Football and politics

From Media Indonesia

I think all of us will agree that football is the most popular game throughout the world. During the current World Cup, football fans came to the United States to watch their favorite teams despite the high cost they had to bear for their travel and other necessities.

The game has such an influence on people that some even recklessly end their own life in disappointment and one person even murdered a player just because he made a mistake on the playing field.

I was wondering if football's impact will influence the political arena? In certain countries where football is the most respected and honored game, politics is linked to the development of the game. I still remember that the Colombian presidential candidate, Ernesto Samper, eventually won the presidential election because he was supported by a celebrated national football player.

The simple explanation to this phenomenon is that football fans consist of different social strata. In countries like Brazil, Italy and Colombia football is liked by people from all walks of life, so football has become a national issue and thus closely linked to politics.

EDIH SYARTO

Jakarta