Soccer and politics

From Moscow, Cameron Sawyer rejects the tie between politics and soccer: "As to Moscow soccer hooligans and military rivalries with Japan: No one in Russia whose opinion I have read or heard about thinks that any of the kind is involved. The general opinion here is that the match and the crowd gathered to watch the huge screen set up in Manezh Square (the organizers of that have been bitterly and roundly accused, I'll tell you!) -- simply provided a nice setting for the unleashing of bestial urges and behaviors among a few particularly degraded individuals. It was not Japanese people who were beaten up nor Japanese property which was destroyed, after all.

This makes a really sad contrast to other public gatherings in Moscow. The Russians have a tradition of mass strolls on holidays crowds of people walking around in public places and drinking, mostly beer, with fireworks, street theater, etc. The biggest of these is the City Day in September, the anniversary of the founding of Moscow, which is invariably a happy, friendly, pleasant event with huge crowds of people, mostly families, hardly a soul really drunk although everyone carries a beer. Pleasant encounters with strangers are one of the great joys of city life".

My comment: "Bestial urges" are certainly aroused, but the political element is there too. Argentines were certainly hoping that a victory over England would be revenge for the defeat in the Falklands. Today we are awaiting the US versus Mexico match. In the past Mexican nationalism have given these encounters an especially nasty quality. The most infamous incident occurred when the two teams played at the Rose Bowl in 1997. When Mexican Americans root for Mexico, it is clear where their heart and possibly their loyalty are. The soccer war between Honduras and Honduras was a classical mixture of soccer and politics.

Ronald Hilton - 6/16/02