Football Under A Socialist Society

[Alex Woodrow]

So, as we all know, football is a very popular game amongst the general populace, and under a socialist society things will I guess stay the same with football being a popular game. The difference will be the fact that, in a socialist society everyone works according to their ability and takes according to their need, there won't be footballers getting ridiculously vast sums of wealth which they haven't worked for e.g. a Man City player getting £200,000 a week while, at the same time, there won't be Wokingham and Emmbrook FC players on £0 a week after working really hard on the football field. No, as since money doesn't exist in a socialist society, all footballers will work hard and, since they have used lots of energy in a football match, at the end of the match they will receive food, drink, showers and will have techniques provided to help their fitness. This will be the case for every football team, as this is the fair, democratic way of doing things and this is the way things should be. 

Though since football is a very popular game and as many people nowadays people are getting fed up with modern day football this is a way to try and convince people that the only way to save football is where every footballer works according to their ability and takes according to their need.

To some this will be popular, to others such as extreme brainwashed neo-liberal capitalists this will be seen as "backward looking." 

We just need to try our best to convince many people as possible that, at the end of the day, the only party that wants to save football is the Socialist Party of Great Britain.

[alanjjohnstone]

There is actually an anarchist pamphlet on football. It wasn't online but perhaps it is now. I transcribed a chapter on my blog http://mailstrom.blogspot.com/2007/06/anarchist-football.html There was a time when the party had enough younger members and sympathisers to form a football team…Edinburgh branch Sunday League team "Capital" during the 70s The Gaelich Athletic Association also incorporates many socialistic/democratic principles . Again see a post on my blog http://mailstrom.blogspot.com/2009/03/socialism-of-gaelic-athletic.html And for the reasons for my desertion from the Tartan Army and criticism of the Scotland National team see here http://mailstrom.blogspot.com/2007/05/blood-upon-grass.html

[rodshaw]

I really wonder whether football will be so popular in a socialist society, at least in its present form, whose strict rules were devised exactly at the time capitalism was becoming more regimented and 'Victorianised', along with, for example, the rules of grammar, and working practices in general.Obviously there'd be no club owners, and no huge financial stakes involved, and less pressure on players to perform. This would rub off on spectators.So for example, there wouldn't be nearly as much vitriol hurled at refs for bad decisions.I wonder whether there would be that many spectators at all (or referees for that matter) – it would be far more a game to play, in local parks and recreation grounds, rather than watch. The football grounds we associate with towns and cities might become abandoned. Or, conversely, used by multiple local teams.At least those that were watching wouldn't be bombarded with sponsors' logos and crass messages from advertising hoardings.

[J Surman]

Coincidentally I'd just put this up today on SOYMB – and then found the current conversation. I was a Rotherham United fan in my teens. Not any more!http://www.socialismoryourmoneyback.blogspot.com/2013/09/the-beautiful-game-neoliberalism-gone.html

[rodshaw]

There was a recent article in The Times arguing that the reason middle eastern investors buy British football clubs is not to make money (and football is so volatile financially that I can see this) but to 'buy in' to the west and thereby give themselves more credibility, and maybe a bit of 'protection'. All very capitalistic, all the same.But as for making money from buying individual players – apparently, after Real Madrid paid £20 million or so for Beckham some years ago, they made over £100 million in resulting shirt sales. I wonder how many Bale shirts they've already sold?

[Alex Woodrow]

Exactly rodshaw mate football should be where people can stand wherever they want and be a commonly owned, lighthearted game with teams playing in parks and recreation grounds.

[jondwhite]

I don't think you need be too prescriptive, jumpers for goalposts etc. except to say it may more resemble amateur football. Food, drink and showers are plentiful enough for the world population never mind just footballers.

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