Is football more than a sport? Technically no, but the way
in which it has the ability to affect people’s lives is nothing short of
spectacular. Soccer is considered as more of a religion than a just simple game
in many parts of the world, mainly areas in South America and Europe. What
amazes me, specifically, is how people are able to unite through football. What
is equally amazing, though, is the power it has to create immense tensions and
diversions between people, and even cultures as a whole.
So, how powerful is the most popular sport on Earth?
The ‘global game’ spans culturally diverse societies in all
continents and, according to Giulianotti and Robertson, an estimated 250
million people are direct participants and around 1.4 billion have an interest
as of 2004. This number even seems pretty small to me, and I can only assume
that these numbers have increased substantially in ten years, creating an even
larger international “culture” based around football.
One example of how people from all over the world have connected
is through the support of specific teams, especially teams from outside of
their country. Clubs such as Manchester United, Juventus, and Bayern Munich are
all examples of clubs that have developed large international fan groups, essentially
creating subcultures in the world of football. This is perhaps one of the most
obvious forms of unity that football can provide to society as I am sure all of
you have noticed someone wearing one of these jerseys mentioned.
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| http://sports.nationalpost.com/2012/06/09/russia-fans-involved-in-string-of-fights-on-first-day-of-euro-2012/ |
There is a lot of diversion between clubs such as these, as well. Frankiln Foer explains some very intense feuds (to say the least) in his book “How Soccer Explains the World: An Unlikely Theory of Globalization.” By analyzing, infiltrating, and interviewing some of Belgrade’s most committed football fans, Foer was able to uncover the very detailed workings and outcomes of some very violent acts, fueled by the allegiances of fans to teams such as The Red Stars. If murder and other acts of violence for the sake of football don’t show division between groups of people, I don’t know what does.
“Glocalization” is a
term used by Richard Giulianotti and Roland Robertson to describe how local
cultures adapt and redefine any global cultural product to suit their particular
needs, beliefs and customs. I don’t know about you, but this term screams out “football”
to me. Some countries such as Australia even redefined football into a
completely separate sport, forming new rules and regulations to form “Australian
Football.” Rugby is also derived from soccer, formed in the late 1800’s by
upperclassmen in England to distinguish themselves from the lower class who
primarily played football due to how simple and cheap it was to play.
The use of football for glocalization is happening every
day! Right now in Brazil, for example, the entire country is boasting its
football prestige and infatuation with the sport (although not shared by
everyone) by creating arguably the grandest World Cup tournament yet. The World
Cup is being used as a means to show the world what a powerful and prosperous
country it has become over the years, and the potential it has to become even
greater. Brazil is accenting and implanting as many Brazilian traditions and
customs into the tournament as it can, mainly through the use of media
(commercials, etc.). I also see this as an attempt to unite the country to form
a more powerful force that will hopefully propel Brazil into a better economic future.
The country’s complete devotion to this tournament is also creating
an immense amount of tension within the country, too, due to the current
economic status of the country. It is creating the argument of how this money
should be spent elsewhere in things such as the poor education system, healthcare
system, etc. Brazilian people are even regretting cheering for their beloved
national team due to the current status of their country. A song named “Desculpa
Neymar” (translated to “Sorry Neymar” and a link is posted below) is a perfect
example of this point. The singer is essentially apologizing to Neymar, the
most publicized player on Brazil’s national team, and other players about how
they would love to be able to cheer for the team but can’t as it means that, in
turn, the team’s success is tainted with the removal of funds available for
necessary public services.
This tension is actually creating a greater divide, at
times, between the people of Brazil; the very devoted fans excited for the
presence of the World Cup and the people who see it as a burden and hindrance
on the country. It is also accentuating the infamous class differences in
Brazil, placing more focus on how the wealthier minority of Brazil can afford
what the majority of Brazil can’t, such as proper education and healthcare.
International tournaments (such as the World Cup) are
amazing examples of globalization and glocalization. As Giulianotti and
Robertson state, “At major international tournaments, thousands of people from
different supporter groups commingle, with each nation displaying distinctive
kinds of dress, song, music and patterns of behaviour (such as in their
relations with local people, other supporter groups, and the various security
forces).”
Another example of how football can be used to bring people
together is in the sport-development programs that I was able to help in
recently. Here, I, along with several of my Canadian friends and colleagues,
joined a couple sport development programs where we donated soccer equipment to
the local children in favelas, as well as provided them with nutritious meals
and an afternoon of playing football and other activities. Even though my Portuguese
is very limited, making it difficult for me at times to communicate with the
locals, football provided a very effective medium for us to communicate with
each other and allowed us to develop
relationships that would have otherwise been very difficult. I am not saying that I created life-long friends only by playing football with these people and having this one common interest, but it allowed for me to gain enough of their trust that they were, at the very least, comfortable with my presence. I also believe that if I were to consistently go and play football with these individuals, as well, the possibility of gaining more meaningful relationships would be much easier.
relationships that would have otherwise been very difficult. I am not saying that I created life-long friends only by playing football with these people and having this one common interest, but it allowed for me to gain enough of their trust that they were, at the very least, comfortable with my presence. I also believe that if I were to consistently go and play football with these individuals, as well, the possibility of gaining more meaningful relationships would be much easier.
At the end of one of the programs, as well, I noticed two
people walking through the street and looking around. I greeted them and it
turned out that they were from Australia and in the favela simply because they
heard about this event through social media. I was instantly taken aback when I
heard where these guys were from because it just hit me how huge a simple idea
stemming from football can become.
I find football to be much more uniting than dividing. Maybe this is become i am looking at the sport too optimistically, or maybe it is because I am not completely devoted to a specific team and
am therefore more of a fan of the sport in general. Don't get me wrong, I am completely aware of the feuds and segregation between populations due to football and the sometimes even fatal results of them. I have also been able to witness some very heartwarming acts of sportsmanship and camaraderie in and because of football. Football has personally given me some of the most and best opportunities
to meet people and form relationships from all over the world. I am not saying
that football automatically unites or divides people, because really how can a
sport alone do that? The point that I am trying to make is that football
provides one of the greatest foundations for opportunities such as these, as the sport is so well-known
and so adored across the world.
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