May 18th 2024.
As a millennial who considers myself socially conscious, I have participated in my fair share of protests. I believe that raising our voices and taking action is crucial in bringing about change and protecting the things we care about. While there are countless important causes to march for, I have personally protested against one issue twice - the proposed European Super League.
As a die-hard fan of Arsenal, I could not sit idly by as my beloved team potentially joined a league that would prioritize money over the loyalty and support of their fans. It may seem silly to some, but to me, it represented a larger trend of morality becoming a pressing concern in the modern football world. And in my opinion, that is a good thing.
I am aware that as a football fan, I may be considered a hypocrite for speaking out against the greed and corruption in the sport. More and more money is flooding the game, and it becomes easier to lose sight of our morals. But that doesn't mean we should give up. In fact, I have signed up for a political newsletter to stay informed about the impact of football on the wider world.
The saying goes that there is no ethical consumption under capitalism, and this rings especially true in the world of Premier League football. It is tempting to give in to the overwhelming influence of money, but we cannot ignore the effects that the game and its business have on the world around us.
As an Arsenal fan, I have always been proud of the club's values and diversity. We have one of the best-funded and most popular women's teams in the country, all thanks to a humble French manager known as "the professor." However, as the sport becomes increasingly dominated by oil states and questionable financial practices, I find it difficult to maintain that sense of pride.
When Manchester City is charged with financial irregularities and Newcastle is owned by Saudi Arabia, it is hard to gloat and virtue signal. And it becomes even more difficult when I attend matches at a stadium named after an airline from the Gulf State, wearing a shirt with the words "Visit Rwanda" on the sleeve while cheering on those who protest the Rwandan government's actions.
It is a far cry from the club I grew up supporting. But perhaps the most disheartening realization is that even the professor himself has sold out, now working as a pundit for a Qatari broadcaster. It seems that no one is immune to the lure of money in football.
However, I refuse to give up. If we all remain silent and turn a blind eye, football will go the way of other sports that have completely sold their soul to the highest bidder. But there is hope. The Super League was ultimately defeated, and in the past, fan pressure has successfully stopped plans to move games abroad.
On an individual level, there have been players like Jordan Henderson who have left lucrative deals in Saudi Arabia to play for teams with better morals. And while there may not be much soul left in football, we must continue to fight for what is right before it is too late. Who knows, maybe I will be motivated to attend a third protest in the future.
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