Cultured Football #11
I am not a big fan of international football at the best of times so I’m even less interested now that games take place in empty stadia that are devoid of the passion that might spark a bit of curiosity. So I don’t know what’s been going in the world of football this past week. Thankfully, there have still been some great pieces written over the past few days. Here’s the ones I picked.
The Clockwork of La Maquina
“When Juan “Tano” Fazzini described football as a lie, he was being as complimentary as he possibly could. Rather than calling into question the morality of the sport, he was celebrating the skill and ingenuity that allows artistry of the highest order to flourish. Taken out of context, of course, the respected radio, newspaper and television journalist’s angle could just as easily have been used to characterise 20th-century social, economic and political discourse in Argentina.”
That is how this wonderful piece starts and I can’t find better words to tell you why you should read it.
Football in Europe is being transformed by US private equity firms
Last month, Liverpool fans suddenly had to familiarise themselves with what a SPAC is following rumours that current owners FSG were going to be involved in a deal with such an investment vehicle. Nothing came out of that (which doesn’t mean that nothing will in the future) but the trend of equity firms looking at football for their investment is very much a booming one. For that reason it is well worth looking at what this will mean for the future of the game.
The tragedy that costs Tom Silk his life, and West Brom a visionary director
I am a big fan of Blizzard magazine and have been from the first day. It is impossible not to be, when you consider the quality of the writing and the topics that they chose to look into. This is a case in point; an article from their most recent edition about the former West Bromwich Albion vice-chairman Tom Silk and the huge impact that his tragic death had on the club.
How racists can keep getting away with abuse
Last week I spoke about the racist incident that took place in the game between Rangers and Slavia Prague so I feel that I have to point out this incredibly eloquent piece by Jonathan Liew on the issues that players face when having to prove that they were at the receiving end of racism.
The lost generation of future footballers
Whilst I have been pretty lucky to be able to work from home and my life has not been impacted in a seriously negative way, as the father of three children I do wonder on the long term implication on them of a year largely stuck inside and away from their friends. Miguel Delaney transfers a similar worry to young footballers and looks at what this lost year will mean for them and their futures.
Last Week’s Most Read
Romario was a fantastic player and goalscorer, particularly for PSV Eindhoven with whom he spent five wonderful years. Not surprising that the piece on his time there was the one that generated most views last week. If you missed it then, don’t do so again.