Football cannot cure all ills. Fans and spectators need to take back control of the narrative around matches and expose those who would manipulate crowds for political and personal gain.
The beautiful game. These three words are among the most dangerously abused words in the English language. The romanticisation of football has given the sport so much power that it can get away with anything, even responsibility for the deaths of people who merely wanted to watch their team play.
It's this romanticism that makes us turn the other way when the sport, its players and fans are exploited for our entertainment. It's because of this power that vile, murderous and authoritarian regimes are celebrated when they use their vast financial resources, some of which are obtained through the abuse of human rights, to help a football club win trophies.
It's because of this power that
Infantino is among many men, including generals and dictators, who have abused the beautiful game for their own wealth and to improve their image.
The president who promised to be a leader for all Cameroonians has led a regime that has marginalised the English-speaking minority. Instead of listening to their pleas, the government has reacted with force to the protests organised to shine a light on the suffering that the minority group has endured in
Sleight of hand
The continent has been largely silent about this crisis. It is likely why there hasn't been vociferous criticism of
So far it has worked. Even after the stampede at Olembé Stadium that claimed eight lives, the country's appetite for the competition remains high. It's ironic that the stampede happened at the stadium Biya controversially named after himself and spent millions of dollars on, a vanity project to keep his name eternal and help boost his dwindling support. Now, when you search for the stadium online, the uppermost results are reports about the stampede deaths and not its beauty, extravagance, or even the man himself. The state reportedly spent
The stampede removed the plaster Biya was trying to put over a broken bone. Attendance has generally been poor because of high ticket prices that many Cameroonians cannot afford owing to the meagre wages they earn. The low vaccination rate, with only an estimated 3% of the population having been jabbed, has not helped with Covid-19 safety protocols. Only those who are fully vaccinated and can produce a negative polymerase chain reaction test can attend the games.
The Anglophone crisis has also loomed large during the tournament. To avoid embarrassment, the government has limited movement in the English-speaking regions and installed a heavy police and army presence. The situation is so volatile that during the promotion of the
Lack of safety
As news of the stampede spread during
A thorough investigation into the cause of the stampede is necessary, and those responsible must be held accountable. Some survivors have already shared their stories. The common thread is that access was delayed because of blocked entrances and when spectators tried to enter through gate S, after a long wait, it was locked. This resulted in a deadly surge when the crowd forced its way into the stadium. Some of those pushing their way in allegedly didn't have tickets. And a six-year-old boy, among others, died because of this.
This stampede should serve as a reminder to
The power football holds could be harnessed to bring about social change in
Kuhn says "football stadiums can also be sites for expressing dissatisfaction with authoritarian regimes. A defeat in football can also become a defeat for an authoritarian ruler. The football stadiums of
Advantage and opportunity
Opportunists have selfishly used the sport to their advantage. It's time that the true owners of the game reclaim it, reshape it into something more palatable and use the power football has to bring about change. Football cannot and will never change the world on its own; that's another romantic notion of followers of the game. But in the right hands it can be a vehicle to bring about social change. That, however, would only be a start. Serious work outside the pitch would be needed to ensure that the change lasts.
"At the end of the 1994
The beautiful game has an ugly side and it needs acknowledging; it is not some magic potion that can cure all ills. Those who abuse the game know this. They know that the hold football has over supporters is fleeting and so they make the most of those times when they have us under their control. It's time to flip that script by using that power against them. And this includes making harsh decisions, such as boycotting flagrant whitewashing exercises.
During
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