Against Modern Football

7 April 2008

In today’s Guardian, Raphael Honigstein reports from Germany, where a movement among the country’s most passionate football supporters aims to curb the growing influence of commercial sponsors on the beautiful game.

“Against modern football” has become the war cry of Germany’s fledgling but increasingly influential Ultra scene. These groups don’t so much fight each other as what they see as the unacceptable commercialisation of the game: people dressing up as human sperm to form a white “T”, the letter of Bayern’s main sponsor, in the stand; fair-weather fans waving plastic hands; empty VIP seats after half-time; an unbearably smug stadium MC whose every burp comes with a corporate endorsement; heavy-handed crowd control. Bayern’s Ultras have even compared their plight with those of the Tibetans: “In Tibet and here: freedom instead of a police state”, read one placard.

Clearly, not everyone is feeling good about rising ticket prices, all-seater stadiums and a general lack of passion in football’s cathedrals. Read the rest of Honigstein’s piece after the jump.

The Coach