In Defense of Modern Football

There is a huge amount about modern football to be concerned about. From dirty money to racism, it would be legitimate for any football fan to take a step back and question their relationship with the beautiful game. It is unquestionably becoming more unethical in many areas and we are seeing a growing challenge to our moral consciousness. We all like to see ourselves as decent human beings who care about the world and it is becoming more difficult to separate this care and our love of football. It would be disingenuous and irresponsible to detach ourselves completely from the negative aspects of football and the damage it is causing in some areas of the world. However, modern football is still more than just a profit driving machine obliterating anything and anybody in it’s way. It has connected people from around the world and united people from the most diverse of places. Football at it’s best is immersive and entertaining. Last seasons Champions League tie between Barcelona vs Liverpool was a prime example of that. It was a battle between different styles and cultures. Barcelonas’s slow jazz against the heavy metal of Jurgen Klopps Liverpool and it resulted in explosive and completely mesmerizing entertainment. For neutrals, it was just that, entertainment, but for fans of either team it was an emotional hypnotic experience that brought both devastation and heartbreak. Despite the endless money being rolled into football by people who have no understanding of the game, it’s still capable of producing this raw emotion in people. The magical moments that make football so wonderful and brilliant are still there and should be cherished. Inequality is an obvious issue in football but football as an experience is an overwhelmingly equal one. The highs and lows, the agony and ecstasy are felt by both the long time season ticket holder and the die hard fan watching from his local bar in Nigeria. Football at it’s most pure is a unifying experience and one that unites people of all different races and cultures. The growing theme of racist incidents and slurs directed at players of colour is a major concern but Raheem Sterlings powerful response has made soundwaves across the world-not just in football. The disturbing level of blatant racism aimed at the English players in their 6-0 win in Sofia would have been a harrowing experience for fans and players alike. However, football ralllied behind them and gave them support in their hour of need. We are by no means complete in our fight against racism. There is dearth of black managers and officials throughout the game and that is something that has to change but with the right ambtition and investment it can and will. With nearly three months to go in the premier league, Liverpool have essentially wrapped up their first league title since 1986. The lack of competitiveness at the top of the table is something of a concern but Klopps Liverpool are a success story that should give us optimism. It’s fair to say that very few non-Liverpool fans will be happy at the thought of the Merseyside club lifting their first Premier League trophy in May. However, Liverpool’s journey from top four hopefuls to Champions League and Premier League victors has been a truly admirable one. They have sold smartly and while key players such as Virigl Van Dijk and Allison have been brought in for big fees, they were just one of two big six sides to make a profit in the Summer transfer window with the other team being Chelsea,who were restricted by a transfer ban. They have been run by ambitious owners who put everything into achieving success on the field while keeping the soul of the club. Klopp has brought in in some raw talent and underappreciated players and fine tuned them. James Milner was a figure of fun for some people before he left Manchester City for Anfield. Since his move, he has been referred to as underrated so many times by Liverpool fans and neutrals alike, he has to be considered pretty highly rated at this stage. Jordan Henderson, Sadio Mane and Andrew Roberton are all players who Klopp has managed to mould into ones that fit seamlessly into a League winning team. In an era which is quickly becoming more influenced and dictated by ludicrous wealth, Liverpool offer hope. Liverpool are an example of a good footballing journey where unheralded individual players have blossomed. Across football, there are other examples of players who have used football as a ladder to enhance their lives. Unlike many other sports, football has athletes of all demographics , some of whom have truly remarkable stories. Just recently, the Bayern Munich winger Alphonso Davies produced a remarkable performance as the German Giants dispatched Chelsea 3-0 at Stamford Bridge. It was a stunning performance and all the more incredible when you consider his journey that took him to Canada and eventually Munich. Davies was born in a Ghanian refugee camp after his Liberian parents were forced to flee the war in their home country. His story is of course miraculous without football but his involvement on one of the sport’s biggest stage has alleviated his progression even further. Davies is not the only footballer who has a story to tell. It has given some the opportunity to escape hardships, others to persue a life away from crime and for some, it simply provides a chance for them to do the thing they love most and that in itself is pretty special. Football has not been unaffected by the political and social circumstances of our modern world but It remains a reliable source of entertainment. It’s still capable of producing those golden moments that can result in incomparable despair or unadulterated joy. The growing influence of mega rich football clubs is a concern but Liverpool’s success somewhat bucks this trend.  Football is still an engaging form of entertainment that plays with our emotions and brings both elation and sorrow to people across the globe. We must fight the plaque of racism that undeniably exists within the game but with the right attitude and ambition from those governing the games, as well as fans and players, we can make football a more diverse and accepting game. There will continue to be spellbinding games that enchant us as viewers and there will continue to be stories like Davies’ that make it that extra bit special. Football has its issues and we should not deny that, but we should also appreciate what we have. Football is a fantastic sport and it will continue to be a fantastic sport. Sometimes, we just need reminding of that. Image Credit-Le Point