Using the beautiful game for improving ties


Using the beautiful game for improving ties

By Umaid Wasim

KARACHI: The 1998 FIFA World Cup saw one of the greatest political rivalry come to the football pitch when Iran and the United States collided in a clash viewed as a battle of ideologies between the forces of the Great Satan and the conservative clerics who ritualistically call for death to America.

On the political front, both countries were at a war as Iran accused the United States of imposing the eight-year Iran-Iraq war for its own purposes in 1980. But the two sides met on the football pitch and Iran won the match 2-1; in a tie Iranian fans and players hoped would improve relations.

Football is a game that brings nations closer. The joy, the emotion and the perserverance all bundled up in 90 minutes of action depicts the greatness of the game.

Argentina and England were at war in the Falklands but Argentine players still featured in the English Premier League. The great rivalry saw David Beckham see red in their infamous 1998 World Cup match a red card that dashed England’s ambitions. Still there are Argentineans plying their trade for English Clubs. There was Juan Sebastien Veron at Manchester United, Hernan Crespo at Chelsea and now, Carlos Tevez at Manchester City.

Football has its own universal language of unity. Politics becomes secondary when the game is played.

Pakistan and India have been rivals in every aspect for the last 62 years. From the battle grounds to the cricket field, there is an undeniable ferocity when the two sides meet. Football, though, can bridge the gap.

It was heartening to see Indian football’s best known face, Bhaichung Bhutia, play with International stars of the likes of Zinedine Zidane, Kaka and Luis Figo recently in a charity match to raise funds for the Haiti earthquake victims.

The fact that Bhutia went shoulder to shoulder with some of the world’s finest footballers shows the potential of football in the region. Football is a developing sport in the sub-continent where Cricket is the pre-dominant sport. While Pakistan’s top football club features in AFC’s third-tier football event; the AFC President’s Cup, Indian clubs feature in the second-tier competition, the AFC Cup.

A good exchange of talent between the two countries as well as organising friendly matches between the two countries would aid the development of football in the region. Afterall, when football is the world’s most popular sport; why should the teams from the sub-continent lag behind?

The talent in both the countries is immense. Football has been followed in both countries for quite some time. Collaboration in development of the game could go a long way in improving ties between the two countries.




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