, 2009 at 9:57 am
BTW Barry: I'm sure that gay readers of this blog must be salivating at that photo of the Goldenballs twins! Are there any more?
August 7th, 2009 at 10:03 am
Wasn't there a case in an islamic nation, of an entire team of footballers getting sentenced to lashing for wearing shorts in public….
Or is it an urban myth?
Frankly – its less far-fetched than them getting angered over a fan chant from the 20's!
August 7th, 2009 at 10:12 am
The song dates back to 1924. Who says Muslims are quick to take offence?
August 7th, 2009 at 10:46 am
Not only gay readers, Barrie. I reckon that this pair of Turkish delights will appeal to a great many female visitors too. There are loads of pictures of the twins on the interweb – I was spoiled for choice.
August 7th, 2009 at 11:06 am
I don't know about that story, shargraves, but read this: http://www.theage.com.au/artic...../19/1050...
I was tempted to make humorous comments regarding Uday's "motivational lectures" and Stuart Pearce's missed penalty, but that Iraqi player's sad reflection on his lost opportunities prevents me – it's so sad!
August 7th, 2009 at 11:51 am
Given the location of F.C. Schalke, I wonder whether any opposition fans have composed any chants to the tune of "The Dambusters March"?
August 7th, 2009 at 12:41 pm
Here for your delectation is a YouTube video showing the Golden Balls boys singing – not terribly well, but what the hell …
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nODUHHkTg6k
August 7th, 2009 at 1:55 pm
Thanks for giving me such a laugh, the comments are brilliant. I m going to write them down.
Footballers who think their god is watching every game they play, as if he has nothing else to do, get on my nerves..
August 7th, 2009 at 3:37 pm
Then you need to look at this, Elaine! http://thebeattitude.com/2009/.....-is-a-hu...
(PS If you lose the will to live after reading that cretin's stupid comments, I don't want your relatives suing me!!)
August 7th, 2009 at 3:45 pm
And I take it that you did see the entry on this blog on 12th July, regarding footballers' overt displays of religious fervour, which featured a photo of "Kaka" displaying his Jebub ith a fwend of mine tee-shirt! Yuk!!
August 7th, 2009 at 6:35 pm
Those SOBs hang gay people for the mere fact that they are gay. Now they want to whine because somebody "insulted" their pedophile of a "prophet". Screw them.
August 7th, 2009 at 6:50 pm
I once thought the Xtians were the biggest bunch of hypocrites. They have been replaced by their cousins – islam.
There is no gOd but allah – supposedly. But they sure 'adore' the shit outa Mo!!!
Ya know from now one I think the cousins should stay together so when I hit my thumb it will be
'Jesus Christ & Mohammad!!!!!!' or better still….
'yehway, jesus &mohammad fuck thor in an oak tree the bunch of fairies'
That gets jews, Xtians, Mo Lovers, vikings, druids, and the icelanders all in one fraze.! And by the time I can remember to say all that my thumb will quit hurting.
August 8th, 2009 at 7:58 pm
9/11?