Larry's Corner

Soccer Fever As a Canadian Metaphor

By Larry Di Ianni
(posted June 23, 2008)

Note: A version of this article was published in the Weekend Reader section of this Saturday’s Spectator. It was edited down for space reasons. Here is the entire text of the article.

Every two years, our city and cities across our country and beyond, are gripped with a soccer fever that brings out, more than any other occasion, the fervour we all feel for our ancestral roots. In fact, even the non-soccer enthusiast can easily keep track of which country won the latest game by simply watching the procession of flags that stream down our downtown after a particular match. The Portuguese, Croatian, Italian, Dutch, Turkish and German communities, to name a few, have participated in this ritual these past several weeks. Now that the weaker teams have been eliminated, leaving the eight strongest contenders to face each other, we are bound to see the ritual flag-waving to reach new heights of ancestral pride. Is this obvious show of support for foreign teams good for Canada?

I have wondered, on occasion, how those whose ancestral countries do not have teams in the Euro or World Cup, or whose multi-generational ancestry is rooted exclusively in Canada, I have wondered how these citizens view the panoply of foreign flags being waved under their noses? Are they resentful? Do they see this allegiance to the teams of other countries as divided loyalty? Is the flag-waving being disrespectful to Canada, ‘our home and native land’ as our anthem states?

I was interested to learn that this ambivalence does not only afflict aficionados, it is also a source of angst for some of the world-class players, playing for the national teams of their citizenship, against the national teams of their ancestral origins. A case in point is the German striker Lukas Podolski who scored two goals against Poland; and rather than celebrating in the effusive style we have customarily witnessed, lowered his head in a quasi-mourning reaction. “I was born in Poland. I have a big family there. It is close to my heart.” He reportedly told the German press. A Polish legislator wasn’t kind to Lukas’ sensitivity, wanting him ‘stripped’ of his polish passport for scoring against the country of his birth. Lukas wasn’t worried about this over-reaction. He doesn’t carry a Polish passport! Nevertheless, the incident aptly illustrates the theme of divided allegiance, perceived or real.

In Hamilton, to my knowledge, no one is calling for passports to be rescinded. And in Hamilton too, the vast majority of those supporting other countries’ national teams also would NOT have foreign passports. In fact, by viewing the reaction to the processions and flag-waving along James Street, we would have to conclude that Hamiltonians, regardless of their ancestral roots, are a very tolerant and accepting people. Not only are our citizens understanding of the disruptive grid-lock along James, but many actually wave and give thumbs up to the participants, encouraging their joy and ‘nationalistic’ expressions. In all my years of viewing and participating in these rituals, I have never seen any sign of disrespect, or short-temper towards the young and not-so-young revellers. With the unfortunate exception a few years ago when the soccer celebrations occurred at the same time as the Gay Pride parade in our downtown, and some intemperate soccer fans probably fuelled by one too many celebratory drinks, were disrespectful to the Pride marchers, never have any untoward incidents been reported. And I was in pretty close contact with the police when Italy won the world cup in 2006. All had a good time.

So, why does this phenomenon of acceptance and celebration exist? I believe first and foremost because most of us see the flag-waving not as a sign of loyalty for a foreign country, but mainly as a show of support for the soccer team of that country which also happens to be the place of the fans’ ancestral roots. The distinction is made then between patriotic loyalty and fan support. I would venture to say that as Canada’s own soccer teams improve and might some day be World Cup contenders, we would see an unequivocal show of support for our country in any international competition, regardless of ancestral roots.

But the second and most important reason for welcoming the soccer celebrations is that the show of support for our ancestral roots is quintessentially Canadian. It is what defines us as a nation. This definition is the basis of our multicultural, pluralistic society. Canada has been built on a respect for our founding races, and for the invited residents that have come here from the four corners of the world. This diversity is our community’s strength; and we do on occasion show this with pride to the world.

As Hamiltonians we accept this reality in sports and in other walks of life. It is this acceptance of diversity that made history when the first female Federal cabinet minister came from Hamilton, when the first black Federal cabinet minister came from our city, and when the first Italian-born Mayor of the city was elected here, and now a Dutch-born Mayor as well.

So, in soccer, most of us understand that for a brief period of time, every two years we can become totally immersed in the support of soccer teams from other countries. We can also celebrate and wear the national colours of those teams. We can cheer in competitive exultation. All of that is allowed and celebrated. But for the rest of the year, we also know that it is our obligation to celebrate the city and country that has generously given us the right to honour our roots. We can be understandably proud of where we have come from, while being fiercely loyal to where we have come to, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.

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