Wacky & Wonderful: Common Football Betting Superstitions Explained

Football Betting Superstitions

Football is a game of fine margins. A toe offside, a keeper blinking at the wrong second or a bad call from the referee can all turn a match on its head.

But for those with money on the match, the margins become even finer.

In sport, gambling is ubiquitous—betting companies' logos are plastered across the stadium, sponsors dominate teams' shirts, and halftime betting adverts are rampant.

In this landscape, football betting superstitions take hold, as punters try to wrestle back control with a range of wacky and wonderful rituals—from unwashed shirts and lucky pants to a specific tea time and sacred accumulator routines.

Common Football Betting Superstitions

There are hundreds, if not thousands, of football betting superstitions out there. Some are passed down through families, others are shared by mates to each other over a pint in a pub, and many are formed by pure coincidence.

But coincidence does not matter to these people; only winning does.

One of the most common examples of ‘betting superstition’ is wearing a lucky piece of clothing. Maybe it’s your team’s shirt from the day you beat your biggest rivals—unwashed ever since, and now a non-negotiable part of every matchday. If you don’t wear it, the voice in your head whispers that your bet won’t come in.

Rational? Absolutely not. But try telling that to someone whose lucky shorts have made his team win five on the bounce!

Another classic football betting superstition is to avoid betting on—or against—your team. Because, naturally, of course, doing so guarantees disaster.

Back them to win, and they’ll lose. Bet against them, and not only will you lose your money, but your dignity too. A no-win situation that sees you slide down the league table and watch your bank balance follow suit.

Apart from standard ‘early kickoff’ stuff, what are your weirdest EFL betting rules? Anything like the below? Any random ‘rules’ or superstitions? https://t.co/h8yFbzyOxQ

— Not The Top 20 Pod (@NTT20Pod) September 27, 2024

Famous Superstition Stories

It is not just you and your mates who have these superstitions; the biggest stars in the game have them as well.

At the 1998 World Cup, Laurent Blanc kissed the head of goalkeeper Fabien Barthez before every match. And it seemed like it worked, as France went on to win every single game and lift their first-ever World Cup trophy!

Maybe next time you put an important bet on, give your bald friend or family member a kiss on the head for good luck!

An even stranger story is that of Gerrie Murhen. The Dutch midfielder had one of the strangest rituals in football. Before every Champions League match—or European Cup as it was known then—he insisted on wearing his teammate Sjaak Swart’s underpants.

Now I am not telling you to go and put on one of your friends' underwear next time you put a large bet on, but Murhen and Swart were both part of the legendary Ajax side that won three successive European Cups.

Superstition or not, something was clearly working.

The Psychology of Betting Rituals

Rituals in betting are not eccentric or just a token of good luck—they tap into something deeper.

Whilst a lucky sock or specific tea time does not truly change any outcome of the match, it allows us to feel in control of the game. If we do our part, the football gods will shine down on us and bless us with a successful bet.

But the issue with ‘feeling in control’ of your bets is that some people can take it too far. If a certain team or type of bet has brought success in the past, some people fall into the trap of chasing that same feeling, placing unnecessary or even reckless bets, convinced their ‘lucky streak’ will continue.

At that point, there is no thought about stats or strategy; it is blind superstition leading the way.

The Football Park Approach

This is where Football Park comes in. Everyone here loves a superstitious bet, but in moderation. Our team, composed of industry-leading experts and former Football League scouts, conducts in-depth research into leagues around the world to find the smartest, most informed bets for you. Lucky shirts are optional—solid research isn’t.

And best of all, it is completely free! View our expert's research football predictions.

Just remember, your safety should always come first when it comes to betting. Enjoy the fun of a lucky ritual, but never let superstition steer you into risky decisions. When the fun stops, stop.