Politics and Passion
The Inter – Juventus derby did little to disappoint…and now we have the obligatory post-match fallout. Luis Figo is accusing Luciano Moggi of paying a special visit to the referee’s (Paparesta) locker room before the match. Moggi has responded by taking the issue to court. And in the middle of it all, Roberto Mancini has earned a touchline ban for verbally assaulting Paparesta. Oh, and let’s not forget the bust-up in the tunnel.
For those of you who feared that passion was leaking from the Italian game, fear no more. Even when the table is at its most lopsided, perhaps precisely when it IS lopsided, there is enough scandal and anger to fill the Milano Stazione Centrale twice over. Despite dreary attendances and a lack of any game-changing icons on the player landscape, the game occupies the heart and minds of everyone from the alps to the Amalfi coast.
A million pop psychologists would gladly tell us why this is so, and its probably a ‘quilt’ of things– entertainment, regional pride, family tradition, etc. And for a great many, its still the love of the game and only the game. I suspect heavily though, in a country where ‘conspiracy’ seems rampant and class politics are played out in public spectacles, that calcio mostly serves that human need to be part of a larger group. Who wouldn’t want to watch the grand theatre all play out? And to be swept up in it? To live and die as part of an important ‘club’ that will always be there, what could be better for a citizenry faced with predictable fiscal growth and unmoveable social classes? Eh, maybe I’m overthinking it. Maybe its just the beauty of a well-struck free kick by a legend in his last days after all…
Related Posts
Subscribe
|
Print
|
Share
|
Comments are closed
Send Your Tips!
Email tips[at]worldcupblog[dot]org
Italy Club Football News
- Preview: Juventus v. Udinese
- Bologna v Inter: Mortadella Speedbump on the Road to Catalonia
- Milan-Cagliari
- Player of the Decade: Alessandro Nesta?
- The International Break is Over, Parma come to the Franchi
More Europe Blogs
France World Cup Blog
789 Articles | 10,306 Comments
Croatia World Cup Blog
192 Articles | 1,821 Comments
Czech Republic World Cup Blog
196 Articles | 320 Comments
England World Cup Team Blog
811 Articles | 2,769 Comments
Germany World Cup Blog Blog
485 Articles | 3,098 Comments
Italy World Cup Blog
567 Articles | 21,783 Comments
Netherlands World Cup Blog
2,013 Articles | 26,932 Comments
Poland World Cup Blog
352 Articles | 4,198 Comments
Portugal World Cup Blog
453 Articles | 7,016 Comments
Serbia World Cup Team Blog
168 Articles | 847 Comments
Spain World Cup Blog
235 Articles | 1,926 Comments
Sweden World Cup Blog
151 Articles | 318 Comments
Switzerland World Cup Blog
217 Articles | 327 Comments
Ukraine World Cup Team Blog
120 Articles | 806 Comments
Greece World Cup Blog
142 Articles | 70 Comments
Russia World Cup Blog
81 Articles | 143 Comments
Scotland World Cup Team Blog
101 Articles | 108 Comments
Ireland World Cup Team Blog
55 Articles | 121 Comments
Norway World Cup Team Blog
9 Articles | 6 Comments
Turkey World Cup Blog
39 Articles | 293 Comments
Romania World Cup Blog
78 Articles | 281 Comments
Austria World Cup Blog
111 Articles | 117 Comments
Denmark World Cup Team Blog
8 Articles | 27 Comments
Albania World Cup Team Blog
4 Articles | 8 Comments
Belgium World Cup Team Blog
49 Articles | 59 Comments
Wales World Cup Team Blog
61 Articles | 17 Comments
Bosnia World Cup Team Blog
31 Articles | 87 Comments
Israel World Cup Team Blog
22 Articles | 18 Comments
Monthly Archives
World 







