[I wrote this blog before Christmas but have only just got round to posting it. Apologies for the slightly less than topical nature (not to mention its essay like length), although Blatter's recently revealed intention to establish an anti-corruption commitee at FIFA has prompted more debate of some of the issues]
A while back, it was proposed by my good friend Gareth (@tokyobeatbox) Watts, that an interesting topic for a blog might involve trying to answer something along the lines of the following question....
The question was prompted by a number of well documented scandals regarding high-profile superstars of the English game.
From the philandering of John Terry - consequently losing his position as England captain - to the 'expolits' of players such as Andy Carroll, Steven Gerrard, Joey Barton et al.
However, at the time it was posed, I could see how, despite possible caveats, I would ultimately argue the dubious actions of individuals - even though they admittedly appeared to be increasingly widespread - should not deter from the appreciation of the wider beauty of the fundamentals of the game.
Since then, there have been a couple of significant incidents that make me question that view.
First on the rap sheet, one Wayne Rooney - and not for his otherwise dubious granny-gabbing, nor his wider penchant for 'playing away' - who, in this blogger's eyes, did far more to undermine the integrity of the game than any of the previously highlighted suspects.
His, and his agent's, unethical tactics in renegotiating the terms of his contract with Manchester United were, quite frankly, beyond the pail.
Insisting he wanted out of the club, he then performed the swiftest u-turn since Nick Clegg on tuition fees, and, with the most lucrative weekly wage in English football assuredly in his pocket, implored fans that he had received the necessary reassurances from the club consequently convincing him to stay.
Now I'm not naive enough to believe that such under-hand money grabbing tactics haven't taken place before in football, but never has it been so blatantly to the disrepect of the fans, worse still, it seems to have set a precedent for other agents to follow.
We have seen Manchester City's Carlos Tevez, club captain no less, pretending he desired to leave for Argentina, citing homesickness as his cause, only to withdraw his transfer request when offered a new contract.
Unfortunately, clubs are setting themselves up for more widespread use of this tactic in the future. Would Cloughie, Revie, Shankly, Busby et al have stood for it? I'm still surprised that Fergie did! 'No one player is bigger than the team' - an adage I still believe in as a fan but sadly, it seems, the Managers and Directors of our clubs have less time for.
Yet, it's not Directors, Managers, Players or even Agents that take this commentator's shitiest of shitty biscuits....
Sepp Blatter signs off FIFA's mission statement, proudly displayed on their most corporate of websites, with the following....
In handing the 2022 World Cup to Qatar, I would suggest that FIFA has, at worst, fully undermined any integrity the above statement might have, and, at best, grossly over-estimated the influence it can have on the governments, peoples, and belief systems of the world.
Qatar is a nation fraught with social problems, which, FIFA would argue, is the very reason the World Cup should go there. However, what, in reality, can FIFA hope to achieve in the few weeks the circus comes to town?
Is it not better to reward those countries who have freed themselves from tyranny? Could the World Cup not act as an incentive, financial or otherwise? Surely that was the case with South Africa and, in a different manner entirely, Germany. Both were nations with troubled pasts, screaming out to showcase their new found 'unity' and 'social responsibility', an opportunity to rid themselves of a global image that no longer relflected reality.
With Qatar, this is simply not the case, and were Sepp Blatter not to betray his mission statement by making disrespectful comments regarding the activities of homosexuals, you might simply be able to disregard the move as a delusion of grandeur. The fact Qatar is one of the richest countries in the world however, leads to more sinister accusations.
So, returning to the question posed at the beginning of this blog - Do I really want to encourage my child to idolise people who are, in their various guises, corrupt, greedy, adulterous and violent?
It's a tough, tough one to call, but as with this year's revelations about the Catholic Church and the harm it has caused to the image of those with a belief in God (I don't think the horrendous actions of Catholicism should necessarily prevent people idolising the 'true' concept of God; similarly, I believe in the ideal of communism, but I accept that the reality is unworkable); undoubtedly, the ill intentions of those that follow an ideal shouldn't necessarily mean that, as a concept, that ideal has no value.
And so therefore, do I neither feel that corruption in football, no matter how widespread, should prevent our youngsters from believing in the true joy that competing in such a wonderful sport can bring. Its lessons of accepting victory and defeat with grace can't be overvalued and an appreciation that sport, like art, can be truly life-affirming is a precious thing indeed.
As George grows up, I have to hope that, should he take an interest, he will see the dividing line between the good and the evil in football. As his father, I will have to simply trust his judgement.
I suppose you could call it the gift of free will.
***
A while back, it was proposed by my good friend Gareth (@tokyobeatbox) Watts, that an interesting topic for a blog might involve trying to answer something along the lines of the following question....
How low would the state of football, and the actions of footballers in particular, have to stoop before you would prefer not to promote an interest in the game in your own son?
I'll let that digest for a moment....
The question was prompted by a number of well documented scandals regarding high-profile superstars of the English game.
From the philandering of John Terry - consequently losing his position as England captain - to the 'expolits' of players such as Andy Carroll, Steven Gerrard, Joey Barton et al.
However, at the time it was posed, I could see how, despite possible caveats, I would ultimately argue the dubious actions of individuals - even though they admittedly appeared to be increasingly widespread - should not deter from the appreciation of the wider beauty of the fundamentals of the game.
Since then, there have been a couple of significant incidents that make me question that view.
First on the rap sheet, one Wayne Rooney - and not for his otherwise dubious granny-gabbing, nor his wider penchant for 'playing away' - who, in this blogger's eyes, did far more to undermine the integrity of the game than any of the previously highlighted suspects.
His, and his agent's, unethical tactics in renegotiating the terms of his contract with Manchester United were, quite frankly, beyond the pail.
Insisting he wanted out of the club, he then performed the swiftest u-turn since Nick Clegg on tuition fees, and, with the most lucrative weekly wage in English football assuredly in his pocket, implored fans that he had received the necessary reassurances from the club consequently convincing him to stay.
Now I'm not naive enough to believe that such under-hand money grabbing tactics haven't taken place before in football, but never has it been so blatantly to the disrepect of the fans, worse still, it seems to have set a precedent for other agents to follow.
We have seen Manchester City's Carlos Tevez, club captain no less, pretending he desired to leave for Argentina, citing homesickness as his cause, only to withdraw his transfer request when offered a new contract.
Unfortunately, clubs are setting themselves up for more widespread use of this tactic in the future. Would Cloughie, Revie, Shankly, Busby et al have stood for it? I'm still surprised that Fergie did! 'No one player is bigger than the team' - an adage I still believe in as a fan but sadly, it seems, the Managers and Directors of our clubs have less time for.
Yet, it's not Directors, Managers, Players or even Agents that take this commentator's shitiest of shitty biscuits....
Sepp Blatter signs off FIFA's mission statement, proudly displayed on their most corporate of websites, with the following....
"We see it as our duty to take on the social responsibility that comes hand in hand with our position at the helm of the world's most loved sport.
Join us in uniting forces to develop the game, touch the world and build a better future!"
In handing the 2022 World Cup to Qatar, I would suggest that FIFA has, at worst, fully undermined any integrity the above statement might have, and, at best, grossly over-estimated the influence it can have on the governments, peoples, and belief systems of the world.
Qatar is a nation fraught with social problems, which, FIFA would argue, is the very reason the World Cup should go there. However, what, in reality, can FIFA hope to achieve in the few weeks the circus comes to town?
Is it not better to reward those countries who have freed themselves from tyranny? Could the World Cup not act as an incentive, financial or otherwise? Surely that was the case with South Africa and, in a different manner entirely, Germany. Both were nations with troubled pasts, screaming out to showcase their new found 'unity' and 'social responsibility', an opportunity to rid themselves of a global image that no longer relflected reality.
With Qatar, this is simply not the case, and were Sepp Blatter not to betray his mission statement by making disrespectful comments regarding the activities of homosexuals, you might simply be able to disregard the move as a delusion of grandeur. The fact Qatar is one of the richest countries in the world however, leads to more sinister accusations.
So, returning to the question posed at the beginning of this blog - Do I really want to encourage my child to idolise people who are, in their various guises, corrupt, greedy, adulterous and violent?
It's a tough, tough one to call, but as with this year's revelations about the Catholic Church and the harm it has caused to the image of those with a belief in God (I don't think the horrendous actions of Catholicism should necessarily prevent people idolising the 'true' concept of God; similarly, I believe in the ideal of communism, but I accept that the reality is unworkable); undoubtedly, the ill intentions of those that follow an ideal shouldn't necessarily mean that, as a concept, that ideal has no value.
And so therefore, do I neither feel that corruption in football, no matter how widespread, should prevent our youngsters from believing in the true joy that competing in such a wonderful sport can bring. Its lessons of accepting victory and defeat with grace can't be overvalued and an appreciation that sport, like art, can be truly life-affirming is a precious thing indeed.
As George grows up, I have to hope that, should he take an interest, he will see the dividing line between the good and the evil in football. As his father, I will have to simply trust his judgement.
I suppose you could call it the gift of free will.
2 comments:
Interesting read. It'll be fascinating to see how football changes over the next 10 years. I can imagine it getting to a point where the next generation of fans become so disillusioned with the way football is run that they either defect to another sport entirely or form a breakaway football association to escape the corporate grip of Blatter, Murdoch and oil magnates.
It's quite possible. If you look at the success fans have already had establishing their own clubs i.e. AFC Wimbledon and, to a lesser extent, FC United, it's clear there is hope for those who wish to undermine the current status quo.
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