As part of 'Solidarity or Solo', a third year research and design project for Graphic Design students at the Royal Academy of Art (KABK) in The Hague, Dutch designers Menno de Brujin and Kasper Pyndt have created Europe Utd, a book that investigates the less publicised, dark side of the beautiful game. The duo describe the album as "a book about football, but not about the game."

Designed around a collection of some of the most iconic and infamous images in football history, Europe Utd explores the universal themes of identity, politics, economy, ideology, migration, religion, race, self expression, sexuality and violence. The book contains the full spectrum of footy-related controversy from arguably Europe's most suspect chairman Silvio Burlusconi to Robbie Fowler's line snorting antics in response to Everton fan's drug accusations.  

It's interesting to see the deeper cultural implications of a subject that so many see purely as entertainment as well as being another example of printed media being used to explore unconventional subject matters. It also goes to show the creative potential in sports journalism, whilst providing a more informed offering for the perspicacious football fan.