Football, Nationality and the State examines the complex and ever-changing relationship between football (its development and structure), nationality and the state. Divided into two parts the book first deals with the existence of more than one football nation within the same political state. Using international comparisons the authors argue that these divisions may result from football's early history and development, regional movements for independence, or the growth of a language cleavage. The second part of the book goes on to examine the structure of football as an extension, or reflection, of the structure of the state. Resulting structures include the imposition of state socialism on sport, the presence of democratic politics in the organisation of football clubs and the links between big business and football.
Section 1: Football Nations Within the State.
2. UK 4 FIFA 0: the result of football's early development.
3. Storming the Castile; footballing nations of Spain.
4. Playing in the right language: football in Belgium.
5. Playing across the border; football frontiers.
Section 2: Football as an Extension of the State.
6. Read Star Dynamo Lokomotiv Torpedo FC: football in Eastern Europe.
7. Don't shoot me. I'm presidente; football and politics in Argentina.
8. Ultra-political: football culture in Italy.
9. Women can't play, it's a male ball: her story in football.
References.
Index.
Biography
Vic Duke, Liz Crolley
