They say soccer is a global game, but the very statement just made should tell you that it isn’t always the case. Almost guaranteed, some purist readers turned up their noses at the fact that “soccer” was used instead of “football”. This is just the start of a narrative that makes the World Cup, especially in North America, difficult for the casual supporter.
To some degree soccer has gotten too big, which in itself is not a problem as the level of positives it does for the planet are unmatched by any other sport. But this lack of exclusivity has encouraged a drive for elitism that is also unparalleled in the sporting world. Having the game already on the global stage means that this exclusivity can continue to thrive without obvious consequence.
Now, a quick qualifier, this article is not aimed at every soccer supporter. Nor is it aimed at the majority who tend to play well with others, hence the global popularity of the sport that they love. This particular piece is aimed at those who attack the casual fans of soccer and in some instances turn them off of a fantastic sport. World Cup time is ultimately when these snobbish supporters are at their worst.
Examples of this are plentiful. To begin with, there is the instant dismissal of “four year fans”, otherwise known as those who are interested in the sport only when it coincides with the World Cup finals. This is definitely more prevalent in North America, but happens throughout the world. They are often ostracized and labeled “bandwagon jumpers” and “not real supporters” by others. Instead of being embraced as potential new fans of the game, which many of them could become, they are excluded.
A lack of knowledge is also a massive sin amongst certain sections of soccer fans. To be a “true” national team supporter of your respective country you have to know several things: The starting eleven, the substitutes and literally everything about them, who the stars of the opposition are, the correct terminologies and pronunciation of every detail and the club teams of the respective players.
Elitism can also be seen significantly in modern day supporting culture, again, especially in North America. Nobody cheers for the little guy anymore, instead preferring super clubs around the World. At the World Cup it is no longer uncommon for some people to select a nation that will probably triumph over their home nation.
The supporter attraction to success in soccer is again not in itself a bad thing. But with it is coupled an elitist distaste for the little guy. A perfect example of this is the Canadian Men’s National Team. Very few people support Canadian soccer, instead choosing other nations with which they are barely affiliated. Why? Because they are “bad” and Canada “isn’t a soccer country”. Both of these are said like they are facts, instead of factors that can easily be altered by a more positive mentality and more support.
Furthermore, those who actually do support the little guy are seen as “not true supporters of soccer”. For example, individuals who watch Major League Soccer are regularly considered lesser soccer fans than those who watch, say, the English Premier League. Why? Because the quality is worse, so somehow they have no notion of how the sport should be played.
In what other sport are those who support an “inferior” league considered to be less of supporter. To this end, loyalty is driven by quality in a way that is also significantly worse than that of other sports. An individual from Philadelphia will laugh at the Union and instead support Chelsea and Germany, because they win.
This time of year, it might be because soccer fans feel threatened that they go so quickly into this protective shell of soccer elitism. It is understandably frustrating to see individuals all of a sudden have opinions and commentary about a sport they have watched only a handful of times in their life.
But this is why soccer is a global game, because it gives the opportunity for everyone to get involved. The second this becomes a consistent issue, the growth of a game that has been exponential each year will eventually stop.
The sport of soccer needs to embrace the casual fan and try to attract them to the beautiful game. Not insult their intelligence and make them feel left out from the global game.
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