Old South African flag — ban it or tolerate it?

Our Deputy Minister of Sport, Gert Oosthuizen:

… it is absolutely tragic that there are still people who would do such a thing.
It’s absolutely unacceptable, and something which the government wants to get rid of once and for all.
It is such a pity when something like this happens …

So we get rid of it and drive it and its waving supporters underground where we have no idea of the nefarious acts of it waving that may be taking place. And once we have legislated to get rid of it, do we now employ a Security Branch to ensure that no-one has it stashed away in their back-garden? Or is surreptitiously waving it at the TV when the Bulls next win something?

Stop writing the headlines. Ignore it and it will go away. Even the most delusional know when it is time to call it a day. Fifteen years ago there would have been thousands. Ten years ago hundreds. Five years ago only a few. And today … only one … right at the end of the game. When the next South African team wins the Super Whatever … probably zero. Change takes time.

Alternatively, engage it’s supporters in civilised conversation and put across the pain that it causes.

Khaya Dlanga writes in Old South African flag must be banned:

That flag will incite violence in the right place and at the right time. It also advocates hatred based on race and ethnicity.

A picture of the Pope will incite violence if shown at the right place at the right time. Closer to home, I am sure we could incite violence in parts of Kwazulu-Natal by showing Jacob Zuma’s or Mangosuthu Buthelezi’s face to the wrong people at the wrong time — or is that the right people at the right time.

Time to ban the Pope’s face? Or Jacob Zuma’s? Or Mangosuthu Buthelezi’s? I don’t think so.

Money is making football predictable (Steve Woods)

It was not as though it was not going to be one of the big four clubs (Manchester United, Liverpool, Chelsea FC and Arsenal) that was destined to win the league. It was not as though the procession of the big four clubs winning the league was going to end this year. It was not as though a club with money was not going to win the league, again.

The big get bigger and richer. And the rest just make up the numbers and slowly slide down the competitiveness table. And the media and and the FA Premier League twitter on about how wonderful and competitive the league is.

Based on attendance figures for this season, up until this current weekend, a little over nine million (9,020,673) fans attended the homes games of the teams outside of the big four, compared with around four million (4,045,760) who have attended the home games of the big big four. It is quite obvious that the majority of directly involved fans do not support the large teams. What does this prove? Probably nothing. But the column inches filled about the big four by the media do not represent this ratio.

Sports teams, and football clubs in particular, are not typical businesses and the normal practise of the survival of the fittest does not necessarily apply (from a business perspective – on the pitch it is a different matter). They have long term, emotionally attached customers. They operate in rigidly controlled and mandated competitive structures (the leagues) which do not appear in any other business format. It follows then that football, and other sporting codes, need a different set of business rules. Those may include some kind of cap on different parts of the business, including salary, actual transfer spend, etc.

I wonder how the English fan feels about the state of English football. Proud that the FA Premier League is, arguably, the best football league in the world. Happy that he is able to watch some of the best players in the world on a regular basis. Angry because young English players are being pushed out of the top division. Exploited because he is funding the worldwide growth of the brand. Frustrated because the culture of football that made English football famous is slowly being eroded. Sad because the smaller clubs are slowly being pushed aside, and eventually out of existence. Frightened because they will only have four clubs to support in the future.

With all that emotion, who would want to be a English football fan? Or even a surrogate fan in another country.

What is YOUR take on all of this. Add a comment.