Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
Good soccer can be built with not much money at all, most stars from Brazil from come from very poor families. That said, money and infrastructure would help a lot. Ever since I moved to the US and see all these nice grass fields everywhere and cheap soccer gear, I always wonder what would countries like Brazil do in soccer if they had all this wonderful infrastructure.
Soccer all around the world is a working class sport. From my travels the upper crust people I've met tended to like tennis, rugby, golf, racing, and polo. Very few liked soccer and if they did they liked clubs like Real Madrid who represent the throne to some extent.
In the US though the main "working class" sport is basketball followed by soccer but soccer at the competitive level, ie for it to mean anything and to for your kid to go anywhere, its a a solidly middle class sport. Youth clubs are very expensive and to get the right training you need to shell out some cash.
I'm not arguing what you are saying but I never once heard sports labeled as "working or lower" class when describing the participants in the states. The most popular team sports, including soccer, seem to go across all classes. Just my opinion after 40 years as a fan and player.
I will definetly give you that sports like golf and tennis are considered upper class. But the major teams sports divided by classes? That's the first I've heard of that here.
I'm not arguing what you are saying but I never once heard sports labeled as "working or lower" class when describing the participants in the states. The most popular team sports, including soccer, seem to go across all classes. Just my opinion after 40 years as a fan and player.
I will definetly give you that sports like golf and tennis are considered upper class. But the major teams sports divided by classes? That's the first I've heard of that here.
Hockey is generally middle to upper class, too. Any sport that requires significant investment in gear hurts lower class folk.
I'm not arguing what you are saying but I never once heard sports labeled as "working or lower" class when describing the participants in the states. The most popular team sports, including soccer, seem to go across all classes. Just my opinion after 40 years as a fan and player.
I will definetly give you that sports like golf and tennis are considered upper class. But the major teams sports divided by classes? That's the first I've heard of that here.
There are cheap leagues all over the country but they really lead to nowhere past the fifth grade. When you hit junior high you'll want to join a top club and usually they charge a higher fee. They have either English or Brazilian coaches, play on the best fields, and have the best competitions. At the top they're better connected too.
Try comparing that to a cheaper league that runs on fumes by comparison.
If you're talking about a group of people going to the park to play then that's different. Anyone can play anywhere, anytime.
Yeah, in no way is football(soccer) seen as a working class sport in Britain.. you could ask anybody of any 'class' and they would probably support a team
But don't teams break up into "working" class teams, "rich" teams, and then also break down by politics?
For instance, Lazio has a hard right wing base. Real Madrid is supposedly the club for the upper crust and the monarchy while FC Barcelona is the "people's club".
I don't know if Napoli is still considered an underdog after Maradona put it on the map.
But don't teams break up into "working" class teams, "rich" teams, and then also break down by politics?
For instance, Lazio has a hard right wing base. Real Madrid is supposedly the club for the upper crust and the monarchy while FC Barcelona is the "people's club".
I don't know if Napoli is still considered an underdog after Maradona put it on the map.
Paris vs Marseille, 'nuff said.
In other countries yes, in the UK not as much really.. most people will support their nearest team or from their family history. The obvious exceptions are clubs like Manchester Utd, who have many fans from around the country, or 'glory supporters' as we call them lol
Yeah, in no way is football(soccer) seen as a working class sport in Britain.. you could ask anybody of any 'class' and they would probably support a team
Yeah and this is what I'm getting at. By calling a sport "working class" implies to me anyway, that the overwhelming majority that play the game in sandlots, on weekends, have favorite teams, etc are working class people. I wish folks would stop saying it as it sounds very misleading. Just like saying basketball is a lower class sport here in the US. I think more peopple white collar, blue collar, etc play basketball than any other sport in the country. Are the players of NBA teams probably coming from lower class beginnings? Of course. But that doesn't mean the game is as described above (overwhleming majority comment).
But don't teams break up into "working" class teams, "rich" teams, and then also break down by politics?
For instance, Lazio has a hard right wing base. Real Madrid is supposedly the club for the upper crust and the monarchy while FC Barcelona is the "people's club".
There has been working class clubs vs upper class clubs, left wing clubs vs right wing clubs, or divided on religious grounds, the most famous maybe being Celtic (Catholic) vs Rangers (Protestant) in Scotland. Nowadays especially in rich world famous clubs the division is more than vague. The average Manchester City fan these days is probably a Chinese gloryhunter with no ties to Manchester or English football at all.
And yes, you can still see Roman salutes and Celtic crosses in the Lazio stands. But the Lazio-Roma big divide is still that Lazio = suburban club, Roma = inner city club, and not politics.
Yeah and this is what I'm getting at. By calling a sport "working class" implies to me anyway, that the overwhelming majority that play the game in sandlots, on weekends, have favorite teams, etc are working class people. I wish folks would stop saying it as it sounds very misleading. Just like saying basketball is a lower class sport here in the US. I think more peopple white collar, blue collar, etc play basketball than any other sport in the country. Are the players of NBA teams probably coming from lower class beginnings? Of course. But that doesn't mean the game is as described above (overwhleming majority comment).
Yeah.. I mean there are definitely different people who play rugby compared to football.. but in no way is it a 'poor mans sport'
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
