Introduction
Soccer is one of the most famous and highly respected names in the world today and it should play a significant role in promoting cultural values that make the world a better place. Some of the cultural values embedded in soccer include; socialization, entertainment, talent nurturing, humanity, peace, charity, and international integration. To ensure that all these cultural values are maintained FIFA has come up with a code of ethics that is meant to punish players, fans, and even match officials who go against these cultural values.
Soccer cultural values
One of the cultural values embedded in soccer is socialization; socialization is promoted by the soccer events that are organized by the world soccer governing body FIFA. Through tournaments like the World cup, the European Cup, Champions league, Africa cup and many other tournaments people from different cultures, beliefs, races, and economic backgrounds meet and interact with each other. Socialization has made the world a global village since it is easy for individuals to meet and interact with people from all over the world. Soccer also supports socialization among people of the same community, for example during a soccer match people from a given village can gather in a given place to watch a soccer match; this promotes friendship among these people. FIFA has also managed to ensure that socialization in soccer is maintained by strongly fighting against vices such as racism that are seen to hinder socialization. In its code of ethics Racism is stipulated as a crime and any player, match official or even fun who participates in it is heavily fined (Kuper 2008: 16).
Another soccer cultural value is entertainment; world soccer governing body FIFA ensures that all the tournaments that they organize are entertaining and are up to standard. FIFA does this by taking certain steps, the steps include; inspecting all stadiums that are supposed to stage a match so as to ensure that they are up to standard to stage an entertaining match. FIFA also carries out a thorough interview on all match officials to ensure that they fully understand the game so that they may offer the right judgment on players who commit violations on the pitch (Ceci 2006: 34).
Talent nurturing is also another soccer cultural value. Each and every year, talent scouts move all over the world in search of talented soccer players who are willing to play for big clubs in Europe and other parts of the world. Talent nurturing is also enhanced in various soccer clubs that have youth teams who train and after having a successful period with the youth team they are adopted in the club senior teams. Various players have benefited from these youth teams a good example is Argentine player Lionel Messi who after having a successful spell with Barcelona youth team was adopted by the senior team and currently he is one of the best players in the world (Bonfant 1998: 119).
Humanity is also another cultural value embedded in soccer. World soccer governing body FIFA ensures that humanity is embraced in soccer by allowing soccer players to participate in various activities that promote humanity. One of the activities in the fight against poverty. Each and every year soccer stars are seen in various media advertisements seeking people to assist warring nations. Players also participate in charitable matches to raise funds that are meant to support the needy.
Another soccer cultural value is Peace, peace in soccer is promoted by the various activities that soccer players engage in, for example soccer players engage in matches that are organized by the United Nations Organization. These matches are meant to spread harmony and peace throughout the world. Before the peace organized matches are held, peace messages are passed around in several media adverts and also in the stadiums. Tournaments organized by FIFA also enable to spread of peace; a good example of such a situation in Iraq. Iraq’s different ethnic groups were brought together to celebrate their country’s victory when their players managed to win the Asian cup (Hellerman 1999: 190).
Charity is also another cultural value embedded in soccer. Most football organizations and clubs offer some money every year to charitable organizations like CARE International and Canadian international development agency (CIDA) which work hard to help people achieve social and economic well-being. World Soccer governing body FIFA also organizes charitable matches to raise funds that go to charitable organizations.
The seventh soccer cultural value is international integration. Most countries in the world that have different cultures and beliefs embrace soccer as part of their culture. An example of such countries includes Argentina, Brazil, Germany, and Spain. The incorporation of this game as part of a country’s culture enables to promotion of peace within the country as different people from different ethnic backgrounds are bought together by soccer as their unifying factor (Hellerman 1999: 192).
Conclusion
Soccer has embedded several cultural values that have played a significant role in making the world a better place. Cultural values such as Charity, international integration, and many others discussed above play a significant role in humans’ life.
References
Ceci, T, (2006), “Soccer social aspects”, Nation books, page 34.
Bonfant, M, (1998), “the complete book of soccer”, Princeton publications, page 119.
Hellerman, S, (1999), “Soccer world most popular sport” Princeton publications, pp 185-192.
Kuper, S, (2008), “Soccer against the enemy”, Nation books, page 16.