From the publisher:
'A fascinating journey through the game's history [as] a vehicle of change' Shaka Hislop
'Correia takes us around the world to examine how football has produced the kind of political energy that can change minds and even topple governments' Dave Zirin
'An essential read for football fans everywhere' Juliet Jacques
Football is so much more than the billionaire owners and eye-watering signing fees that dominate the headlines. Look beyond the Premiership and the World Cup, the sublime brilliance of Messi and Mbappe, and you'll find a story unparalleled in the world of sport. From England, France and Germany to Palestine, South Africa and Brazil, A People's History of Football reveals how the 'beautiful game' has been a powerful instrument of emancipation for workers, feminists, anti-colonialist activists, young people and protesters around the world.
Countering the cliches about football fans, Mickael Correia dives into football countercultures born after the Second World War, from English hooligans to the ultras who played a central role in the 'Arab Spring'. And with chapters on anti-fascism, the women's game, and the rise in community-owned clubs, Correia reminds us that football can be a powerful social and political force - as generous as it is subversive.
The author:
Mickael Correia is a journalist at Mediapart. He is the author of several books, and his work focuses on social and ecological struggles as well as working-class culture. He has written for Le Monde Diplomatique, Le Canard Enchaine and La Revue du Crieur. His passion for football began when he was 4, with kickabouts on the streets of Roubaix. Fionn Petch is a Scottish translator with a doctorate in philosophy from the National University of Mexico. As a translator, he has translated fiction, poetry, drama and children's books. He also works on books and exhibition catalogues on art and architecture. Among his noted translations are A Straggly Smile by Vanessa Saint Cyr, The Distance Between Us by Renato Cisneros and Fireflies by Luis Sagasti.
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