What is it about soccer that it arouses such passions. To me it is the world’s dullest sport.
Because it is the world's oldest expression of sporting tribalism.
If you look at the great rivalries in the world game (Rangers/Celtic, Manchester United/Liverpool, Real Madrid/Barcelona, Milan/Inter Milan, River Plate/Boca Juniors to name just a few) they all go back hundreds of years to issues that are much older than the sport itself. The football is sometimes a sidelight to age-old arguments.
I have no use for basketball except as played at the high school and low college level. To me, a last-team-with-the-ball-wins sport is dull. And with your screen name, it sounds like you should really enjoy you some calcio.