Sports Memorabilia for Christmas? How About Teeth from Your Favorite Soccer Player?

Just in time for Christmas, iamfanatical.com has announced that they are open for business and selling items that are sure to thrill the sports fan who is bored by autographs and game balls. Their products include kidnapped team flags, items thrown on the field during games, and yes, key chains and other souvenirs made from teeth lost during violence on the field. Though it may provoke images of violence on international soccer fields, sources suggest that passion is more prevalent than violence. The company notes that there are limits.

Their most notable product could be the reason that their announcement says their motto is: "Your pain is our joy, our suffering is your happiness." Other products are divided into "Trophy Products" and "Hate Products," both with a history on the field or in the stadium.

"Hate Products" include items which are probably not "licensed merchandise" as in the U.S., such as toilet paper with the opposing team's crest, stickers to be placed on the bottom of your tires, in your toilet ("wet" version available) or elsewhere, doormats to clean your feet on with the team crest you'd like to defile, and even doggie bones with the crest, so you can enjoy the sight of your favorite ferocious beast chewing on the competition. If you've got some steam to blow off, they also sell boxing bags with the team crest of your opponents.

"Trophy Products:" If you're not of "football hooligan" bent, and would just like to celebrate the team that you support, there are more peaceful options, though not by much. Trophy products include handkerchiefs made from "looted" team flags, objects thrown onto the field (currently only available from the Stadio Olympico in Rome), and of course, the teeth.

Iamfanatical.com reassuringly notes that the teeth are professionally stored and processed for disinfection. After that, it's up to you - necklace, bracelet, keychain - they note that the items are similar to those on the poster for the movie Saw. They don't make any claims about whose teeth they are, other than that they were recovered from the soccer field, and one of the players probably went home to the dentist.

The announcement notes that the company wishes to remove the taint from the term "football hooliganism," though perhaps they just want it changed to "passionate football fan" (football, of course, is the international name for soccer). They say "We want nobody to be ashamed, just because he is willing to give not only his heart, but even his blood for the team he believes in." Although the media reports sensational events at soccer matches, this report from the Football Industry Group at Liverpool University puts the term "football hooligan" in balanced perspective.

So that no one becomes concerned that they support the extremes that some soccer fans go to, sometime even resulting in death, or that they obtain their merchandise from unethical sources, they also note on their site that this is not so. They have their own sources with whom they have had a long-term relationship, and decline others. So, bloodthirsty fans, look elsewhere: "...we do not buy and re-sell anything that might be a result of someone's death, so you better not look for that Lazio-engraved skull or a knife covered in the blood of Atletico fans, you're craving".

It's just a game, after all! Since items are one-of-a-kind by request, they note that you should allow four weeks to ship. They do also offer gift certificates.

http://www.iamfanatical.com
http://www.liv.ac.uk/footballindustry/hooligan.html