SHORTPOD (24): THE WORLD CUP AND THE DENATIONALISATION OF ENGLISH FOOTBALL

Affirmative Right Chief Editor Colin Liddell looks at the ongoing World Cup, and reflects on how Western European elites are changing football from a collective and tribalistic expression of White working-class identity to something more consumerist, atomised, rootless, multiracial, and meaningless.

Recommended links:

Andy Nowicki's YouTube channel
Caste Football

RUSSIA FOR THE RUSSIANS

by Hewitt E. Moore
@hewittemoore

The 2018 World Cup is being held in Russia, which will result in thousands of foreign tourists. One Russian lawmaker, who concedes the female propensity for promiscuity with foreigners, has offered some sound advice for Russian women:

ARGENTINA IN WHITEFACE

by Colin Liddell

Whenever a major sporting event comes along, the progressive media always has a desired narrative. So it was with the recent World Cup, where it was widely hoped that a racially mixed team would win, proving once again the all-conquering power of 'diversity.' Alas, when Brazil crashed to its 1-7 defeat against Germany in the semi-final, the desired narrative took a severe beating and started coughing up blood.

In its own way, the German team was also quite diverse, but not in the same flashy, frizzy manner as Brazil. Among its blond Aryan ranks it also boasted a Turk (Ozil), a half-Tunisian (Khedira), and even a Black player – well, half-black (Boateng). But overall the team looked White, and, worse than that, they played with Teutonic precision rather than the carefree carnival spirit expected from a truly ‘diverse’ team; in short, unsuitable poster boys for the progressive fantasy.

BRAZIL: FOOTBALL OR FASCISM?

The Eagle has landed.

by Colin Liddell

There are only two factors that unite Brazil – the Portuguese language and their pride in their 'national' football ("soccer") team. Almost everything else – regional rivalries, racial differences, economic inequalities, and diverse climate zones – drives the nation apart. Even Catholicism, since the inception of Liberation Theology, has become more of a divisive force. It is interesting, therefore, to consider what effect their drubbing at the hands of Germany in the World Cup semi-finals will have on the nation.

It is also interesting to ponder on the cultural semantics of an overtly German team – even one that isn't quite pure itself – crushing a team that is a kind of poster child for the great multiracial hybrid future that we are all supposed to stroll willingly towards. Alas the main talisman of this mongrelized team, Neymar, a mixed race player with naturally kinky hair who has straightened and dyed his hair blond, couldn't make the game due to his injury in Brazil's quarter-final victory over Colombia – a somewhat darker version of themselves.

GAMING THE WORLD

This article was published at Alternative Right four years ago, at the time of the 2010 World Cup. Although the soccer references may be slightly dated, the points made are more relevant than ever.

Balotelli and banana.

Soccer and the Campaign for Anti-Racism 

by Colin Liddell

For most of those interested in it, the World Cup exists on two levels. First, there is the intense partisan connection that all supporters feel for their own national team—some of the deepest and occasionally darkest feelings known to man. Then there is the wider interest in the game—a more generous and objective love of the skills and stories generated by the competition, such as Germany's remarkable ability to destroy teams on the break, Diego Forlan's incredible shooting accuracy, Maradona's touchy- feely management style, and, of course, Paul the Octopus.

Typically the earlier stages of World Cups are experienced mainly on the first level, while in the latter stages—after most of the teams have been knocked out—supporters tend to broaden their appreciation and enjoy the game in a more general sense.

In my case, as the supporter of a country (Scotland) that failed even to qualify for the World Cup finals, my interest has been on the second level, except for a passing interest in seeing my country's traditional rival (England) knocked out—an aspiration that has thankfully come to pass.