Us football fans are a hardy lot – optimists in the face of all the evidence. Dreamers who refuse to give up that glimmer of hope, despite a regular diet of disappointment.
The beautiful game delivers such compelling moments of elation, such heart-stopping drama and such unlikely tales of glory against the odds, we easily forget the much more frequent feelings of frustration, irritation and gut-wrenching despair we experience week by week.
I guess it’s because most of us – who follow our teams with a passion, and I’m a Brighton & Hove Albion fan – are romantics at heart. We love the spectacle of football because it blends together so much that makes sport such a thrill – fun to watch and take part in.
There’s the physicality of it: athletes exhibiting finely tuned attributes from blistering pace to brute strength and stamina, to outrageous displays of skill. The sublimely delivered and weighted through pass. The perfectly timed last ditch tackle. The fluid passing move that is almost like a dance in its grace. A mesmeric dribble where a player slaloms past defenders as if they simply aren’t there. The deft glanced header into the corner. The thumping free kick in off the woodwork. The fingertip save of an acrobatic keeper.
Then there’s the community of fandom – oh glorious day when we’re actually allowed back en masse – the shared humour, songs and sense of togetherness of following your team. The lows are bearable because they’re shared, the highs amplified because they’re rarer and to be treasured.
Because for most ordinary fans of ordinary clubs, we’re chasing a dream. Whether it’s winning a Cup, getting promotion, playing at the highest level, or even just moving up from semi-pro football to a full-time professional league, we are striving for something. Savouring that moment when our little team upsets the odds, defeats our deadly rivals, triumphs in the face of overwhelming odds, does the unexpected.
All the money in the world can’t buy that.
That’s why the recently announced Super League plan hatched by Europe’s so-called elite – and that began unravelling only days later – was so anti-football. It replaced romance with business. It replaced the Dream with a spreadsheet. In creating a version of the game ruled by money, dominated by elitism, and shot through with greed it took away the basics of the beautiful game.
Eleven versus eleven? An even playing field? Somewhere the unexpected can happen?
Not in the brave new world they envisaged. There, participation would be by invitation, not merit. Success would be measured by bank balance, the audience of TV millions, and sponsor’s patronage. We will make the rules. We will take the rewards. And we will decide who plays.
What a contrast with the joy of a small boy or girl kicking a ball on the street with their friends, and dreaming of what could be.
In the Holy Bible, we read that Jesus had no time for elitism. He called out the religious leaders of the day, the Pharisees, for wrapping up faith in rules and legalism, and missing its heart. Jesus once sent a rich young ruler away sad because he wasn’t prepared to sacrifice his wealth and follow him. He spent time with the poor and the rejected, with those on the fringes of society who no-one wanted to know.
Followers of Jesus are called to be servants, not masters; those who give generously rather than seek riches; those who offer grace, love and welcome to all – forgiven people who see the wonder in the ordinary.
As Jesus says in Matthew’s gospel (chapter 6, verses 19-21):
“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
Football’s treasure surely has to be keeping the dream alive – of the young player, of the ordinary fan – not sacrificing everything on the altar of money. Let’s hope we’ll emerge from this episode with a fresh appreciation of what really matters.
(PHOTO: Twitter.com)
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Planet Sport Football Africa listeners were quick to have their say as the story unfolded. Here are a couple of the comments …
Omz K Badjie, Gambia: “Personally my view is that it’s wrong and will not promote grassroots football. As well it will affect business in football and not healthy for football competition. This idea of a European Super League will also kill the beauty of competitive games when the top teams don’t have to be relegated.
“As Africans, let’s get off the fence and speak in solidarity with those against the Super League. Football is hope and this is not a healthy idea for football.”
Mwenda Zambwe, Zambia: “If the Super League goes ahead, they'll introduce a World Club Cup that will include teams from Africa and Asia. This can be a good thing and beneficial to African clubs – I certainly don't see any problem with it.
“But for FIFA and UEFA to condemn it … they definitely fear losing authority and the audience citing some corruption cases at FIFA and so on.”
And some of our listeners posted voice notes to have their say. Listen here …