The dark side of modern sport

Tens of millions of people will watch the  2010 FIFA ((Fédération Internationale de Football Association) World Cup that  got underway in South Africa on June 11, 2010.

There will be moments of ecstasy for supporters when their teams score and moments of gloom when they concede a goal. Soccer pundits will discuss at length the merits of individual teams, players and managers.

There is genuine pride in South Africa that it has successfully organized the games. It is another indicator that it is coming of age as a country and that the confidence which come from organizing such an event will spill over into other areas of life, not just in South Africa but in other African nations also.

One thing is sure, the Bafana Bafana ( the colloquial name for the South African National Soccer Team) supporters will be the loudest of any thanks to a metre long plastic trumpet called vuvuzela. The vuvuzela emits more than 127 decibels which is more than a chainsaw.  Hear the World Foundation a company formed by a Swiss firm Phonak would like to see the instrument banned at the games because of the impact which long-term exposure could have on the teams and spectators. But there is little chance that will happen.  

But while the noise of the vuvuzelas is up-front and in your face, there is a more hidden, darker side to the beautiful game that needs to be spoken about and changed.. The Irish Times journalist, Rob Crilly discovered this sinister side to soccer and the other games played with boot-balls when he visited the ancient Pakistani city of Sialkot which is situated in the northeastern part of the Punjab.   It is estimated that 70 percent of the world’s production of handstitched footballs are produced in factories in this city under very primitive conditions.  It is claimed that the origin of sports goods in the city goes back to the British colonial times when a British officer need to have his tennis racquet repaired.  Within a short period of time racquets, cricket bats made from English willow and other sports goods were being produced in Sialkot. In 1922, a local manufacturer was awarded the British Empire Export Award for supplying footballs to the British Army. Over the years the industry has grown and has produced sports goods for international companies such as Adidas, Puma, Nike and Slazenger.

Over the years questions have been raised about the pay and working conditions of those who work in the football producing factories.  Bob Crilly discovered that the workers who produce footballs which retail at 10,500 rupees ($142.00AUD), often receive only 256 rupees ($3.50AUD) per day. One informant told him that “People buying these balls should understand more about how they are made and insist that the workers are looked after and well paid.”   One of the reasons why workers can be exploited is that apart from the sports factories there is little work in Sialkot. One of the workers told Crilly that, “if they sack on person then there will be 10 in the queue next day for the job.”

In recent years pressure from international agencies has improved the lot of many of the workers, but much more needs to be done. A report by The International Labour Rights Forum found that half of the 218 workers whom they surveyed did not earn 12,000 rupees ($163.00AUD) per month.  This is the minimum about of money which a family would require to meet their basic needs. The ‘beautiful game’ need to address and solve this injustice as a matter of urgency.

Fr Sean McDonagh SSC is a researcher on Justice Peace Integrity Creation (JPIC) priorities.

Read another article written by Fr Sean McDonagh