List of sports rivalries

Fans separated at an Old Firm derby in Glasgow, Scotland

A sports rivalry is intense competition between athletic teams or athletes, affecting participants, management, and supporters all to varying degrees.

One of the first known sports rivalries occurred in the Roman Empire between the Blues and the Greens, and the minor teams of the Reds and Whites, each of which were chariot racing clubs competing at the Hippodrome in Constantinople. The rivalry took on political tones as well, coming close to deposing the Roman Emperor Justinian in 532 CE in a riot and the suppression of the riot killed tens of thousands of people.

Owners have been known to encourage rivalries as they tend to improve game attendance and television ratings for rivalry matches. Clubs can reduce fan aggression surrounding rivalry games by acknowledging rather than downplaying the conflict because the rivalry is an integral part of fan identity.

Games between two rivals that are based in areas of close geographical proximity are often known as a local derby, or simply just a derby (UK: /ˈdɑːrbi/ DAR-bee, US: /ˈdɜːrbi/ DUR-bee); a sporting event between two teams from the same town, city or region. In modern usage the term is usually connected with association football and the media and supporters will often refer to this fixture as "Derby Day". However, and unsurprisingly, the first recorded use of the term was to refer to major provincial horse races from a time when the Epsom Derby, was not only England’s major sporting event but also a huge social occasion.

For example, the Western Times, 2 June 1860, refers to a race meeting at Haldon, Exeter, as their "local Derby Day." The Hull Packet, 31 May 1861, calls the Beverley, Hull and East Riding Races "our local Derby." It would appear that the term was already in use elsewhere in the world - The Ballarat Star (Victoria, Australia), 6 December 1860 edition, mentions that races in Dowling Forest were "the local Derby day."

The metaphor evidently seeped into common usage, as non-racing events also earned the epithet. An athletic club fete in Croydon (Norwood News, 22 May 1869), a rowing regatta at Bathgate, Scotland (Lothian Courier, 26 September 1874) and even a hotly-contested local government election (Croydon Advertiser, 27 February 1875) were all described as a local Derby.

As club football (Rugby and Association codes) gained popularity in the 1870s and 1880s the phrase migrated to that pastime. The Preston Herald of 14 March 1883 said of a fixture between Low Moor and Clitheroe that "when it becomes known that the clubs are likely to meet, popular feeling runs high - so high, in fact, that the occasional is recognised as the local Derby day".

The Epsom Derby being an annual event, early usage tended to refer only to the biggest occasion of the year in a certain location - the Widnes Weekly News (16 March 1889) was moved to describe a match between Widnes FC and the touring New Zealand Native touring rugby team as "the great day of the season at Widnes - the local Derby." However, in football terms, the emphasis in the phrase had already shifted from the Derby aspect (a red letter day in the sporting or social calendar) to the local element - any football match involving nearby clubs, no matter how relatively unimportant the fixture might otherwise be. Hence the Burnley Express (15 December 1888) felt able to report that "for three weeks in succession the Langroyd team will be engaged in local "Derbies." First of all, Union Star; then Nelson, at Seed Hill; and afterwards Brierfield at Colne."

In rugby football, an early example of the term for that code appears in the Wigan Observer of 11 December 1885 which noted that "the local "Derby" in the football circles of Pemberton was brought off on Saturday last, when Highfield and Pemberton met."

Since at least as early as 1840 'derby' has been used as a noun in English to denote any kind of sporting contest. Other names for derbies include Clásicos in certain parts of the world and crosstown rivalries in the United States.

The intensity of the rivalry can range anywhere from a light hearted banter to serious violence. A rivalry that gets out of control can lead to fighting, hooliganism, rioting and some instances with career-ending and even fatal consequences. In the "Football War", along with other factors, it was suggested to have been the tipping point in leading to military conflicts.

Rivalries do not always stem from the sharing of an area. Hostilities can occur for different reasons, such as in the case of El Clásico with tensions between fans with a background of political differences. Frequent meetings in important games between teams can also lead to unpleasantries.

International rivalries

Association football

Athletics

Individual

Team

Australian rules football

Badminton

Individuals

International

Bandy

In Swedish bandy, derby games are often played on Saint Stephen's Day.

Baseball

Dominican Republic

Dominican Professional Baseball League

Águilas Cibaeñas from Santiago de los Caballeros vs. Tigres del Licey from Santo Domingo on a game named “El Clásico Dominicano.”
Santo Domingo rivals: Leones del Escogido vs. Tigres del Licey

Japan

Nippon Professional Baseball

Central League

Yomiuri Giants vs. Hanshin Tigers on a game named "The Classic Series" (伝統の一戦 in Japanese).
Yomiuri Giants vs. Tokyo Yakult Swallows on a game named "Tokyo Series".

Pacific League

Mixture

Hanshin Tigers vs. Orix Buffaloes on a game named "Kansai Derby".

South Korea

KBO League

KIA Tigers vs. Samsung Lions on a game named "88 Expressway Series".
Doosan Bears vs. LG Twins on a game named "Jamsil Series".
Lotte Giants vs. NC Dinos on a game named "Nakdonggang Derby".
Kiwoom Heroes vs. Doosan Bears or LG Twins on a game named "Seoul Series".

Taiwan

Chinese Professional Baseball League

CTBC Brothers vs. Wei Chuan Dragons on a game named "Dragon–Elephant Derby" (龍象大戰 in Chinese).
CTBC Brothers vs. Fubon Guardians on a game named "Bank holding Derby" (金控大戰 in Chinese).

Mexico

Mexican Baseball League

Diablos Rojos del México (Mexico City Red Devils) vs. Tigres de Quintana Roo (Tigers) on a game named "Civil War Derby" ("Guerra Civil" in Spanish).
Saraperos de Saltillo (Saltillo Sarapemakers) vs. Vaqueros Laguna (Torreon Lagoon Cowboys) on a game named "Coahuila's Metropolitan Derby" ("Clásico metropolitano de Coahuila" in Spanish).
Pericos de Puebla (Puebla Parrots) vs. Rojos del Águila de Veracruz (Veracruz Red Eagles) on a game named "Center rivalry" ("Rivalidad del centro" in Spanish).
Diablos Rojos del México (Mexico City Red Devils) vs. Péricos de Puebla (Puebla Parrots) on a game named "Anahuac Derby" ("Clásico de Ánahuac" in Spanish).
Saraperos de Saltillo (Saltillo Sarapemakers) vs. Sultanes de Monterrey (Monterrey Sultans) on a game named "North of Mexico Derby" ("Clásico del Norte" in Spanish).

Mexican Pacific League

Naranjeros de Hermosillo (Hermosillo Orange Growers) vs. Tomateros de Culiacán (Culiacan Tomato Growers) on a game named "Derby of the Pacific Coast" ("Clásico del Pacífico" in Spanish).
Charros de Jalisco (Jalisco Charros) vs. Venados de Mazatlán (Mazatlan Deers) on a game named "Rivalry of the west" ("Rivalidad de Occidente" in Spanish).

United States/Canada

Major League Baseball

Minor League Baseball

Mercer Cup: Bluefield Blue Jays vs. Princeton Rays

Venezuela

Venezuelan Professional Baseball League

Basketball

Argentina

Ferro Carril Oeste vs Atenas
San Lorenzo vs Ferro Carril Oeste
San Lorenzo vs Boca Juniors
G.E.P.U. vs Atenas
Clásico porteño: Obras vs Ferro Carril Oeste
Argentinian derby: Peñarol vs Quilmes
Córdoba Derby: Atenas vs Instituto
San Nicolás derby: Belgrano vs Regatas
Bahía Blanca derby: Estudiantes (BB) vs Olimpo
Corrientes derby: Regatas Corrientes vs San Martín
Santiago del Estero derby: Club Ciclista Olímpico vs Quimsa
Sunchales derby: Libertad vs Unión de Sunchales
Santa Fe derby: Colón vs Unión
- This is also a football rivalry.
General Pico derby: Independiente vs Pico Football Club
La Pampa derby: All Boys (SR) vs Estudiantes (SR)
Paraná derby: Atlético Echagüe vs Juventud Sionista
Firmat derby: Argentino (F) vs Firmat Foot Ball Club
Junín derby: Argentino de Junín vs Club Ciclista Juninense
Tres Arroyos derby: Huracán de Tres Arroyos vs Costa Sud
Comodoro Rivadavia derby: Gimnasia (CR) vs Federación Deportiva
Pergamino derby: Gimnasia (P) vs Argentino (P)
Clásico de la Comarca: Deportivo Viedma vs Atenas de Patagones
Clásico Uruguayense: Tomás de Rocamora vs Parque Sur

Australia

The Derby of Distance: Perth Wildcats vs New Zealand Breakers
- Although this rivalry is actually an international rivalry, it plays out within the Australia-based National Basketball League. The Breakers have been an NBL member from the league's formation.
Melbourne United vs Sydney Kings

Croatia

Croatian Derby: Cibona vs Split
Classic derby: Cibona vs. Zadar

China

Northeastern Derby: Liaoning Flying Leopards vs Jilin Northeast Tigers
Beijing Derby: Beijing Ducks vs Beijing Royal Fighters
Chinese Classic: Beijing Ducks vs Guangdong Southern Tigers
Derby of Champions: Liaoning Flying Leopards vs Guangdong Southern Tigers
Battle of the Dynasties: Bayi Rockets vs Guangdong Southern Tigers
Guangdong Derby: Shenzhen Leopards vs Guangdong Southern Tigers
Xinjiang Flying Tigers vs Guangdong Southern Tigers

Guangdong has 11 CBA league titles, more than any other team in history, so it is very evident that they would have a lot of rivalries within the CBA.

France

Le Classique: Pau-Orthez vs Limoges
Greater Paris Derby: Nanterre vs Metropolitans 92
Alsace-Lorraine Derby: Nancy vs Strasbourg

Germany

German Classic: Alba Berlin vs Bayern Munich vs Brose Bamberg

Greece

Derby of the eternal enemies: Panathinaikos vs. Olympiacos
Derby of Northern Greece: Aris vs. PAOK

Hong Kong

These are active Hong Kong A1 rivalries:

Derby of Classics: South China vs. Winling
South-East Clash: Eastern vs. South China
Winling-Eastern Rivalry: Winling vs. Eastern

These are high school sports rivalries, but are primarily contested in basketball:

Diocesan Boys School vs. Ying Wa College

Lebanon

Derby Beirut: Al Riyadi vs Sagesse

Lithuania

Rytas vs Žalgiris

North Macedonia

Skopje basketball derby: Rabotnički vs. MZT Skopje

Philippines

Philippine Basketball Association

SMC–MVP rivalry: Teams under the San Miguel Corporation vs. Teams under the Manny V. Pangilinan Group
Manila Clasico: Magnolia vs. Barangay Ginebra
Sibling Rivalry: San Miguel vs. Barangay Ginebra
Barangay Ginebra vs Meralco (Ginebra–Meralco rivalry)
TNT vs Barangay Ginebra
Magnolia vs. Rain or Shine

Historical

Crispa Redmanizers vs. Toyota

Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League

College basketball

UAAP

NCAA Philippines

Arellano vs. San Beda (Arellano–San Beda rivalry)
Battle of Intramuros
- Letran vs. Lyceum
- Letran vs. Mapúa
- Lyceum vs. Mapúa
JRU vs. San Sebastian (JRU–San Sebastian rivalry)
San Beda vs. Letran (San Beda–Letran rivalry)
San Beda vs. Perpetual (San Beda–Perpetual rivalry)
San Beda vs. San Sebastian (San Beda–San Sebastian rivalry)
San Sebastian vs. Letran (San Sebastian–Letran rivalry)

CESAFI

UC vs. UV

Poland

Russia

Moscow derby: Khimki vs CSKA Moscow
Moscow region derby: Khimki Moscow vs. Triumph Lyubertsy
Volga derby: BC Nizhny Novgorod vs. BC Krasny Oktyabr

Slovenia

Slovenian Classic: Krka vs Olimpija

Serbia

Eternal Derby: Crvena zvezda vs. Partizan

Spain

El Clásico: Barcelona vs. Real Madrid
Basque derby: Baskonia vs. Bilbao, can also include GBC
Canary Islands derby: Canarias vs Gran Canaria
Madrid derby: Real Madrid vs Estudiantes
Catalan derby: Joventut vs Barcelona
Andalusian derby: Málaga vs Real Betis
Galician derby: Obradoiro vs Breogán, can also include Ourense or Coruña

Taiwan

Taiwan Professional Basketball League

New Taipei Series (Xinzhuang Derby): New Taipei CTBC DEA vs New Taipei Kings

Turkey

Istanbul Derby: Galatasaray vs Fenerbahçe, can also include Darüşşafaka, Anadolu Efes, Istanbul BB and Beşiktaş
Ankara Derby: Türk Telekom vs TED Ankara Kolejliler

United Kingdom

United States and Canada

National Basketball Association

Individual

International

Domestic

Australia

Bangladesh

England

India

New Zealand

Pakistan

Individual

College football

Mexico

ONEFA/CONADEIP (National College Association of American Football/National College Sports Commission of Private Institutions)

Clásico Estudiantil (Student Derby): Pumas Dorados de la UNAM vs Águilas Blancas del IPN
Clásico Estudiantil Regiomontano (Monterrey's Student Derby): Borregos Salvajes ITESM vs Auténticos Tigres

United States

Canada

Panda Game: University of Ottawa Gee-Gees versus Carleton University Ravens
Shrum Bowl : University of British Columbia Thunderbirds versus Simon Fraser University Clan

Austria

Bregenz derby: Bregenz Handball vs. Alpla HC Hard

Belarus

Minsk derbies: Dinamo Minsk vs. SKA Minsk vs. Arkatron Minsk

Belgium

Liège derbies:
- ROC Flémalle vs. Union Beynoise
- ROC Flémalle vs. Jeunesse Jemeppe (previously vs. Progrès HC Seraing).
- Union Beynoise vs. HC Herstal.
- JS Herstal vs. HC Herstal.
- Union Beynoise vs. HC Visé BM.
Germanophone derby : HC Eynatten-Raeren vs. KTSV Eupen 1889
Limburg derbies: HB Sint-Truiden vs. Initia HC Hasselt vs. United HC Tongeren vs. Achilles Bocholt vs. Sporting Neerpelt-Lommel vs. Kreasa HB Houthalen vs. DHC Meeuwen.
Antwerp derbies: KV Sasja HC Hoboken vs. Olse Merksem HC vs. DHW Antwerpen vs. HV Uilenspiegel Wilrijk.
Hainuyé derby: EHC Tournai vs. Entente du Centre CLH
Flanders derby: HC DB Gent vs. HKW Waasmunster
Brussels derby: HC Kraainem vs. United Brussels HC
Charleroi derby: SHC Mont-sur-Marchienne vs. HBC Charleroi-Ransart