My
father once lent me a book called “How
Soccer Explains the World: An Unlikely Theory of Globalization.” In it, the author wrote at length of the
intermingling of the sport and politics throughout the world. Citing Bosnia, Honduras, and many more, he
showed how historically the sport and the fans who love it have had their
ideals hijacked by ulterior motives.
When I read the recent news from Cairo, I felt sad for the victims, sad for Egypt, and
sad for the sport itself.
Already, the ruling military council
in Egypt is being accused of perpetrating the violence by having outside agents
infiltrate the home fans, and then inciting a riot against the visitors and the
visiting fans. The most telling quote –
coming from a home supporter, someone who saw his own companions and “fans”
attack the visitors – to show the presence of an outside and sinister hand at
play in the riots: "This was unbelievable... we were supposed to be celebrating, not killing people. We defeated Al-Ahly, something I saw only twice in my lifetime. All the people were happy. Nobody expected this."
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