Originally Posted by BlazeMaker

I'll happily watch any code of football, but Association Football (soccer) is my favourite. I understand the skills, the rules, and the tactics. All the midfield play and missed attempts are almost as exciting as the goals themselves.

Essentially any game that uses a round ball has the most accurate results based on skill.
I'll happily watch Rugby (union and league) but how many times will there be a "favourable bounce" that is the difference between a try or not. Similarly this is a failing in Australian Rukes football, but at least that's a fast and high scoring game.
Gaelic football and hurling are better for using a round ball.

As for gridiron (American football) that is just too technical and for someone such as myself that does not know the rules, gridiron is interrupted by incomprehensible stoppages that slow everything down.

If you really need a game that requires understanding before any appreciation, try cricket. One test match goes for 5 days and can finish a draw.