The Intersection of Football and Economics: A Complex Relationship

Are you familiar with Terry Pratchett? He was an entertaining English author known for his writings about flat and fictional planets, which nonetheless reflect many recognizable realities. In his worlds, gods exist, but their power is directly correlated to the number of their followers—there’s a particularly amusing story about a god with only one believer and another with none. This concept parallels modern football, where a club’s strength derives from its fanbase, which is a source of financial resources. Napoleon Bonaparte, the French political and military leader from the 18th and 19th centuries, hinted at this idea when he stated, “In war, God helps those who have the best artillery.”

Football undeniably serves as a religion for many, coexisting alongside other beliefs. This aspect contributes to its strength, transforming it into something more than just a sport and forming the basis of its success and wealth. However, football is also a business, and managing a religion as a business can be problematic, though history provides numerous examples where this has been attempted.

For instance, we read about a club in the United Kingdom facing financial difficulties, with one proposed solution being its merger with a neighboring rival. This approach aligns with contemporary economic theories, which prioritize perpetual profit as the ultimate goal while dismissing anything yielding a mere 4% return instead of 5%. It reflects a CEO mindset that assumes if people enjoy sausages and cheese, they will prefer sausage and cheese together.

The challenge lies in the fact that in football, fans are often more attached to their club than to the sport itself. Would anyone prefer an exhilarating match where their team loses over a lackluster game where they emerge victorious? Losing one’s identity in football is seen as a blasphemy because the sport is about specific teams and their unique narratives. Will this eventuality occur, and could we witness similar situations in Spain? While money does hold sway, it is also a well-known economic principle that unchecked greed can lead to downfall. If faith is lost, disenchanted customers may exit the business.

It is easier to deceive someone than to convince them they have been deceived, especially regarding something to which they have devoted their heart and identity. When such betrayal occurs, the resultant resentment can be intense. Remember, the most fervent supporters of something are often those who have recently converted.

Nevertheless, in this world of belief and patriotism that is encapsulated by football, significant investments are penetrating deeper into territories once thought off-limits. Fans, or ‘believers,’ often have little reason to complain because, during the era when football was ‘theirs,’ what did they achieve? Essentially, they faced financial ruin that required external funds to stabilize. To reiterate: Greed indeed leads to downfall, but money prevails. We shall see how this apparent contradiction unfolds; for the moment, it is evident that investors are gaining increasing control.