End of Summer Reflections: The World Cup and English Identity
It’s been sometime since the World Cup final in Russia and discussions about the England team in the press and among wider society have now reduced to a slow simmer. It seems fitting that now the smoke has cleared someone can provide an analysis of the England team and the World Cup and its possible implications on English identity, as whether or not football is panem et circenses as some may say, it’s symbolism and…
FIFA and the Disservice to the Cause
Putting aside my lament of our folk still wasting their time, money, and effort on the meaningless inter-racial love-fest that is modern-day football, I’m moved to comment on the galling hypocrisy of FIFA. In an ultimate affront and dishonour to the war-dead of both European civil wars (WWI and WWII), FIFA has banned the wearing of poppies because football’s world governing body prohibits “political, religious or commercial messages” being displayed on the pitch. FIFA rules,…