Question Summary:
Is watching football permissible?

Question Detail:

 We live in an age where scholars do not regard watching football either live or on TV as impermissible, nor do they regard it as impermissible to participate in it or promote it on social media. In fact, some belligerently deny that it is Haraam. The most common argument against it not being impermissible to watch is that the awrah according to all Madhabs does not include the knees.
Sometimes thighs are exposed. Whether this is permissible in Madhabs other than Hanafi I am not sure. Please provide a detailed public exposition so that one can understand what is the Shar'i ruling regarding the aforementioned. Is it permissible to watch, participate or promote football. If not, why not? 

Answer :

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.
Watching football has a number of impermissible elements that render it haram.
The Darul Iftaa has previously published a comprehensive answer regarding it. For further details, kindly refer to the following link: http://askimam.org/public/question_detail/24213 
Sohail ibn Arif,
Student Darul Iftaa
Chicago, USA
Checked and Approved by,
Mufti Ebrahim Desai.