Football as a battlefield: analysis reveals its role in social and political dynamics

For many years, football has been much more than just a sport. Behind every match, every goal, and every celebration in the stands, complex social and political dynamics that have shaped the history of this popular sport worldwide are hidden. A recent analysis has revealed how dictators saw great potential in football as a propaganda tool. While in its origins this sport was more closely associated with the English upper bourgeoisie, over time it became a mass phenomenon thanks to various key factors, as pointed out by Eduardo Saldaña, co-director of El Orden Mundial. The massive growth of cities, the reduction in transportation costs, and the decrease in working hours were elements that contributed to the popularization of football and its reach to broad segments of society. Additionally, its accessibility and democratizing character made it a space where the working classes could compete on equal terms against the bourgeoisie, as highlighted by Fernando Arancón, also from El Orden Mundial. During the era of the Industrial Revolution, football became a stage where the class struggle was represented. In Scotland, for example, working-class clubs like Celtic FC and Glasgow Rangers emerged, while more bourgeois teams coexisted. This dispute for control and the professionalization of football reflected the conflicting interests between workers and elites, as noted by Charo Marcos and Fernando Arancón. It is essential to understand this geopolitical dimension of football to comprehend its evolution and its impact on society. While the working classes sought to professionalize the sport and gain more opportunities, the bourgeoisie preferred to maintain it as mere entertainment, thus revealing the tensions and rivalries that have marked the history of football over the years. In conclusion, football has not only been a playing field, but also a battlefield where symbolic and real struggles have been fought that reflect the complexities and contradictions of our societies.