Paul Rouse: The relationship between sport and religion both endures and evolves

As well as serving as a broader answer to saving people from drunkenness and debauchery and other acts of impiety, there was also the ambition to use sport to recruit people to active engagement with religion. It made sense for religious organisations to involve themselves when sporting organisations were being founded.

UNITED IN FAITH: Morocco players pray after Yahya Jabrane scored the their first goal against Togo during an African Nations Championships game in Douala. Picture: Daniel Beloumou/AFP via Getty

One of the most interesting aspects of the world of modern sport is its intersection with religion.

This is something that has run across several centuries and is complex (to the point of being contradictory) in all manner of ways.