“Correia takes us around the world to examine how soccer has
produced the kind of political energy that can change minds and even
topple governments'.” --Dave Zirin, Sports Editor, The Nation
Soccer
is so much more than the billionaire buyers and eye-watering signing
fees that dominate the headlines. Look beyond the Premiership and the
World Cup, the sublime brilliance of Messi and Mbappé, and you'll
find a story unparalleled in the world of sport.
From
England, France and Germany to Palestine, South Africa and Brazil, A
People's History of Soccer reveals how the 'beautiful game' has
been a powerful instrument of emancipation for workers, feminists,
anti-colonialist activists, young people and protesters around the
world.
Mickaël
Correia's history from below retraces the journeys of professionals,
amateurs and enthusiasts alike. Countering the clichés about soccer
fans, he dives into countercultures born after the Second World War,
from English hooligans to the ultras who played a central role in the
Arab Spring. And with chapters on anti-fascism, the women's game, and
the rise in community-owned clubs, Correia reminds us that soccer can
be a powerful social and political force - as generous as it is
subversive.
