(right) Nicolas Anelka plays for Chelsea in the English Premier League during the regular soccer season
We’re now past the half-way mark of the 2010 South Africa World Cup in terms of the number of games.
Perhaps the most remarkable thing so far is the bad start of the big western European teams. Of the 10 games played so far for England, France, Germany, Italy and Spain: five have been lost, three tied and only two games have been won. Germany beat Australia and Spain beat Honduras today. I have my own theory on this, more on that in another blog.
But today’s big news for me, was yesterday’s strike of the France squad.
Sometimes you have to do what you have to do.
After some harsh criticism during half-time in France’s match against Mexico last week, forward Nicolas Anelka responded in kind to the French Manager. Then things got uglier. The French Football Association President was called in to pressure Anelka to apologize to the Manager. Anelka, who once considered giving up his French citizenship to play for the UAE, refused.
And so, as is the case, whether you’re a worker paid in the millions or in single dollars, management had to make a stand. They fired Anelka from the tournament. Even the French President, the right wing Sarkozy, got involved saying that this was the right thing to do.
What is remarkable is the response of his co-workers, the rest of the French team. If management can do this to one of them they can do it to them all. On Sunday the entire French team refused to train. The manager showed up, the players went on strike.
Naturally the capitalist press went nuts. Corporations are pulling their sponsorships. Front page headlines in France called the squad mutineers and deserters. But the capitalists are always pushing the team spirit at the workplace, surely these guys’ solidarity was just a part of the team spirit.
Once again the team spirit that the bosses are always talking about is very narrow in definition. Patriarchal abuse is pretty normal in soccer and sports in general. Winning managers are expected to be abusive as a part of their genius(!) Soccer players are expected to shut up and be told what to do. That’s the owners' definition of team work. Keep those galley oars moving!
My spin on this: Good for the French players. They stuck together, made a statement and struck for a day. That's solidarity.
And when they get home to France? Well, their strike is already being blamed for them not winning the cup. France will most likely be eliminated this week. Too bad, I like their attitude.
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