A sports rivalry is intense competition between athletic teams or athletes, affecting participants, management, and supporters all to varying degrees.
One of the first known sports rivalries occurred in the Roman Empire between the Blues and the Greens, and the minor teams of the Reds and Whites, each of which were chariot racing clubs competing at the Hippodrome in Constantinople. The rivalry took on political tones as well, coming close to deposing the Roman Emperor Justinian in 532 AD in a riot and the suppression of the riot killed tens of thousands of people.
Owners have been known to encourage rivalries as they tend to improve game attendance and television ratings for rivalry matches. Clubs can reduce fan aggression surrounding rivalry games by acknowledging rather than downplaying the conflict because the rivalry is an integral part of fan identity.
Games between two rivals that are based in areas of close geographical proximity are often known as a local derby, or simply just a derby ( , ); a sporting event between two teams from the same town, city or region. In modern usage the term is usually connected with association football and the media and supporters will often refer to this fixture as "Derby Day". However, and unsurprisingly, the first recorded use of the term was to refer to major provincial horse races from a time when the Epsom Derby, was not only England's major sporting event but also a huge social occasion.
For example, the Western Times, 2 June 1860, refers to a race meeting at Haldon, Exeter, as their "local Derby Day." The Hull Packet, 31 May 1861, calls the Beverley, Hull and East Riding Races "our local Derby." It would appear that the term was already in use elsewhere in the world – The Ballarat Star (Victoria, Australia), 6 December 1860 edition, mentions that races in Dowling Forest were "the local Derby day."
The metaphor evidently seeped into common usage, as non-racing events also earned the epithet. An athletic club fete in Croydon (Norwood News, 22 May 1869), a rowing regatta at Bathgate, Scotland (Lothian Courier, 26 September 1874) and even a hotly contested local government election (Croydon Advertiser, 27 February 1875) were all described as a local Derby.
As club football (Rugby and Association codes) gained popularity in the 1870s and 1880s the phrase migrated to that pastime. The Preston Herald of 14 March 1883 said of a fixture between Low Moor and Clitheroe that "when it becomes known that the clubs are likely to meet, popular feeling runs high – so high, in fact, that the occasional is recognised as the local Derby day".
The Epsom Derby being an annual event, early usage tended to refer only to the biggest occasion of the year in a certain location – the Widnes Weekly News (16 March 1889) was moved to describe a match between Widnes FC and the touring New Zealand Native touring rugby team as "the great day of the season at Widnes – the local Derby." However, in football terms, the emphasis in the phrase had already shifted from the Derby aspect (a red letter day in the sporting or social calendar) to the local element – any football match involving nearby clubs, no matter how relatively unimportant the fixture might otherwise be. Hence the Burnley Express (15 December 1888) felt able to report that "for three weeks in succession the Langroyd team will be engaged in local "Derbies." First of all, Union Star; then Nelson, at Seed Hill; and afterwards Brierfield at Colne."
In rugby football, an early example of the term for that code appears in the Wigan Observer of 11 December 1885 which noted that "the local "Derby" in the football circles of Pemberton was brought off on Saturday last, when Highfield and Pemberton met."
Since at least as early as 1840 'derby' has been used as a noun in English to denote any kind of sporting contest. Other names for derbies include Clásicos in certain parts of the world and crosstown rivalries in the United States.
The intensity of the rivalry can range anywhere from a light hearted banter to serious violence. A rivalry that gets out of control can lead to fighting, hooliganism, rioting and some instances with career-ending and even fatal consequences. In the "Football War", along with other factors, it was suggested to have been the tipping point in leading to military conflicts.
Rivalries do not always stem from the sharing of an area. Hostilities can occur for different reasons, such as in the case of El Clásico with tensions between fans with a background of political differences. Frequent meetings in important games between teams can also lead to unpleasantries.
International rivalries Australia–England sports rivalries India–Pakistan sports rivalries Australia–New Zealand sports rivalries Australia–United States sports rivalries Canada–United States sports rivalries Japan–South Korea sports rivalries Afghanistan–Pakistan sports rivalries
Association football
Athletics Individual 1st party 2nd party Discipline(s) Timespan Article Source Steve Ovett Sebastian Coe Middle-distance running 1978–1986 "One of the great British rivalries was in evidence at the 1980 Moscow Olympics. Steve Ovett and Sebastian Coe battled it out twice in the 800 metres and 1500 metres." Usain Bolt Tyson Gay Sprinting 2005–2012 Asafa Powell 2006–2016 Dayron Robles Liu Xiang Hurdling 2007–2011 Joan Benoit Grete Waitz Marathon — — Usain Bolt Justin Gatlin Sprinting 2012–2017 Yohan Blake 2012 Ben Johnson Carl Lewis 1984–1988 Veronica Campbell-Brown Allyson Felix 100 metres & 200 metres 2004–2016 Ondina Valla Claudia Testoni Sprinting 1932–1940 Testoni–Valla rivalry Luigi Facelli David Burghley Hurdling 1927–1933 Kirani James LaShawn Merritt Sprinting 2011–2017 Paul Tergat Haile Gebrselassie Marathon 1995–2000 Eliud Kipchoge Kenenisa Bekele2012–present Daley Thompson Jürgen Hingsen Decathlon – Ivana Španović Darya Klishina Long jump 2007–present Donovan Bailey Michael Johnson Sprinting 1996–1997 Bailey–Johnson 150-metre race Tessa Sanderson Fatima Whitbread Javelin 1978–1992 P. T. Usha Lydia de Vega Sprinting 1980s Jakob Ingebrigtsen Josh Kerr Middle-distance running 2023–present Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce Elaine Thompson-HerahSprinting2015–present
Team 1st party 2nd party Discipline(s) Timespan Article Source Finland Sweden Multi-discipline 1925–present Finland–Sweden Athletics International Jamaica United States Sprinting 1960s—present Kenya Ethiopia Long-distance running 1968–present
Australian rules football
Badminton
Individuals 1st party 2nd party Timespan Article Source Susi Susanti Bang Soo-hyun 1992–1996 Lee Chong Wei Lin Dan 2004–2020 Lee–Lin rivalry
International 1st party 2nd party Timespan Article Source Indonesia China 1990s–present
Bandy In Swedish bandy, derby games are often played on Saint Stephen's Day.
Baseball
International
Japan–South Korea baseball rivalry El Clásico del Clasico (Baseball) Dominican Republic–Venezuela baseball rivalry
Dominican Republic Dominican Professional Baseball League Águilas Cibaeñas from Santiago de los Caballeros vs. Tigres del Licey from Santo Domingo on a game named “El Clásico Dominicano.” Santo Domingo rivals: Leones del Escogido vs. Tigres del Licey
Japan Nippon Professional Baseball Central League Yomiuri Giants vs. Hanshin Tigers on a game named "The Classic Series" (伝統の一戦 in Japanese). Yomiuri Giants vs. Tokyo Yakult Swallows on a game named "Tokyo Series".
Pacific League
Mixture Hanshin Tigers vs. Orix Buffaloes on a game named "Kansai Derby".
South Korea KBO League KIA Tigers vs. Samsung Lions on a game named "88 Expressway Series". Doosan Bears vs. LG Twins on a game named "Jamsil Series". Lotte Giants vs. NC Dinos on a game named "Nakdonggang Derby". Kiwoom Heroes vs. Doosan Bears or LG Twins on a game named "Seoul Series".
Taiwan Chinese Professional Baseball League CTBC Brothers vs. Wei Chuan Dragons on a game named "Dragon–Elephant Derby" (龍象大戰 in Chinese). CTBC Brothers vs. Fubon Guardians on a game named "Bank holding Derby" (金控大戰 in Chinese).
Mexico Mexican Baseball League Diablos Rojos del México (Mexico City Red Devils) vs. Tigres de Quintana Roo (Tigers) on a game named "Civil War Derby" ("Guerra Civil" in Spanish). Saraperos de Saltillo (Saltillo Sarapemakers) vs. Vaqueros Laguna (Torreon Lagoon Cowboys) on a game named "Coahuila's Metropolitan Derby" ("Clásico metropolitano de Coahuila" in Spanish).http://www.vanguardia.com.mx/saraperosvsvaquerosenunsolojuegoportodoonada-2138293.html ("Saraperos vs Vaqueros en un solo juego por todo o nada") Pericos de Puebla (Puebla Parrots) vs. Rojos del Águila de Veracruz (Veracruz Red Eagles) on a game named "Center rivalry" ("Rivalidad del centro" in Spanish).http://www.noventaminutos.mx/aguila-vs-pericos-puebla-quiere-revancha-despues-de-haber-perdido-en-veracruz/ ("Águila vs Pericos... Puebla quiere revancha después de haber perdido en Veracruz.") Diablos Rojos del México (Mexico City Red Devils) vs. Péricos de Puebla (Puebla Parrots) on a game named "Anahuac Derby" ("Clásico de Ánahuac" in Spanish). Saraperos de Saltillo (Saltillo Sarapemakers) vs. Sultanes de Monterrey (Monterrey Sultans) on a game named "North of Mexico Derby" ("Clásico del Norte" in Spanish).
Mexican Pacific League Naranjeros de Hermosillo (Hermosillo Orange Growers) vs. Tomateros de Culiacán (Culiacan Tomato Growers) on a game named "Derby of the Pacific Coast" ("Clásico del Pacífico" in Spanish). Charros de Jalisco (Jalisco Charros) vs. Venados de Mazatlán (Mazatlan Deers) on a game named "Rivalry of the west" ("Rivalidad de Occidente" in Spanish).
United States/Canada Major League Baseball
Minor League Baseball Mercer Cup: Bluefield Blue Jays vs. Princeton RaysVice World of Sports S02 Ep06: Rivals: The Mercer Cup, Release Date: 29 March 2017 (USA)
Venezuela Venezuelan Professional Baseball League Leones del Caracas (Caracas Lions) vs. Navegantes del Magallanes (Magellan Navigators) Leones del Caracas (Caracas Lions) vs. Tiburones de La Guaira (La Guaira Sharks)
Cuba Cuban National Series Industriales from La Havana vs. Avispas from Santiago de Cuba nicknamed "El Clásico de la Pelota Cubana."
Basketball Argentina Ferro Carril Oeste vs Atenas San Lorenzo vs Ferro Carril Oeste San Lorenzo vs Boca Juniors G.E.P.U. vs Atenas Clásico porteño: Obras vs Ferro Carril Oeste Argentinian derby: Peñarol vs Quilmes Córdoba Derby: Atenas vs Instituto San Nicolás derby: Belgrano vs Regatas Bahía Blanca derby: Estudiantes (BB) vs Olimpo Corrientes derby: Regatas Corrientes vs San Martín Santiago del Estero derby: Club Ciclista Olímpico vs Quimsa Sunchales derby: Libertad vs Unión de Sunchales Santa Fe derby: Colón vs Unión This is also a football rivalry. General Pico derby: Independiente vs Pico Football Club La Pampa derby: All Boys (SR) vs Estudiantes (SR) Paraná derby: Atlético Echagüe vs Juventud Sionista Firmat derby: Argentino (F) vs Firmat Foot Ball Club Junín derby: Argentino de Junín vs Club Ciclista Juninense Tres Arroyos derby: Huracán de Tres Arroyos vs Costa Sud Comodoro Rivadavia derby: Gimnasia (CR) vs Federación Deportiva Pergamino derby: Gimnasia (P) vs Argentino (P) Clásico de la Comarca: Deportivo Viedma vs Atenas de Patagones Clásico Uruguayense: Tomás de Rocamora vs Parque Sur
Australia The Derby of Distance: Perth Wildcats vs New Zealand Breakers Although this rivalry is actually an international rivalry, it plays out within the Australia-based National Basketball League. The Breakers have been an NBL member from the league's formation. Melbourne United vs Sydney Kings
Croatia Croatian Derby: Cibona vs Split Classic derby: Cibona vs. Zadar
China Northeastern Derby: Liaoning Flying Leopards vs Jilin Northeast Tigers Beijing Derby: Beijing Ducks vs Beijing Royal Fighters Chinese Classic: Beijing Ducks vs Guangdong Southern Tigers Derby of Champions: Liaoning Flying Leopards vs Guangdong Southern Tigers