You will not kill, you will not hide the ball and it is forbidden to enter the cemetery: apart from these 3 rules, everything was allowed on Tuesday during the traditional “Royal Shrovetide Football”, the craziest “foot-rugby” match in history. the world year in England.

Every year since at least the 12th century, on Shrove Tuesday and Ash Wednesday, Ashbourne, picturesque Derbyshire town, in central England, is divided into two: on the one hand, the upper boys (Up'ards), born north of the River Henmore. On the other, the Down'ards, natives of the south. The two teams, each consisting of several thousand villagers, fight for several hours during the “Royal carnival football”a furious and spectacular fight around a balloon.

The objective of the game is simple: to hit the leather ball filled with cork against the opposing side's millstone. Except that the two stones are 5 km apart and are located on the banks of the river, where the joust inevitably ends. Is a mix of football and rugby before the arrival of menstruation. The only recommendations have not changed for centuries: basically, do not kill, do not hide the ball and do not enter the cemetery. Otherwise, everything is allowed during an outdoor game that is played in the streets, fields, houses and even inside pubs, chasing the ball.

The matter is quite difficult. Every year we have to repair broken ankles and fractured ribs.. But everything takes place in the most perfect spirit of fair play, the participants assure, with their hand on their hearts. The matter is also serious. Some have been training since Christmas to be prepared. Because the scorer of the goal that marks the end of the match is carried triumphantly to the Green Man pub. The game, reminiscent of Soule in France, gained royal label after the 1928 visit of the future King Edward VIII. Prince Charles, a keen follower of rural traditions, made an appearance at Ashbourne in 2003. The match usually starts at 2pm, after the crowd sings “Auld Land Syne” (“It's just goodbye”) and the national anthem “God Save.” The queen”. If no goal is scored, the match will end at 10:00 p.m.