those wasting their time with the world cup , are'nt paid by the State to do it , . They work , contribute to the State's security , and can watch football games .

At least soccer is free and not bad for your health.

get back to work so we can continue to receive such moralizing from these people. money doesn't grow on trees you know, and they have huge families to feed.

Most non-Haredi people I know think the World Cup is a waste of time and don't watch the World Cup.

Can anyone explain to me why an article about soccer leads to talkbackers speaking (again) about "parasites" "not working' "taxes" etc etc. Apart from the obvious response that they refuse to acknowledge that the majority of "hareidim" (ie over 50%) as proven by survey after survey, do actually work and pay taxes; and their VAT and other taxes are the same as everyone else, I would like to address the main point of the article that - yes the world cup is a massive waste of tax-payers money for a group of grown men running around after a ball, and calling it culture. I'm from England and well recall the drunken brawls over football that I witnessed downtown on Saturday nights. Soccer for a friendly game, yes; soccer as an "idol worship", no!

in all the years Afghanistan was plagued by Taliban government, almost any form of entertainment was forbidden. Including soccer games. Haredim are looking more and more like Talibans. Arab were not able and will be not able to destroy Israel: Haredim will do the job for them. Just look the ominous case of Emanuel haredim mothers. It's a shame that such racist people are allowed to live in Israel.

They are just jealous because other human beings feel happiness at sports. What - they would want all of us to be robots ?

England have a new coach. It will be waiting for them at the airport this afternoon. 'I tried to get Robert Green's autograph after the match, but I couldn't. He kept dropping the pen'. I hope and I'm sure your comments weren't sour grapes. (PS Is there a brochah for sour grapes?)

while the haredim might be considered hypocritical with their addiction to torah and not actually living life by working, sports and other pastimes are a ridiculous waste of time. it's a form of idol worship; people watching others kicking a ball, flouting their ego how people they don't really know winning a match and subsequently "being so proud" of their country. it's intellectually very dumb and superfluous. this is the drug of humanity, but it certainly is nothing "modern", but completely backwards and uneducated useless tripe. but it certainly keeps the dumb masses happy. the romans knew this: "bread and games". it kept the simple people occupied. but who says it's not allowed? everybody is allowed to turn their tv off. it's fun that jews like to be like goyim, being so fervent on something so stupid and useless. it creates emotion and feeling, which is unfortunately totally artificial in the sense that these events have nothing to do with actual life. torah is more useful; it teaches us life and good living. football is just an ego trip, another drug and addiction. and i am secular, and i a just use my computer and play video games so woe is me, i am probably the wrong person to preach. however, if we would focus on the more important, things might progress for the better. spectating sports, though, i could never really understand. the haredi in this case is right. Modernity? Count me out. this is just a big business and everybody is duped by false notions of "modernity". come on people, some thinking would be in order.

this religious group is against just about everything- so why is this a surprise? Does anybody really care about this survey? Nobody is forcing them to watch- and what other- i. a. normal people are watching is none of their business. Are a bunch of black hatted guys protesting for some obscure reason any more interesting than a bunch of men chasing after a ball? Not- less collateral damage for sure.

How many millions of people don't watch soccer and they don't make YNet news.

Firstly, To Israel, i have already been to 7 world cup matches, and I take my big Israeli flag to each one. Moreover, the Brazil Ivory Coast game had more Israeli flags then any other nation not playing ij the world cup (Just thought you would like those facts) seems to me like the whole South African Jewish community goes to every game. We are sad Bafana Bafana is out, but the games must go on. secondly, To the Haridim, i believe that even G-D loves watching these games, from the best seat in the house, the heavens. Its time you mixed with the rest of the world a little, Its great fun. Lastly, keep in eye out for a huge flag in the finals ;)

ynets dreams and aims darling.

I have been waiting 4 years for the World Cup to start, what do I care about those Extreme orthodox people, if they don't wanna put it in the news than it's their problem, it's the biggest sport in the world. And the most fun!!! my brother is in South Africa and having the time of his life there by going to the games and he is religious. So anything wrong with that, I think that the religious people in Israel live in a bubble, like UFO's people, realy sad.

The world cup is NOT a waste of money , not of tax paying people . As far as known to me , such events bring in money to the organising country . Expenses of the teams are paid by the FIFA . I have read that the French team received 7 million Euro , for expenses and bonusses from the FIFA . The winner receives much more . TV broadcasts are paid , certainly for a part , by the publicity . They don't call it culture , it's sport . In England .......no comments needed . Soccer now is a big bussiness , with hundreds of millions involved .

Hi Orange Fan. I went to the Holland vs Denmark game and did see an Observant Dutch Supporter, which made me feel proud. Perhaps that was your brother. He had a brown hair and a brown kippah. I also saw many observant South African baal tshuvas too at that game too.

But, the World Series, the Stanley Cup, the Super Bowl, the NBA Playoffs, those sports kick ass!

You can really pick out the mirserable constipated guys here. The ones that as kids don't want to join in the fun, but dont want anyone else too either. They grow up to become ( talkbacking) self absorbed spoilsports and miseries.

I dont like soccer, but I think international competitions of all kinds, Eurovision, Olympics and such, are a good thing. Once countries fought it out on the battlefield. Now, they have friendly competitions and one country comes out feeling they are the best. People who like these things can watch, those who don't like it can ignore it. It beats fighting real wars.

I don't think watching sports is a waste of time. It is one form of entertainment. Everyone needs a diversion from long days at work. Some people like concerts, plays or movies. Some like sports. There is nothing wrong with it. In the US a lot of Orthodox Jews like baseball.

I am not a football supporter but please don't mix religion and football. If someone enjoys the sport what is wrong with that. Are we not allowed some fun in our lives as well or do we have to have our nose in a book all day. Now days we have many religious people men and women who are keeping Shabbat and playing in sports. I think these people who talk against the world cup should open their eyes and go downtown Jerusalem and see how many or there students are watching the match live on television, thank G-D they have another life as well.

I am not Jewish, but I follow Torah. Do you know about all the Sangomas / african shaman that butchered an ox, and offered it in Soccer city? " Sangomas (African shaman) slaughtered an ox with a spear and cooked the meat over an open fire to bless the stadium and to ensure that South Africa hosts a successful World Cup." Remember after the golden calf the people "got up to play"... I will have no part in this pagan worldly festival.

im brazilian and i like football,and i like god too,im going evry shabat in synagogue ,but football, i thaing that is a very good sport to playng and evry one see the cup here in brazil even the haridim ,even me ,im a woman.