Anyhow, it brough back to me the argument by Terry Eagleton that football is the modern delirium of the people, made during the World Cup:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2010/jun/15/football-socialism-crack-cocaine-people
But see for a counter-point:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2010/jul/06/footballs-debt-socialism-world-cup
So, football as a kind of false consciousness, distracting people from the real material forces that shape their existence. I'm sure he meant it tongue in cheek. But as someone who favours the idea of the superstructure 'determining' the infrastructure, though not in an idealist sense, I think a different perspective can help. Like art, sports in the modern world are one of the areas in which values can be expressed. But art (within institutions) these days is hierarchical, it demands you fit in with a certain class of people, speak their language, imitate their manners, etc. To demand meaning, allowing for discourse and reflection, exposes you as a, well, a hooligan. Of course, there is art that does that, but it is marginal and not connected with either the elite or the people (just with generic creators and spectators).
Football is different, here values are displayed and they address society as a whole. Bruce Trigger in his 2003 magnus opum Comparing early civilizations wrote about values such as the warrior culture of the Mexica (Aztecs), the self-restraint of the Egyptian bureaucrat class and Yoruba competitiveness, as constituting a key element in these societies. More or less similar forms of organisation (infrastructures) can be coupled with very different superstructures. And here football comes in as a modern-day version for displaying such values, appropriately rooted in Renaissance Italy. As such, it actually trumps capitalism, socialism or any other meta-ideas about the economy. What is at stake is the relation of the individual to the collective in modern life and civilisation.
That is why Barça's victory over Real Madrid in the semi-finals was so important, one with cosmological dimensions. In the current philosophy, the universe of Real Madrid is centered on the celebrity, both with its coach (whose name I will not mention here) and with players like Ronaldo. Enormous sums have been spent by its president to gather these galactico players, who are all part of the celebrity show and culture of money determining everything, as well as a sometimes ugly show of egocentrism. For FC Barcelona by contrast it is the team collective and values of cooperation and beautiful footbal that are the core of the team's style. Messi of course epitomizes this philosophy, and like Xavi and many others was raised in it as a youngster on the training grounds there. Everything about them displays these values, and their victories materialize them in reality. This has an impact, not only in Europe but especially in the rest of the world, like the changing Arab countries.
The structure of the club, which involves not only football but also other sports, is also interesting. The members, known as socios, elect the president every four years in a kind of corporate democracy. Of course, it also is a corporation in that the salaries of the players are really high compared to those of ordinary Catalans that struggle to get by. Better than to spend it on bankers, though. Barça represents real added value to society, which is why its hymn talks about it as mes un club!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L2O_cLcWyck&feature=feedf
Of course, the Dutch have a kind of connection with the Catalan club, some of which is explored in this (Dutch) movie:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pAXtTscsmsk
That's it, I'm going back to my obscure Mycenaean high-culture work now.
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