soccer, socker, and association football

[Joel S. Berson]

Sarah Lyall, "Up in Arms Over 'Soccer'," NYTimes, June 18, 2014,
Sports Thursday.  http://tinyurl.com/n4fzpch

On how "soccer" was not an imposition by imperialist America on the
rest of the world, but common as an alternative to "(association)
football," including in Britain, in the early 1900s and later --
including in the book titles of Matt Busby's autobiography, "Soccer
at the Top," and of "George Best: The Inside Story of Soccer's Super-Star."

The article also points out that the game is called "soccer" in
Australia.  Where, like America -- although the article does not
mention it -- there are other sports called "football."  Say
"farewell" to the Socceroos, and congratulate them for standing up
better against the Netherlands than did the world's top-ranked team, Spain.

No antedatings, however.

Joel

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