SOAPS used to be postponed for live football. Now the Barcelona-Liverpool clash is being held up so EastEnders' fans can discover who shot Phil Mitchell.

The reaction of Spanish fans must be: 'Que?' Soaps and football share many traits. Both inspire tribal devotion from their fans: just as fervent Everton supporters will be avoiding the match tomorrow, so diehard Street devotees are unmoved by the fuss in Albert Square. Both have their heroes and villains. Both are capable of high drama and low farce.

Tomorrow night's delayed kick-off will prevent a million rows over the remote control while football fans pray that Liverpool's strikers prove to be better marksmen than Phil Mitchell's assailant.

Updated: 10:35 Wednesday, April 04, 2001