Politics and Football

There is a lot of information coming to light about the interaction of REAL football and international relations. By real football, I mean soccer, as us Americans call it. Only in America can we turn the ole' pigskin game that is played with the hands into "football," which doesn't actually use the feet at all. (Yes, I know they kick field goals and punt, but the kicker is also the least respected guy on the team. They slap his helmet, but secretly think he is a wuss for not suiting up on the line...)

But here I am talking about real football. The one actually played with feet, involving dribbling, crossing over, crossing the ball, fake shots and step overs... Players who can literally dance with the ball over 100 yrds down the field. Not 300 lb linemen bashing each other's skulls in, or running backs cutting the knees out from under a charging linebacker. Not even basketball, which does involve more skill than American "football." No, I am talking about the jurga bonito, the beautiful game, played by BILLIONS around the world. The game that causes billions of people to stop whatever they are doing and watch their favorite, famous (or infamous) players take the field and battle for 90 full minutes at a full sprint. That, folks, is the beautiful game!

But I digress... Football and politics...

There are a number of great books coming out discussing our topic: Soccernomics, How Soccer Changed the World, etc. They argue that soccer has a greater impact on the world than we Americans would believe.

For instance:
How many of you know about the difficulties being encountered by FIFA over the Ireland/France World Cup Qualifying game a week ago? Thiery Henry, (Tea-airy On-Ree, for those you you who might need a more phoenetic spelling), played the ball with his hands on the goal line, played the ball back across the face of the goal, allowing another French player to score and keep the Irish squad from qualifying for the World Cup. Henry has apologized and admitted to handling the ball, but the referee's discretion wins the day. (Now even the refs have admitted it was handling, but you cannot overturn a game decision. It is a part of the Laws of the Game...)



OR...

How many of you know about the basketball refereee who was accused of fixing NBA games? Well, FIFA is currently arresting DOZENS of referees around the world for the exact same offense. (Much of this has taken place in Europe, although it is a problem around the world...) FIFA is distressed by the scandal and level of cheating taking place, and wants to make a change.

OR...

How many of you know that the Arab/Israeli conflict extends to football? Even in places that aren't Israel or Arab states. For instance... Amr Zaki is a top striker who plays for Wigan. He has been courted by the larger club Portsmouth for a few years. Portsmouth is owned by another Arab, Sulaiman Al-Fahim, who would love to have Zaki on his team. Zaki, an Egyptian national, refuses to consider signing, stating that he refuses to play on a team that has any Israelis in their employ. These two Israelis, defender Tal Ben Haim and Avram Grant, the director of football operations. Zaki refuses to consider having ANYTHING to do with a Jew. "I refused their offen before, but now joining Portsmouth is no longer an option for me... After Portsmouth signed an Israeli player and hired an Israeli football director a possible move was ruled out." Racism at its finest, ladies and gentlemen. And Egypt was the first Arab nation to diplomatically recognize Israel!

Zaki has also refused to sign because there is also an Algerian player on the squad, and Egypt and Algeria recently came to blows on the soccer pitch. (Algeria recently defeated Egypt, the "African soccer champion," in a tie-breaker played in Sudan last Wednesday. Riots have taken place in Cairo which involve the burning of the Algerian flag and the beating of Algerian citizens. Granted, lots of problems have taken place recently between the two countries. Rioters attacked Algerians with rocks in Cairo, injuring four. Algerians burned Egyptian businesses to the ground in Algeria in retaliation...) Currently, the Egyptian government is discussing cutting ALL diplomatic ties with Algeria.

This makes Oakland Raiders fans look pretty tame in comparison!