Gulf Autocrats and Sports Corruption: A Marriage Made in Heaven

Abstract

Arab politics have been written into the DNA of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) since the expulsion of Israel in 1974. The expulsion like that of Taiwan underscored the incestuous relationship between politics and sport, most prevalent in the Middle East and North Africa. World soccer body FIFA’s failure to act on threats to sanction the AFC for violating the charters of FIFA and the AFC with the expulsions shaped global soccer’s attitude towards autocratic regimes. In the Middle East and North Africa, FIFA and the AFC’s refusal to impose adherence to their rules amounted to support for autocratic rule in a soccer-crazy region where rulers see the game as a key to exercising control of public space and an institution that evokes deep-seated passions. Their refusal has had far-reaching consequences for governance, certainly since 2002, when Mohammed Bin Hammam became AFC president until he was banned by FIFA from involvement in soccer 11 years later and under the reign of his successor, Sheikh Salman Bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa. Their governance and that of Kuwait’s Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Ahmed Al-Sabah, one of the most powerful men in international sports, reflects the authoritarian traits of the societies they hail from.     

Scoring on and off the field?: The impact of Australia's inclusion in the Asian Football Confederation

The case follows Australia's move from the Oceania Football Federation (OFC) to the Asian Football Confederation (AFC). The case explores the impact of Australia's inclusion on other AFC member nations and highlights that Australia's relative success in the AFC may not be perceived as positive by all stakeholders within the AFC. The case considers the effect of Australia's inclusion in the AFC on the AFC in general, and also on both the sport of soccer in Australia, and the broader Australian economy.     

Leveraging events to ensure enduring benefits: The legacy strategy of the 2015 AFC Asian Cup

The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Asian Cup is the largest soccer event on the Asian continent. Australia hosted the 2015 AFC Asian Cup which provided the nation with an opportunity to not only celebrate the sport of soccer, but also leverage the event to deliver enduring legacies. This case study examines the three key legacies of the 2015 AFC Asian Cup which were tourism, trade and investment, and multicultural engagement, and considers the leveraging strategies that were implemented to achieve the stated legacies.     

Influences of player nationality,playing position,and height on relative age effects at women's under-17 FIFA World Cup

Abstract

Previous research has shown that young male soccer players who are born early in a cohort are overrepresented on elite soccer teams. Selection advantages such as this have been termed ‘relative age effects’ (RAEs). Few studies have examined RAEs in elite women's youth soccer. Therefore, the aim of this study is to investigate the occurrence of RAEs in the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) U-17 Women's World Cup competition and their link to playing positions. In the entire cohort of 672 players, we found significant RAEs in the geographical zones of Europe and North and Central America, no RAEs in the zones of Asia, Oceania, and South America, and significant inverse RAEs in the zone of Africa. Additionally, significant RAEs were found for goalkeepers and defenders from Europe and North and Central America. Inverse RAEs occurred for African goalkeepers, defenders, and strikers. Goalkeepers of all zones were significantly taller than players of all other playing positions. The results of this study show that remarkable RAEs do exist at elite women's youth soccer. Similar to men's soccer, there is a bias toward the inclusion of relatively older players, and a link between RAEs and playing positions.     

The Heroine of Free China: A New Image of Diplomatic Envoys and the Female Body of the Liangyou Women’s National Basketball Team in the 1950s

The Civil War between the Kuomintang (KMT) and Communist Party that ended in 1949 caused a confrontation between the ‘Free China’ in Taiwan claimed by the Republic of China, the KMT that retreated to Taiwan, and the ‘New China’ established by the People’s Republic of China. The sport policies of the ‘Two Chinas’ were based on the respective political positions, which were affected greatly by the Cold War. Taiwan, ruled by the KMT affiliating with the camp of the capitalists led by the USA, was the revival base to connect with Chinese in several East and Southeast Asian countries and to connect with other Asian anti-Communist countries. Political and military policies contributed to Taiwan women’s basketball development during the Cold War in East Asia and the first national team named Liangyou thus emerged. The Liangyou’s life symbolized the beginning and the phased ending of women’s basketball development in Taiwan, and skilful players of noble character practised loyal diplomatic missions and publicized the strong body-mind heroine image of Free China. Their healthy and cheerful character along with a passion for basketball provided new ideas of women’s roles in post-war Taiwan. Trips for overseas competitions let players experience the outside world.     

Guangzhou: The Asian Games and the Chinese ‘Gold-Fest’ – Geopolitical Issues for Australia

At the Guangzhou Asian Games, the performances of China's athletes, the officials and the host city of Guangzhou were outstanding. China's journey to the Asian Games in Guangzhou and the accompanying political and sporting machinations throughout are considered in the initial discussion of this essay. The analysis subsequently focuses on Australia's metamorphosis as an ‘Asian’ nation and the sporting, cultural and diplomatic implications this could have for Australia and China. Would this signal Australia's egress from the Commonwealth Games and the Commonwealth per se, thus cutting the British Imperial umbilicus? The presence of Australia at the Asian Games may also enhance the soft power ambitions China has for its engagement in the Asian Games; succeeding in competitions that include a global sports ‘heavyweight’ like Australia would add kudos to the performances of Chinese athletes. How would Australia benefit from this shift? Considering Australia's geopolitical and economic ties with East Asia would an increased level of sporting engagement with China concomitantly produce cultural, economic and political successes? In the long term, Australia may inevitably become part of the post-colonial East Asian world: the future world of power, wealth and geopolitical influence.     

Introduction: Eurocentric Lens Removed: Wilsonian Impetus

The rise of the West to a position of dominance is one of the most important developments in world history in recent centuries. All writing about the world in recent times has to take into account the rise of the West. However, from its zenith at the beginning of the twentieth century, Europe's hold over Asia was dramatically weakened. The twenty-first century is increasingly ‘The Asian Century’. It is time to remove the Eurocentric lens through which much of recent world history has been viewed. The removal of this lens is the purpose of London 2012. Will a new Wilsonian Moment now occur? Will the ambitious vision of Woodrow Wilson be realised at last in sport if not politics? Will the world experience a Neo-Wilsonian Moment in sport with the nations of the East celebrating the full fruits of full national equality, recognition and acceptance in a long delayed post-1919 harvest earned in recent global sports mega-events? Will future Olympic Games fully embrace the histories, values and traditions of both West and East? Will the Eurocentric lens remain in place?     

Organizational factors influencing football development in East African countries

The performance of association football (soccer) teams from East Africa (Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania [KUT]) in International competitions has not met the expectations of their followers and it has been consistently poor in comparison to Northern, Southern and Western regions of Africa. This article reviews some of the factors perceived to influence football development in East Africa focusing on KUT. Using performance factors conceptual framework, this paper highlights organizational factors, which have influenced the development of football such as facilities, equipment, funding, technical personnel, incentives, external exposure, and appointment of coaches in the development of football in East Africa. It is apparent that a lot more is demanded for the leadership of soccer in East Africa if the standards of the game are to be uplifted.     

Push-and-Run between Power,Participation and Performance: Political Playmaking and the Tactics of the Asian Football Confederation

In the wake of the nomination of Qatar as host country for the World Cup 2022 and the subsequent debate on ethical and organizational aspects of running world football, more public attention has been drawn to actors that play an important role in the politically, economically, and culturally globalized ‘game’ of football. Journalists, academics, and fans have therefore spotlighted the significance of sport governing bodies in the context of aspects relating to power, profit, participation, and performance. This article provides an insight into the significance of political issues in sport in general and particularly with regard to football in Asia and the role of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC). Referring to the political processes within the football system as well as the political relations between non-governmental, governmental, and business actors this analysis produces an account of the complexity of football politics. Under consideration of three theoretical perspectives – globalization, neo-institutionalism, and governance – the paper assesses the AFC as Glocal Player, Corporate Actor, and Skilful Negotiator.     

我国与世界优秀女子足球运动员年龄、身高、体重特征的比较研究

运用数理统计、资料分析和比较法,对参加2003年女子足球世界杯与2003年中国女子超级联赛的女足队员的年龄、身高、体重进行了统计分析与比较。研究表明:世界优秀女子足球运动员的年龄、身高和体重有其特点和规律;与我国女子运动员相比,两群体在年龄、体重方面差异存在显著性;而身高方面差异不具有显著性。两群体不同位置队员的年龄存在非常显著性差异;而在身高和体重方面不同位置运动员之间的差异不具有显著性。此结果可为女子足球运动员的选材、训练提供参考。     

现代足球运动员的身高、体重、年龄特征及我国现状

通过对世界优秀足球运动员的身高、体重、年龄等的统计分析表明 :优秀足球运动员的身高、体重和年龄有其特点和规律。欧洲、美洲和非洲球队各有所长 ,相比之下亚洲球队有明显不足 ,特别是在体重和年龄方面的差距较大 ,这是亚洲及中国足球落后于世界的最主要原因之一。     

世界足坛的格局及对中国足球的启示

世界足坛的格局仍然是欧洲和南美洲称霸天下,但与其他对手的差距正在缩小;亚洲、非洲、北美洲和加勒比海地区足球水平发展迅猛,旗鼓相当;亚洲足球水平参差不齐,两极分化严重,整体水平仍然较低;中国足球技战术水平、身体素质和心理素质与对手相差较大。要迅速提高中国足球的水平,必须从青少年抓起,搞好职业联赛,建立适合中国足球健康发展的机制体系,聘请高水平的外籍教练员,为更多的运动员提供去欧洲高水平联赛锻炼的机会,提高裁判员的素质和水平。     

Complicating the “Soccer Mom”

Using Pierre Bourdieu's theories of social class differentiation and class reproduction, this paper provides an analysis of class-based identity politics in contemporary suburban America. Through a critical ethnography of the emergent, American, upper-middle-class “soccer mom” phenomenon, this study contributes to a growing body of research that interrogates class-based, cultural practices of status differentiation. As part of a larger, longitudinal ethnographic study, this paper specifically focuses on the ways in which women, who are driven by upper-middle-class habitus, contest and construct their identity as mothers of young, soccerplaying children.     

Projecting the visual: British newsreels,soccer and popular culture 1918–39

Between the wars soccer was the leading national sport in Britain. But far more watched the brief depictions of ‘celluloid’ soccer on the newsreels in the cinema than ever watched football on the pitch. Newsreels were a central cultural feature, yet their broader social, historical and ideological significance has been overlooked by both sports and media historians. This study draws on an extensive body of surviving newsreel material. It begins by exploring the complex nature of the inter-war cinema audiences, their responses to sporting newsreels and the cultural competencies they brought to their watching. Examination of newsreel content reveals the changing nature and highly varied coverage of professional and amateur soccer over the period, including significant attention devoted to women's soccer even after its banning from English Football Association grounds in 1921. The day to day practices of newsreel soccer coverage provide fascinating insights into the British sporting values and identities, contained, encouraged or prevented by its representations, codes and conventions. Soccer newsreels produced by the leading companies, while largely conservative in tone, were also highly ideologically charged. Through the ways in which they addressed notions of class, gender, politics, region and identity they had a major cultural impact on broader British society.     

对南非世界杯亚洲足球地位及中国足球的思考

从南非世界杯,看世界足坛依然呈现欧洲和南美洲两强争霸的局面,北美洲、非洲、亚洲和大洋洲之间水平十分接近,与欧洲和南美洲之间的差距逐渐缩小。南非世界杯给中国足球的启示：中国足球必须保证职业联赛健康和稳步发展,大力培养青少年后备力量,让更多球员到欧洲赛场发展和锻炼。     

中、日、韩夏季奥运会发展格局演变探析

以东亚体育强国中国、日本、韩国参与夏季奥运会为切入点,简述了20世纪以来东亚夏季奥运会的发展历程,日本是东亚奥林匹克运动的先驱,在20世纪50年代到70年代末引领东亚奥运会;20世纪80年代日本逐渐衰落,韩国和中国共同位居世界体育板块的第二军团;90年代至今中国逐步成为东亚体育排头兵,2000年后中国在金牌和奖牌总数上已经远超过日本和韩国,引领着东亚夏季奥运会的格局不断发展,与中国经济发展、国家综合实力不断提升、政治环境稳定是密不可分的。分析东亚奥运会发展的环境,揭示了东亚各国国力的增强对体育发展的促进作用,旨在为促进东亚夏季奥运会的进一步发展提供参考。     

Cultural Evolution and Ideology in Korean Soccer: Sport and Nationalism

Modern Korean sports have been adopted mostly from the West, but now Korea has emerged as a sporting power demanding global attention. The influence of historical and political ideology has been in the cultural background of Korean sports development, and the process of cultural evolution in soccer may be explained in the similar context. What helped the Korean soccer team qualify for the World Cup eight consecutive times – only the sixth country in the world to do so – thus making it the most powerful soccer team in Asia? Soccer initially appeared in Korea during the threat of Japanese invasion, and this backdrop provided the opportunity for soccer to be combined with nationalism and transformed into a cultural product that confronted Japanese imperialism. Since the Korean War, South Korean soccer has become a vehicle for ideological confrontation with North Korea amid the atmosphere of the Cold War, and it thus gave rise to sports nationalism by revealing an ideological superiority and nationalistic disposition. Soccer, which arrived in Korea on a British ship, has become a representative Korean sport and continuously challenges the global stage ahead of Asia's leading economic power. It was against the background of such rapid development that nationalism formed.     

对中外优秀女子足球运动员不同位置的身高、体重、年龄特征的对比与分析

通过对2007年女足世界杯中国球员与世界优秀球员的身高、体重、年龄的对比分析,结果发现：中国球员3项指标处于亚洲领先地位,但与世界欧、美优秀球员相比在体重和年龄方面还有明显的差距;其中守门员3项指标都达到或超过了世界优秀女子守门员的平均水平;后卫球员身高处于世界领先地位,但体重过轻,年龄显示其处在竞技最佳形成阶段;中场球员的身高和年龄指标都达到世界先进水平,体重指标上还与同位置欧、美球员存在差距;前锋球员其平均身高处于世界领先地位且身高较统一,体重和年龄指标方面特征同后卫球员反映一致。     

Sport,Politics and Exile: Protests in Israel during the World Cup (Argentina, 1978)

This article seeks to analyze certain questions concerning the protests mounted against the 1978 World Cup. After a brief review of the military government's efforts to use the World Cup to legitimize its dictatorship, to Argentine society as well as the rest of the world, we examine the reactions of world public opinion to the fact that this event was being held in a country ruled by a repressive, criminal regime. Our focus, however, is on the people and groups in Israel who used the occasion of the World Cup to protest and denounce the crimes committed in Argentina. The Israeli case is particularly interesting because of the close relations between Israel and the Argentine dictatorship, as well as the fact that Israel had a large community of Latin American immigrants, most of them Argentines. Their numbers steadily increased as several hundred exiles fled the horrors of the military dictatorship.     

亚运会历史发展各阶段与政治的关系研究

亚运会作为仅次于奥运会的大型体育赛事,其60年的发展历程亦如奥运会“自国际奥林匹克委员会1894年成立至今,政治在整个奥林匹克运动过程中无处不在”一样,始终受到来自亚洲各务政治、经济发展和地区间错综复杂国际关系的影响和制约。对亚运会的发起、初始、发展和深入等阶段与政治的关系进行逐届研究发现,政治对体育的作用主要表现在：因政治经济原因,第1届推迟,第6、第8两届撤销承办权;亚洲第一大国中国因“两个中国”问题抵制亚运会23年等;体育对政治的作用主要表现在：各举办国通过亚运会展现了国力、民风,重塑了国际形象,提升了国际地位,加大了国际影响。中国通过亚运“会籍”问题的解决,更加确立了“一个中国”的地位;南、北朝鲜在亚运会上齐聚一堂,表现了体育在促进国家统一方面的作用等。