More Than Just Trash Talk?
Posted by Russ Communications on November 22, 2011
The game of soccer (fotbol) is the world’s most popular sport, played in almost every continent by millions of people everyday. The question is, does this universal love for the “beautiful game” lend a hand in helping to strengthen fans and players mutual respect for different cultures or does it only set a very public stage for racial abuse?
Sepp Blatter, president of FIFA, doesn’t believe that racism exists on a soccer pitch. He instead equates negative remarks or gestures on the field as a result of passionate individuals who are simply venting their desire to win in a negative way toward their opponent, regardless of what race he/she happens to be. Mr. Blatter goes on to say that players who are being verbally abused on the field should think to themselves “this is just a game”, and that when the game is over we will shake hands and the negative feelings will be over.
Blatter’s views have sparked uproar in the fotbol community. Players especially are asking how can he say such things when there is clearly been multiple cases or racists remarks or gestures from both fans and players alike. Blatter had this response to his critics, “…sometimes, in the heat of the moment, things are said and done on the field of play which are wrong… This does not mean that, in general, there is racism on the field of play. Football unites people more than it divides them.”
