The sport of football's 'drifting' elements appear to be increasingly showy aspects, rather than issues requiring solutions.
Revamped Article:
Football, baby, it's the beautiful game, ain't it? But let's face it—today's competition could use a shake-up. That's the vibe behind Another Football is Possible, the titillating collective essay (Le Bord de l'eau, 72 p., 8 euros) currently turning heads.
The question, posed in interrogative style, was slapped on the cover of the inaugural issue of Les Cahiers du football a cool two decades back. It's no secret that this alternative globalization slogan has been relegated to the sidelines, much like alternative globalization itself, by the Thatcherian mantra "there's no alternative." Yet, there were contenders, but they never made it to the pitch.
The '90s ended with a bang, bringing audiovisual rights explosions, player market liberalizations, and the birth of premium competitions. Elite football has embraced the cutthroat nature of footballers, the monster-size competitions, the erosion of club identities, and the enrichment of the monetary elite—a whole lotta financialization, weakening of sporting equity, geopolitical manipulations, and such.
Strangely enough, these devilish twists seem more like showbiz excitement than problems worth solving. So, what's been missing for the past three decades, and what's still missing, for another football to truly shine?
Resignations
These evolutions have left many on the losing end, from economically modestly endowed national football teams (Portugal, Netherlands, Belgium, Scotland, etc.) who can't keep up, to bankrupt clubs suffering under inept investors. Another Football is Possible was, in fact, conceived in the ashes of the Girondins de Bordeaux, according to the authors Stéphane Beaud, Timothée Duverger, Vincent Mourgues, Jérôme Saddier, and Jean-Luc Veyssy.
Most clubs, now reduced to player nurseries or subsidiaries for the oligarchy of superclubs, are objectively aggrieved, but their resignation is perceived as a foregone conclusion. Only a sliver of supporters, the ultras, mobilize opposition.
Three decades of kamikaze flight call for a change, but the conditions have yet to come together—are the elements aligning for another football to be possible?
The Long Game
To bring about another form of football, we'll need to address several factors:
- New Rules: Revising the existing game rules is key for a fresh take on football. This could involve implementing innovative rules, tweaking the game speed, or even adding unique gameplay elements.
- Competitive Structure: A revamped competition structure, incorporating alternative league structures, like promotion and relegation, and international participation could help establish a solid footing.
- Safety and Health: Ensuring player safety through better equipment, tackling techniques, and injury prevention protocols is essential.
- Financial Backing: A new football needs strong financial support from fans, sponsors, and investors alike to thrive.
- Cultural Appeal: To attract a global audience, the sport needs to resonate with diverse cultures and communities. Leveraging social media and technology can boost engagement and accessibility.
- Organizational Structure: A governing body is required to oversee regulations, competitions, and international cooperation, while official recognition would help establish credibility.
Without these elements being addressed head-on, an alternative football might struggle to make its mark against the established titans of the field. A bolder vision for the game awaits, but the path to realization is anything but clear. And that's the challenge fans, players, and industry leaders have yet to rally behind. Game on!
- The authors of 'Another Football is Possible', including Stéphane Beaud, Timothée Duverger, Vincent Mourgues, Jérôme Saddier, and Jean-Luc Veyssy, conceived their approach amid the破落 of the Girondins de Bordeaux.
- Many clubs, forced into roles as player nurseries or subsidiaries for the oligarchy of superclubs, are objectively aggrieved, but their resignation is perceived as a foregone conclusion, with only a sliver of supporters, the ultras, mobilizing opposition.
- To bring about another form of football, we'll need a new set of rules, a revamped competition structure, a focus on player safety, strong financial backing, cultural appeal, an organizational structure, and official recognition.
- A bold vision for the game awaits, but the path to realization is anything but clear, and fans, players, and industry leaders have yet to rally behind the challenge.
