Do the Ayatollah

Went to watch Cardiff play QPR today. Maybe the most important game of the season. Before the match, Cardiff were lying 2nd in the Championship (with QPR top) and holding the 2nd automatic promotion spot. A win would keep us there. A loss would hand 2nd place back to Norwich.

We drew 2 all.

A great game of football with some world class goals. Couldn't help feeling disappointed after the match though as Cardiff were the better team. And despite earning a point, we've still surrendered our automatic promotion spot to Norwich.

But with three games left to play, anything can happen.

The picture is of the Cardiff fans 'doing the ayatollah' - best viewed large.

The following is from Wikipedia:

'Performing the Ayatollah is done by having both hands flat pointing towards each other raised above your head and repeatedly moving them up and down in a patting motion.

'The Ayatollah celebration came into use at Cardiff City games in 1990. It was originally performed by the singer and fans of a Welsh-language punk group called U Thant. It was first performed by Cardiff City fans at Sincil Bank, home of Lincoln City, on September 15, 1990, the day after U Thant had played a gig at Cardiff's Chapter Arts Centre. U Thant's singer had been inspired by footage of attendants at the funeral of Ayatollah Khomeini, which was broadcast live on British TV, doing the movement to express their grief at his death.

'It has been claimed that it was initially used as a sign of despair at the way the team were playing. It quickly became very popular with fans of the club and has since been used in terms of celebration and support for the team. Away games at Hereford United and Peterborough United in 1992 helped cement its place in the fans repertoire.

'The start of the Ayatollah has often mistakenly been credited to former chairman Sam Hammam. This is likely due to the national coverage of Hammam performing the celebration pitchside and in front of the visiting Leeds fans, drawing criticism from then-Leeds manager David O'Leary, the Football Association and a BBC undercover report, following the now infamous 2-1 victory over Leeds United in the third round of the FA Cup in 2002 which saw crowd trouble after the final whistle.

'The Ayatollah is now performed by the supporters of Cardiff City and ULFC at every match. During matches players performing well in the game or players who have just been brought on during the match are called to "Do the Ayatollah". Other people in the ground are also often called on to perform the move including the team's manager, away fans, former players on opposing sides (although managers of the teams have strongly discouraged it so it is rarely performed) and police officers on duty at the match.'