The stadium is not just an entertainment venue. It is a sounding board for society’s hopes, dreams, and even violence. Therefore, there is no reason to think that sport cannot be a means of promoting social justice and humanistic values.
And Richarlison knows this. The star of the national team, whose flight made news in the world’s newspapers, became politicized, defended science, stood up after the death of George Floyd, condemned forest fires, and devoted a portion of his salary to social causes.
It breaks the comfortable silence of many players who bow their heads and sweat the tears of the pain and sacrifices of the past lest trouble befall the club or sponsor. Athletes who lied to themselves and, discouraged by Muhammad Ali’s anger, reiterated that they were never the target of racism, and did not condemn the inhumane economic regime that marked their childhood.”
Voices warning that sport cannot be polluted by political issues will quickly rise. But those who defend this thesis are the same as those who do not want to be questioned in their inherited privileges.
Isn’t raising your voice against injustice, racism and homophobic behavior just to be silent or a political act? We can build a stadium that will be used as a political platform for the local elite, but can’t we use its stands to fight for equality?
If the superstar image can be used by capitalism to sell cars, underwear, deodorant, watches and dreams, why not promote the subversive idea of the right to life, food and education?
In an age where we see the pillars of civilization crumbling rapidly, how long must we wait for boys to grow up into men?
As with reggae and other forms of art, the struggle for rights is allowed to occupy all areas. Non-stop. And football – global, popular and irresistible – has the power to be an act of resistance to barbarism.
There is no contradiction between goals and being politicized. Shaking the stands is only part of the effect of a player choosing to break the silence. What these spherical superstars do by taking a stand for humanistic values is to shake up the collective unconscious and power structures.
source: Noticias
Mark Jones is a world traveler and journalist for News Rebeat. With a curious mind and a love of adventure, Mark brings a unique perspective to the latest global events and provides in-depth and thought-provoking coverage of the world at large.