As I mentioned a couple of weeks ago, I got really into soccer-football during this World Cup. I've never been into it at all before, but I quickly learned the rules, something about the different teams, and now I'm a bonafide fan. Enough that I was physical jumping up and down with excitement when I learned that Fox's Soccer Channel is part of our existing cable package.
No sooner do I become a fan, though, than I become a disillusioned fan. And no, this is not about Zidane. Well, it's partially about Zidane, I guess, but it's a much bigger issue.
I heard murmurs of racism problems in international soccer, and of violence on and off the pitch that was somehow tied to this racism and scary nationalist attitudes, but it wasn't something I gave much thought to before the final game and Zidane's infamous headbutt. Thinking about it, though, Zidane's reaction to whatever his opponent said (and I don't believe for a minute it was something benign) was only the pinnacle, the most visible example of nastiness and racism and violence that plagued what was otherwise a very cool World Cup.
I wrote before about how bothered I was by the fat-bashing directed at Brazil's Ronaldo. That's one example of the off-pitch hatred in this world cup, both within national/team units and between them. The extremely loud booing that could be heard from the stands whenever Portugal's Christian Ronaldo got the ball is another example. I understand that he's an irritating prima dona, and I agree, but was that really necessary? Every time? And what about Italy's de Rossi bashing Sam McBride's face in the U.S.-Italy game? The famous Wayne Rooney nut-crushing? Totti's spitting in an opponent's face? Can you imagine the kind of words that went along with these actions, both by the penalized perpetrators and by the "victims"? Given the reputation soccer has earned for extreme racism, how many of these physical outbursts, and others like them, were provoked by racist language? And how much racism was there that didn't even provoke violence?
Going back to Zidane, an Algerian Frenchman, as well as one of the minority of light-skinned players on the French team, it's not hard to imagine the things that could have been said to him by his Italian opponent or any other opponent. Does this excuse his violent behavior? Probably not, but it's not hard to imagine how it comes about in that kind of environment.
Pele called soccer "the beautiful game," and is held up as the shining example of the pure, joyous game exemplified by Brazilian players. Yet Pele himself broke two opponents' legs during his career in the 60s and 70s, implying that the problems of racism and violence in soccer are anything but a new development.
The two things I really loved about the World Cup are the internationalism and the non-celebrity joy in the game. As an American, accustomed to men's professional sports being about money, attitude, and endorsements more than any sort of game, seeing people play for what seemed to be, at least in part, the love of the game, was incredibly refreshing. The nationalist nature of the tournament didn't even bother me, and I'm someone who is icked out by the Olympics. But it seems that all of that is fragile, given both the individual attitudes of players who have achieved celebrity status (generally by their places on club teams) and by the rampant racism to which players and fans are subject, and which both fans and players exhibit. As beautiful as the game clearly is, the beauty is fragile, and must be protected. I wish Zidane had been better able to protect it. I have faith, though, both in Zidane's post-retirement career, and in the crop of young players that shone so brightly during this cup. It's clear that these players have work to do both on and off the pitch to protect their game, and I hope they do it. Having caught on to soccer so late, I'd hate to be paying attention only to its decline.
My regard to 3quarksdaily for helping me get my thoughts on this together.
Comments (5)
when you mentioned racism re: soccer, i initially thought you meant by fans on other fans, which i guess is a huge problem too. in a sport where western europe used to be the rulers (ha), i assume the italian team has probably faced a lot of racism too. i wonder--i don't know enough about it. i guess my thought is all competitive sports have bashing--"your momma" type stuff as part of the competition. i think it always will. where do we draw that line? i mean i am sure a majority of it is about being gay too. I don't necessarily have a problem with people insulting each other in offensive private ways in sports. 1. because there's no way to regulate it and 2. mainly because i don't think it will work. sports dudes call each other fags. it's sort of the nature of sports. i guess in this country though, we have less of an issue since there aren't thousand year drama over obviously different color teams. yay one racial drama the us has escaped! i don't really care about soccer, but i did enjoy mocking my french coworker. :) perhaps that's the italian in me.
Posted by triumphantly, jenny | July 12, 2006 3:04 PM
I'm sure there is some level of anti-Italian racism as well, Jenny. I hadn't much thought about that. Interesting. Another interesting thing is the "national" makeup of the teams, given that they are ostensibly all of the same nation. The Spanish and Italian teams are basically all "white." The French team is majority "black." There are several "black" players on the English team. I don't think there are any from Portugal. The South American teams tend to have a fairly wide spectrum of color. Part of this almost certainly has to do with the levels of immigrant to given countries, as well as with colonial histories, but I wonder if that explains it all?
Posted by Grace | July 12, 2006 5:10 PM
As an American, accustomed to men's professional sports being about money, attitude, and endorsements more than any sort of game, seeing people play for what seemed to be, at least in part, the love of the game, was incredibly refreshing.
This is definitely an American perspective on football. It's, you know, a pretty big deal everywhere else, and comes with the attendant money, endorsement, and big-business issues that you see surrounding the NFL or NBA. There's a reason the show "Fooballers Wive$" exists. Read up on the Italian bribe scandal.
Posted by Anonymous | July 13, 2006 1:15 PM
"i guess my thought is all competitive sports have bashing--"your momma" type stuff as part of the competition. i think it always will. where do we draw that line? I don't necessarily have a problem with people insulting each other in offensive private ways in sports. 1. because there's no way toregulate it and 2. mainly because i don't think it will work. sports dudes call each other fags. it's sort of the nature of sports." I've read many analyses along this line since Sunday's final and find it problematic. It's legitimate to ask where we should draw the line in sporting insults, but it seems to me that the line is always drawn to permit insults directed at women. Why are we supposed to write off remarks calling someone's mother and/ or sister a prostitute (and it seems Materazzi had indeed said something along those lines) as "only" a "yo mama joke," and why are only race-directed insults considered a grave offense? Without downplaying the gravity of racism in football, of course, why are only race-related insults taken seriously and not gender-related ones? I also find it telling that Materazzi chose to insult the women in Zidane's family, rather than simply insulting Zidane himself directly. Just because such player-to-player remarks cannot easily be regulated doesn't mean that we shouldn't speak up in our criticism. By speaking up, we send the message that no, it's not ok to make insulting remarks about women on the pitch, just as it's not ok to make racist ones on the pitch. AO - I'm a newly-converted football addict too :) What are you planning to watch now? I don't think I get any channels right now in the U.S., but thankfully I'm moving to Asia soon where apparently ESPN International shows many of the club games.
Posted by Anais | July 13, 2006 1:59 PM
Grace, do you know about these folks? http://www.kickitout.org/index.php
Posted by Anna Phor | July 14, 2006 4:52 PM