Why Soccer Can’t Heal Nations

The five-day 1969 conflict between El Salvador and Honduras indelibly linked the words war and soccer (or football). But there are those who claim that it is in considerable part due to soccer – to the way in which it satisfies nationalistic passions without bloodshed – that Western Europe owes the peace that has lasted since the Second World War. It certainly is pretty to think so – as pretty as it was to think that the Iraqi team’s success in the Asia cup last year, celebrated euphorically by Iraqis of all persuasions,  would have helped to unite and pacify that nation. Alas, more carnage soon followed. And at this Euro 2008, it was pretty to read that even the Basques were supporting the Spanish team; but it’s doubtful that ETA separatists will soon lay down their arms as a result. And it was pretty to think that the Turkish team’s amazing, agonizing feats would inspire their nation and heal its East-West divisions. Alas, a week or so later, former generals who had been critical of the Islam-leaning government were being arrested. As much as we would like to think that sports are not pure entertainment, that they do have transcendent value, evidence contradicts it, showing us that the emotions released by a sporting event, even one as seemingly earthshaking as an international soccer final, have a very short shelf life and usually no lasting repercussions in society.