SOCCER IN A GLOBAL CONTEXT
The European Soccer Industry has been facing many
changes in the recent years, especially when it comes down to foreign players
entering the league. The new rules that Greg Dyke has proposed seems to be a
bad idea globally, because it restricts the international globalization, and
opens up a domestic globalization. This globalization of foreign players
however has its negative effects, such as the tensions between fans and members
of the European soccer council. Yes having foreign players has its benefits and
will help with globalizing soccer to a higher point, but some members of the Council
believe that It is better to improve the domestic teams rather than bring in
players from around the world.
The article
mentions that foreign players on European teams are bringing in money and they
are able to help the European teams profit from their teams. Globalization and
soccer both go hand in hand, as discussed in class, because soccer is a global
sport that brings about many people from around the world, who attempt to bring
up the national pride, as well as play with nationally ranked players.
In class we discussed Soccer and Globalization and we
came up with some of the positives to globalization such as Unity among fans,
and using Soccer rather than war. In class we discussed how the Syrian and
Croatian soccer teams resorted to violence to prove who the better team is. This
obviously had negative side effects which lead to the downfall of a lot of the “gangs”
involved.
With European Soccer players rising to the top levels, they are getting paid
more, which in turn helps the global soccer market increase. Players from all
around the world are looking to play on the nationally ranked teams, and they are
increasing the business for the league. Players from smaller countries are
getting the opportunity to compete with top notch players which increasing the
global economy, and allows for globalization to take place, meaning the
different teams and countries begin to integrate.
The players are able to make a ton of money from signing to other teams, and
the fans also get the opportunity to have pride for their team regardless of
the team member’s ethnic background. People see the international globalization
of Soccer teams as a bad thing, but if we are to analyze the process the money
that these teams receive are eye-opening. Just as the article mentions, the
wealthy foreigners buy the teams, sponsorship comes about, and fans buy merchandise that coincide with their teams. Soccer has become the best and
economically sustainable sport in the world. That is why bringing in foreign
players is a good thing, because we are helping out profits!
Anchal,
ReplyDeleteYou made some very interesting points here, and I agree with you, that the globalization of soccer is a positive thing. It's good for the players in these leagues, the home countries of these players, and the countries they are playing for in their club team. However, the globalization of soccer seems to reinforce a commodity-based consumer culture. This could be seen as both good and bad. Although they are obvious immediate economic benefits to everyone involved, there is the question that is raised: Are these soccer players, and the society of soccer followers, in the light of sports globalization, losing a sense of integrity along with the push to look at soccer through an economic lens rather than a through a simple view?
Elana to answer your question, yes I do believe that soccer players and followers are losing a sense of integrity when they surrounded by the globalization of soccer. These people are now forced to view soccer as an economic game rather than a simple match between teams.
Delete