“The rules of soccer are very simple, basically it is this: if it moves, kick it. If it doesn’t move, kick it until it does.” This piece of wisdom from soccer legend Phil Woosnam has proven correct many times. Although, recent campaigns for the ball to be made in a “greener” way might create a new aspect to the game. If the ball’s leather (far from genuine these days) was literally green, the controversial Hawk-Eye technology could have troubles locating the ball amidst the different shades of green on the field.

Some plastics manufacturers have been persistent though, and at least parts of the official 2018 World Cup’s “Telstar 18” ball are reportedly green, being made of EPDM with bio-based ethylene extracted from sugar cane. If commentator and ex-England footballer Gary Lineker were asked, neither colour nor material of the match ball ultimately matters because “at the end, the Germans win” anyway.