Globalization by definition is the process under which various communities, nations and regions integrate. By essentially exchanging their world views as it pertains to culture, lifestyle and technological know-how, just to mention a few (Cleland & Cashmore, 2014 p. 640). In regards to football, globalization has since had both the negative and positive effects to people of different race and ethnicities. Globalization in essence has fostered the prevalence of football in the sense that, football teams across the various regions of the world are supported by a legion of fans across the globe. Apparently, based on research, sports particularly football can simply operate as a form of entertainment to those who watch it, and a form of expressing belonging to the ever changing world. With the above said, players and football fanatics are predisposed to meeting different people from different communities. Considering that different people have differing perceptions, cultures, and norms, conflict and discrimination are inevitable. The most apparent form of discrimination even in the modern day as it relates to football is racism (Cleland, 2014 p.420). Owing the apparent negativity of racism apparent in our football matches today, this paper seek to present in-depth and insightful ideas and notions surrounding matters globalization and racism in football. In essence, this paper will explore how globalization has fostered racism in the football realm.
Based on research findings retrieved from FIFAPro, it is apparent that a considerable number of players have since suffered some kind of racism a fact that is seen to relate closely with globalization. Based on the same research, an outstanding 10% of the football players in the Eastern Europe have been reported to endure some kind of racial discrimination at one point or more in their careers. In most cases as reported by the aforementioned organization, fans are the ones responsible for stirring hate and discrimination against these players. Fans in most cases opt to adopt discriminative measures in a bid to suppress the aptitude of those players from other countries and of different races. They do this mainly because the player is talented more than others or he or she simply performs better in his or her team contrary to the expectations of the opponents. Despite the fact that FIFA normally imply fines to those fans that engage in racism during and outside football matches. Racism as it relates to football is in the contemporary times increasing making it the most apparent negative effect of globalization.
Owing the prevalence and the ever changing nature of globalization as it pertains to football. It is imperative in our case to make apparent the fact that, the same has the potential of making a negative contribution to religion, post-colonialism and imperialism (Jarvie, 2013 p. 33). In essence, considering that different people from different regions of the world embrace differing norms, culture, and religion. Football fans from the various regions are less likely to endure the norms and cultures of other people the fact that may foster racism. In effect, fans even those supporting a same team may clash, a fact that predominantly stem from the notion that the majority of them often fail to embrace cultural and ethnic diversity.
Considering that football is watched and played by people of different ethnicities and race, football has been established to be the perfect avenue of executing racism. Based on research findings, blacks are the ones that considerably suffer from racism (Llopis-Goig, 2013 p.210). As a matter of fact, considering that fans are the ones that predominantly practice it, black players have been reported to experience insults by being pelted with racial slurs, bananas, and even racial chants. In the recent past, the rising issues of racism as it pertains to football had prompted a campaign. Where the English premier League players predominantly had to eat the bananas as a way of disaffectecting issues of racism since this affects the players negatively.
Owing the fact that globalization as it manifests in football has brought different nations together under the umbrella of different associations like FIFA and the global leagues and world competitions like World Cup. It is imperative to denote that racism fostered by the convention of various nations through football has affected the development of football itself (Chu, 2014 p. 2915). In support of the aforementioned, debates in regards to the venue of big events like World Cup often arise predominantly because considerations on matters racism often emerge prominently. Though some countries are potential hosts to such events, issues of racism may affect it. It is affecte in the sense that fans may fail to attend these events owing their fear of intimidation and being subjected to discrimination (Bradbury, 2013 p.300). This fact proves that globalization as it manifests through football has since had some negative impacts to the development of football itself.
In conclusion, though globalization has since had many positive effects to the many aspects of life, it is imperative to denote that the same has affected football negatively in many apparent ways. Though the football offers a platform where people can embrace cultural diversity and share common opinions regarding the same. Fans particularly often fail to appreciate diversity by engaging in racist activities. It is, therefore, significant to make apparent the fact that globalization has fostered racism profoundly through football.
References
Bradbury, S 2013, 'Institutional racism, whiteness and the under-representation of minorities
in leadership positions in football in Europe', Soccer & Society, 14, 3, pp. 296-314, Academic Search Premier, EBSCOhost, viewed 1 December 2014.
Chu, J, Nadarajah, S, Afuecheta, E, Chan, S, & Xu, Y 2014, 'A statistical study of racism in
English football', Quality & Quantity, 48, 5, pp. 2915-2937, Academic Search Premier, EBSCOhost, viewed 1 December 2014.
Cleland, J, & Cashmore, E 2014, 'Fans, Racism and British Football in the Twenty-First
Century: The Existence of a ‘Colour-Blind’ Ideology', Journal Of Ethnic & Migration Studies, 40, 4, pp. 638-654, Academic Search Premier, EBSCOhost, viewed 1 December 2014.
Cleland, Jamie. 2014. "Racism, Football Fans, and Online Message Boards: How Social
Media Has Added a New Dimension to Racist Discourse in English Football." Journal Of Sport & Social Issues 38, no. 5: 415-431. Academic Search Premier, EBSCOhost (accessed December 1, 2014).
Jarvie, G. 2013. “Sport, Culture and Society: An Introduction” . Routledge.
Llopis-Goig, R 2013, 'Racism, xenophobia and intolerance in Spanish football: evolution and
Responses from the government and the civil society', Soccer & Society, 14, 2, pp. 262-276, Academic Search Premier, EBSCOhost, viewed 1 December 2014.
