Off the Ball - the 2014 Highlights Package

My personal ‘best of the best’ Awards to mark the grand finale of the 2014 FIFA-Brazil football competition - and some of the best contributions to this blog:

The outstanding Fair Play Award goes to Caritas Australia for its campaign to get FIFA and the International Olympic Committee to promote justice in its host city selections. As well as its brilliant and comprehensive Sports for Justice report.

Nelson Almeida/AFP/Getty

Most promising player: 13-year-old Jeguaká Mirim, the indigenous Guarani boy, who, after releasing one of three white doves in the official opening ceremony, held up – unofficially – a land rights banner as he walked off the field. 

Goal of the Tournament? The Homeless Workers' Movement’s victory in getting a low-cost housing scheme approved for the 'People's Cup’ site overlooking the Sao Paulo stadium.

The Golden Boot Award - to John Oliver, for ‘putting the boot in’ to FIFA, for its exploitative powers over host countries and poor people.

and finally – very finally – a special post-humous Award for Inspiring Britons - Rik Mayall for his ‘Noble England’ football anthem – even if it didn’t stir England past the group stage. I’ll let him have the last laugh – you can’t argue with the dead:

And remember - keep your eye on the ball. Though this is probably my last post in this series, keep an eye on my Facebook page for links to post-tournament football social analysis, debates,  discussion, dissection, soul-searching and questions to be asked of FIFA and the powers that be. There are many out there calling for change, and social justice in our sporting decisions.

Is FIFA really corrupt?

I've wanted to more objectively explore this question in a blog, looking at considered arguments for and against, but in doing a google search on that question, third one down was an interesting Guardian item on former Manchester United striker Eric Cantona's revealing doco on Brazilian football and politics (shown at at Amnesty International’s Sidelines film festival in June).

Cantona views Sepp Blatter’s “corrupt” governing body as “stronger than any country”. Here are some other excerpts from the article:

While 'he fears that globalised, commoditised football will be ultimately damaging to the sport,' he is equally convinced that the spotlight on Brazil for the World Cup will be a good thing

“It is why this World Cup is very important. Because the World Cup is there, now everybody can know a lot of things and they can speak and they can debate about things,” he said. “All the people, the journalists, TV [cameras], all the media from all around the world [will highlight the issues]. Unfortunately what’s happening is not very nice – it is horrible – but I think it is an opportunity for the country to take that in a positive way for the future.”

[Maybe the twin humbling defeats by the German and Dutch teams will send Brazil not only soul-searching about its football, but searching for its soul as a country.]

Around the world Cantona says he can see football becoming detached from its roots. Given the amount of money flowing into the game from broadcasting deals and ticket revenue, he suggests that a fifth of all tickets should be available at affordable prices. He laments the fact that footballers “from the street” will only be able to watch the sport on television.

“They just want to throw them away. But it is a shame because it’s these kind of fans who made football and it’s these kind of fans who have a child who will play football,” said Cantona. “Because most of the people, most of the players come from poor areas. To be a footballer you need to train every day when you are a kid, you need to go in the street and play in the street every day.”

He says “all the best players” grew up in poor areas, name-checking Maradona, Pelé, Messi, Ronaldo and Ronaldinho. For him, football is 50% physical and 50% psychological. “You need to be angry, because it is not only about abilities. Abilities is 50% and 50% is mentally. And mentally is where you learn how to fight … it is in the street.”FIFA talks about fair play. But, where is the fair play if we take [their] example, where is the fair play?

“And in giving the World Cup to Qatar they show the world that they don’t really care about the sport,” he said. “In Qatar there is no hope, because people from Qatar they don’t play football. Eighty per cent of the people, they work for the other ones, sleeping in – you know – small areas, so many of them. Some of them died, they work for those other ones,” said Cantona.

Sao Paulo – city of contrasts

As the 2nd semi-final gets underway in Sao Paulo today, spare a thought and a small action for the 3.5 million people who live in poverty in this city of 11.4 million – the largest in the Southern Hemisphere, and in the Americas.

Read the blog by actress Jo Joyner, where she says:

'São Paulo is a city of huge contrasts: home to 30,000 millionaires and 15,000 people living on the streets; the sky full of private helicopters, the roads full of over-crowded buses.
'And the biggest contrast of all: millions spent on a shiny new football stadium, while the poorest communities are told there is no money for essential services. During my visit, people kept saying: "With our hard-earned money, they are building FIFA-standard stadiums with FIFA-standard grass. We’d like FIFA-standard hospitals, schools and homes."'

Sign the petition, organised by CAFOD (UK) demanding justice, housing and basic public services for the poorest people in São Paulo and across Brazil. Let’s see ‘FIFA-standard’ hospitals, schools and homes – not just stadiums.

*

But I’ll leave the last word for today to Rio resident Antonio Hipolito, reported by the Daily Mail. He works at a bookstore in a rich part of the city, but lives in a distant, poor neighborhood. Speaking after Brazil’s humiliating defeat by Germany, and with 5 October elections in mind, Antonio said, 'I hope this can make people wake up and start thinking with their heads and not their emotions and that people translate the anger they are feeling at the ballot boxes. ... Soccer is just an illusion and we need to wake up to reality.’

Perhaps, like the prodigal son, some good can come from Brazil’s $11 billion profligacy over the World Cup and the selling of its soul to FIFA.

On worshipping false gods

With Sepp Blatter having said recently that 'football is more than a religion' in Brazil, will he - or the Brazilian elites - be judged by these words being spoken on the very day of Brazil's battle with Germany (Tuesday, local time), at daily Masses across the 65 percent Catholic country?

Photo: SportsPro

With their silver and gold they made
idols for themselves, to their own destruction.
Cast away your calf, O Samaria!
my wrath is kindled against them;
...
The work of an artisan,
no god at all,
Destined for the flames—
such is the calf of Samaria!

(Hosea 8:4-7)

Ummm, seems to me the World Cup trophy is one of today's modern 'false gods', not that FIFA will let the winning team take away the genuine article - a US$10 million, 18-carat golden globe upheld by football players. The winners are placated with a gold-plated replica instead. As The Guardian says, 'The ever-parsimonious Fifa keeps the original, possibly because it doesn't trust anyone else to look after it.'

Even the artisan (not a worshipper himself) who designed the current World Cup trophy, Italian sculptor Silvio Gazzaniga, is aware of the religious overtones. He said, 'I would modestly suggest that this intense affection for the Trophy comes from the object itself, and what it stands for. It is a symbol of victory, and they're thrilled to have won it, which is why they kiss it as they would kiss a religious relic.'

Where are Brazil's indigenous? - they're not in the stands

Matis children. Photo: Urban Times

The plight of Brazil's indigenous peoples are among the concerns of those protesting against the abuses brought on by the World Cup being held in Brazil.

During the ceremonies at the opening game, a young indigenous Guarani boy unfurled a banner reading 'Demarcação' ('Demarcation Now!') -  used by Indigenous groups attempting to retain their land.

Read this Urban Times profile on six tribes struggling for survival in Brazil. Among them are the Matis, half of whom died from newly introduced diseases following their first contact with outside peoples; and the sole survivor of one tribe, whose companions were wiped out by invaders and cattle ranchers.

The World Coup - the full story

Well, with no games til Wednesday on the field, you'll have time to watch this 8-minute rap-up on the story behind the World Coup theme song 'We have won' (great catchy tune, btw), that I posted on my Facebook page a while back. The rap-id facts behind how team captains such as Tony Abbott (Aust), David Cameron (UK), John Kerry (USA) and Mariono Rajoy (Spain) have manipulated the global financial playing field so we - sorry - they, can all be winners!

Yayyyy - go world. Wave those slave flags!  (More flashy brilliance from the Aussies. Enjoy.)



And if you're wondering what the truth is behind rumours that unused football stadiums could be used as prisons - it was mooted by a local judge for the stadium built in the Amozonas capital Manaus - which has no major soccer team nor a tradition for the sport.

And don't forget to sign the petition for the favelas.

Women and football

Ever since Monday, I have been agonizing over whether to suspend my boycott, and watch tomorrow’s Netherlands v Costa Rica quarterfinal. I had all sorts of reasons and justifications for it. They are my favourite teams to win this world cup: Oranje because I’m Dutch, and its the best footballing country yet to win the World Cup; and Costa Rica because this small, humble country of less than 5 million people has proven to be giant killers against Uruguay and Italy (though only managing a draw against Noble England.) The country also has NO DEFENCE FORCE, and a strong commitment to social justice.
 

However, family circumstances at the present time demand that I can’t neglect my wife, which brings me to the subject of ‘football widows’: those women – because they usually are women – who are abandoned by their spouses for a month of football – or the weekly football game, or (more likely now), weekend of football, as well as Wednesday night, and a couple of other nights thrown in between ..... you get which way the ball is rolling?

There are loads of references and ‘advice’ for football widows on the net, but the best I’ve come across is from the BBC. Here are some highlights:

The term football widow doesn't involve anyone's actual death but it does involve the loss of a loved one to football. This entry will explore the problems of being a football widow and look at some options to minimise that loss. ...

Just be wary of the surprise honeymoon involving European Capital cities or unusual South American countries – this will be a ploy to tour the major football stadium and will be painful on the feet as well as the pocket. ... 

Don't panic if you see him slumped, tearful, head in hands and moaning things like 'Gutted', 'Devastated' or various abstract expletives. ... it's probably just that his team has lost a match, scored an own goal or were even beaten in a European Cup final. Just make tea and remember to use a plastic cup in case it has to be thrown at a wall or the television when the result is broadcast again ... and again ... and again.

On the subject of women and sport, of course, there is a FIFA Women’s World Cup. But do you know when and where the next (Senior) Women’s World Cup is?*

There’s also been a breakthrough at a recent ‘World Cup’ event organised for refugees in Sao Paolo – who came originally from places such as Congo, Haiti and Syria. During the competition (aimed mainly at men) the women refugees got together and organized their own competition. Some played for the first time, even while fasting for Ramadan.

Watch the BBC report: Refugee women in Brazil get into World Cup spirit.

* Canada, June-July 2015.

ConIFA and Darfur United - this is for real

Darfur United at home. Photo: Humanity United

Yes. there is life - and life-changing football - outside FIFA. The Confederation of Independent Football Associations (ConIFA) is a global umbrella organization for all football teams outside FIFA (there's even an Oceania section). There are more than 5 500 etnicities around the world and hundreds of sportingly isolated regions that don't have an international arena to play international football. And ConFIFA recently had its World Championships in Sweden!

One of those competing this year was Darfur United - remember Darfur? Oh yeah, that place in western Sudan where millions were displaced and hundreds of thousands killed from 2004. Yeah well, the killing and oppression still goes on, but do we hear about it. Last year, there was more violence and more displaced. Chad, Sudan's neighbor to the west, is now home to over 300,000 Darfuri refugees, and more arrive every day. It's also taking in displaced from the Central African Republic and South Sudan. Darfur United is an all-refugee team made up of the best players from twelve camps that dot the Chad-Sudan border, and was created in 2012.

"Older" refugees from Darfur are being asked to tighten their belts and move towards self-reliance. Food rations have been cut by half. Officially, they now receive between 900 and 1,100 calories per person, down from the standard 2,100 the previous years. 

Amidst this context, Darfur United came together once more to play a game of soccer. At the World Champs in Sweden, they lost every game, badly. But to them, it's much more than a game. Mahamat, Darfur United's midfielder, says, "We have dreams, we have hope, we have passion, we have talent, but the world forgot us." He believes that his team and their participation in international tournaments gives his people moments of joy and some hope for the future.

Read more about the team - and the current situation in Darfur at: 

World Cup Soccer, In The Land Of The Hungry

Real soccer tacking real issues - support for refugees

“There is no passing. That’s not a pass,” says Coach Marwan Azar, shaking his head. “I’ve never seen such stubbornness,” he complains in mock seriousness, even as his face breaks into an even broader grin. “But can I blame them? No. Not after all they’ve been through.” The Jordanian coach is talking about the dozens of under-13-year-old Syrian boys, engaged in a day-long soccer tournament in the Zaatari refugee camp. But there is no annoyance in his voice. No frown on his face. On the contrary, he is smiling as he says this. And his smile reaches his eyes. His voice and tone convey a warmth and tenderness toward these refugee children that he coaches every day.

Read more at: The most important soccer is not being played in Brazil but in refugee camps in Jordan - part of a Washington Post series on politics, political science and the World Cup.

Brazilian police put on Watch

As protests continue in Brazil, Human Rights Watch is calling for 'a prompt, thorough and impartial investigation' into allegations that police planted evidence on two protesters who were arrested at largely peaceful protest in São Paulo on 23 June.

“Protesters who engage in vandalism and violence should be held accountable,” said Maria Laura Canineu, Brazil director at Human Rights Watch. “But so too should any police who plant evidence and deliberately accuse protesters of crimes they know that they didn’t commit.”

Father Julio Lancellotti, a well-known human rights advocate, is among those who said that no sinister items were with the protestors arrested. “I was entering the subway station when I saw two civil police officers approaching Harano and opening his backpack,” Father Lancellotti told Human Rights Watch. “They took out a gas mask and crackers, but no explosive devices.”

Read more here.

No, I'm not watching the World Cup - Brazil reports

I am SO sorry I've come late to this state of play - straight-talking from a Brazilian film-maker about why the World Cup should never have been held in Brazil - at least, not in the way in its been done.

She produced this excellent video below a year ago - and tho' it's received more than 4 million views, its a shame more of the right people didn't heed its message: 'I think the World Cup and Olympics are great events, but not what our country needs right now.' (See others in the same theme.)

Watch this video (or any of her others) - and will you really be able to watch comfortably another game? Features a VERY upset doctor at lack of health funding, and words of the Brazilian president Brazilian President Dilma praising up Brazil, over images of poor housing, poverty, oppression and police violence.

Today, according to AFP, that same President has said Brazil has scored a “goleada”, or large victory, over pessimists who warned the World Cup would be plagued by unrest, chaos or crime. “We beat the pessimists, the people who were predicting chaos, and the Cup is a success across Brazil,” she said as she inaugurated a hospital in Rio de Janeiro state.

Who do I believe - the President, or the people?