Football as Modern “Bread and Circuses”
Sports, particularly soccer (or football), dominate global culture today. Yet, their fame can also serve as a social diversion. Similar to the Roman Empire’s policy of “bread and circuses,” in which free grain and public games were used to maintain order and distract citizens, some argue that modern governments and elites use sports and media to transfer attention away from political and social issues. A 1979 document titled Silent Weapons for Quiet Wars even advised rulers to “keep the public busy, busy, busy, with no time to think.” Although this document has since been debunked as a conspiracy trick, the idea it presents reflects a wider concern regarding how entertainment can reduce civic awareness. As the Roman poet Juvenal once observed, the people “now restrains itself and anxiously hopes for just two things: bread and circuses.” The phrase panem et circenses, meaning “bread and circuses,” came to symbolize this reliance on distraction rather than governance. Juvenal criticized how citizens had gradually abandoned their civic duties in favor of comfort and entertainment. This example illustrates how easily societies can become complacent when pleasure and scene begin to take the place of genuine political participation.
Entertainment Overload: Social Media and Sports
Entertainment has become an essential part of daily life, especially in the modern digital age. Social media, streaming platforms, and 24 hour sports coverage have made constant engagement with entertainment almost unavoidable. Among these, soccer stands out as one of the most dominant forces in global culture, with its leagues and players followed by millions and matches broadcast across nearly every country. Yet, this constant stream of content may serve as 2 a distraction from more pressing social and political issues. Important policy debates or crises often coincide with major sporting events, limiting the extent to which they receive public attention.
Belonging and Identity in Fandom
The question then arises: why do so many individuals become so emotionally invested in sports? One explanation may be that sports fulfill certain psychological and social needs. According to Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, after basic physical and safety needs are met, individuals seek a sense of belonging and connection. Supporting a sports team, whether a local one or a national one, provides a sense of community and shared identity. Research has shown that identifying with a sports team can create a strong feeling of unity and collective purpose among the fans. During France’s 1998 World Cup victory, for example, suicide rates in the country dropped by more than 10%, a change attributed by researchers to strengthened social bonds and collective euphoria.
However, this sense of belonging can have negative consequences. It is emotional and, at times, deeply personal. Many fans experience wins and losses as if they occurred in their own lives. Although this passion can foster unity and pride, it can also lead to hostility when one’s identity as a fan is challenged. Thus, while fandom may build community, it can also create division. When belonging becomes tied too closely to competition, the result may not only be unity but also obsession and fanaticism.
Football related violence and tragedy have been well documented throughout history. In May 1964, at Lima’s Estadio Nacional, a pitch invasion followed by the use of tear gas by police led to a crowd crush that killed around 328 people. In October 2022, at Kanjuruhan Stadium in 3 Indonesia, police again used tear gas after a riot, which caused a stampede that resulted in the deaths of at least 125 fans. These remain among the deadliest stadium disasters in the world. Such incidents go beyond passion, representing moments when emotion and unrest spill over into violence. As one critic described it, “This is not passion. It’s an addiction.” In these cases, uncontrolled fandom had deadly consequences.
These tragedies reveal the possible danger of mass distraction. While the crowd is fixated on the game’s outcome, deeper social or emotional tensions can quickly escalate and lead to disaster.
Modern Idols and the “Pride of the Arabs”
In global culture today, top athletes can often become symbols of national or regional pride. Millions of fans admire them, and governments frequently celebrate them as representatives of their countries. One example is Egypt’s Mohamed “Mo” Salah, who has been voted Best Arab player and nominated for multiple international awards. In 2019, social media across the Middle East popularized memes referring to Salah as Fakhr al-ʿArab (“Pride of the Arabs”), emphasizing his humility, success, and connection to his cultural roots. These Images depict him as a unifying figure and a source of pride for a region often facing political and economic challenges.
However, this idolization carries broader implications. The admiration once directed toward civic leaders, intellectuals, or reformers often shifts toward athletes and entertainers. When the individuals most celebrated in society are those from sports or entertainment, it can suggest that achievement in these areas holds greater value than accomplishments in education, science, or community leadership. Although sports figures can inspire unity and optimism, their 4 popularity can also overshadow other forms of contribution that are equally important for social and cultural development.
The Sports Entertainment Complex
Sports today have become a major global industry. The international sports market, which includes broadcasting, advertising, merchandise, and related services, is estimated to be worth around $2.65 trillion worldwide. Major leagues and clubs have developed into global brands. For example, the English Premier League is broadcast in over 180 countries, and the NBA has a larger television audience in China than in any country other than the United States.
With such large economic influence, companies and media outlets have strong incentives to maintain and increase fan engagement, as higher engagement directly results in greater profit. Furthermore, these commercial interests have increasingly blurred the boundary between sport and entertainment. Supporting a team has, in many ways, become another form of consumer behavior. Yet, this type of participation remains limited to consumption, rather than engagement in civic or political life.
Beyond the Stadium: War, Silence, and Selective Activism
Sports do not exist outside of politics. In recent years, athletes and clubs have either taken positions or remained silent on major global conflicts, showing both the influence and limits of sports activism.
When Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, the reaction from international sports organizations was immediate. Russian teams were banned, and athletes were required to compete 5 under neutral flags. In contrast, during the ongoing war in Gaza and Israel, which has drawn accusations of genocide, sports institutions have not taken similar actions.
Some athletes have chosen to speak out. Tunisian tennis player Ons Jabeur said, “Kids are dying everywhere in Ukraine or Gaza. I have to speak out.” Egyptian footballer Mohamed Salah also criticized European football bodies for their silence following the death of Palestinian player Suleiman al-Obeid, known as the “Palestinian Pelé.” However, beyond individual statements, institutional silence has persisted. Analysts have noted that “elite athletes in North America have had amazingly little to say about what most human rights groups have described as Israel’s genocide in Gaza.”
This difference in response raises questions about consistency. When sports claim to represent unity and fairness, are those values applied equally? Sponsorships, political loyalties, and media coverage all shape what athletes and organizations can say. Speaking out can risk support deals or club standing, which discourages many from doing so. One athlete noted that “it takes another degree of courage” to speak about Palestine. It seems, therefore, that while individual athletes sometimes use their platforms to raise awareness, collective action remains limited. In the end, entertainment and competition often take precedence over activism.
Societal Impact: Apathy and Complacency
When sports and entertainment dominate attention, people can become politically apathetic. Fans pour emotion and time into games, leaving less energy for civic duties like voting, volunteering, or staying informed. Media scholars have long warned that constant distraction produces “a public now preoccupied with diversion” rather than democracy. Meanwhile, issues like corruption, inequality, and climate change get less scrutiny [6].
Intense fandom can also deepen divisions. Tribal loyalties on the field can make people less willing to cooperate off the field. Rival fans may clash online while ignoring shared societal problems. In this way, the sense of collective identity in sports can mask deeper social divides.
But when passion turns into obsession, entertainment can replace purpose. As critics warn, “if fun replaces purpose, when passion becomes fanaticism,” society risks losing its critical edge. Fans may be fed on spectacle but starved for substance.
Conclusion
It is difficult to make a definitive statement about the role of sports and football in society, as their impact varies depending on cultural and individual contexts. While fans can engage with sports, there is evidence to suggest that maintaining awareness and critical thinking about broader societal matters is important. In this sense, the potential negative effect of excessive entertainment on public engagement, as noted by Neil Postman, cannot be ignored. Overall, it seems that a balance between enjoying sports and remaining informed about societal issues is necessary, though the precise ways to achieve this balance would require further study [7].
References
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