Soccer For Peace
Soccer is a powerful game and a powerful tool that is most often used as an attempt to unify different ethnic groups from different countries of different backgrounds. Because of these differences, the lack of tolerance escalates rapidly and the inevitable happens. War is never pretty, its aftermath is devastating. The majority who suffers are the innocent civilians who are left caught in the middle and often have to seek help and refuge outside of their comfort zone, leaving their lives behind.
Often enough, one common background these groups share is their love for the game of soccer, the most popular sport in the world. Soccer, generally known as “football” throughout the world, has played an important role in being used as a peace mediator between nations. This sport has brought enemies together even during the time of war.
FIFA federation recognizes this problem and dedicates their major tournaments towards peace and racism, a message you probably will witness in the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
During World War I, British and German troops put down their guns to play a soccer game on Christmas Day of 1914. In Lagos Nigeria 1969, a cease-fire between government and rebel fighters was declared when Brazilian star Pele made a trip with his soccer club, Santos.
While the Americans and its allies were fighting in Afghanistan and Iraq, coalition forces organized soccer games for the local population, and sometimes played against Iraqi teams while the fighting was ongoing.
In Haiti, in the summer of 2004, the Brazilian national team played against the Haitian national squad, a "soccer for peace" game, in the hope that all social and anti-government groups would be united in the spirit of the game.
Soccer has always been a unifying tool between countries or rival groups within a country. As a result, it’s my opinion that putting away the guns for a day or more may save not only lives, but also may cause many to have a change of heart towards each other.
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Often enough, one common background these groups share is their love for the game of soccer, the most popular sport in the world. Soccer, generally known as “football” throughout the world, has played an important role in being used as a peace mediator between nations. This sport has brought enemies together even during the time of war.
FIFA federation recognizes this problem and dedicates their major tournaments towards peace and racism, a message you probably will witness in the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
During World War I, British and German troops put down their guns to play a soccer game on Christmas Day of 1914. In Lagos Nigeria 1969, a cease-fire between government and rebel fighters was declared when Brazilian star Pele made a trip with his soccer club, Santos.
While the Americans and its allies were fighting in Afghanistan and Iraq, coalition forces organized soccer games for the local population, and sometimes played against Iraqi teams while the fighting was ongoing.
In Haiti, in the summer of 2004, the Brazilian national team played against the Haitian national squad, a "soccer for peace" game, in the hope that all social and anti-government groups would be united in the spirit of the game.
Soccer has always been a unifying tool between countries or rival groups within a country. As a result, it’s my opinion that putting away the guns for a day or more may save not only lives, but also may cause many to have a change of heart towards each other.