世界杯改變著人們的生活方式

[陳冰] (2006-07-15)

<--STARTIMU--> 　　世界杯決賽的最后時刻，英國作家菲利普﹒斯塔布斯1585年對足球性質的判決再現。在《陋習的解剖》小冊子中，他說“足球比賽是一種野蠻的消遣”。

　　天才球員齊達內粗野地用頭撞擊一位對方球員，被紅牌罰下，擦肩而過大力神杯的情景讓全球觀眾黯然傷悲。比他更野蠻的是意大利后衛馬克羅﹒馬特拉齊，他不用球技而是用惡語擊斃了“齊祖”（齊達內的昵稱）最后的輝煌。

　　但是，齊達內仍是法國的英雄。伏爾泰、丹東、戴高樂之后，英雄譜上新添的名字就是齊達內。一張紅牌，并沒有奪走他手中的金球獎。

　　當然，馬特拉齊也是英雄，至少在意大利人心目中，他用舌頭而不是腳為意大利奪冠掃除障礙，整個國家開始為第四次榮膺世界杯冠軍而歡騰，全球的意大利隊的球迷也開始開懷暢飲。

　　凡是攸關國家聲譽和民族尊嚴的活動，就免不了激發民族主義，甚至爆發戰爭。1969年，薩爾瓦多和洪都拉斯就為爭奪世界杯入場券爆發了戰爭。盡管本屆世界杯比以前任何一屆都順暢，但“英雄”一詞在不同國家的人們心目中仍有不同的含義。

　　一位德國學生扮演了《皇帝的新衣》中那位天真的小男孩的角色，他說“世界杯與足球關系不大，與體育精神關聯不多，最重要的是你的國家贏，贏了就是世界之王”。

　　好在“足球是惡棍給紳士們表演的游戲”，不管賽場上拼搶多么激烈，從組織者到裁判再到體育館和電視屏幕前的多數球迷，腦袋都算是清醒的。“這是一場游戲，僅僅是一場游戲”，即便自己支持的球隊輸了，這個聲音也可把球迷們的狂躁在一分鐘內平息下來。

　　“公平競賽”是能讓人心平氣和的另一個原因。即便有這樣那樣的失誤，足球仍是世界上最公平、最透明的項目，比貿易、軍事、政治要純粹得多。

　　這得感謝英格蘭的几位學生，他們率領的球隊倫敦比賽時各行其是，毫無章法，根本無法展開比賽，只好在1863年10月的一個酒吧里先坐下來定規。經過几天磋商，他們制定出了13條規則，比如球場的大小、進球后要讓對方發球、不能用手觸球、越位后要讓對方發球等。他們自稱為“足聯”，把比賽章程叫做“足聯法”。

　　誰能想到，几位學生的酒吧聊天居然改變了世界。署名“一伙英格蘭老學生”的《1863年足聯法則》出版后，足球在統一法則旗幟下迅速發展成世界最流行的體育項目。巴西足球明星比利說，沒有這本書，足球這項“優美的競賽”可能還沒有開踢。

　　毋庸置疑，足球是全球化程度最高的行業，不僅改變著世界的體育景觀、媒體播報和娛樂方式，也把人們的心聚合起來。四年一度的世界杯，是不同文化碰撞與交流的場所，也是各國人民歡聚一堂的神宮。

　　足球的性質沒有改變。但我們必須承認，世界杯的確改變著人們的生活方式。

﹒作者是旅英中國資深媒體人。

World Cup changing the way we live

The final moments of the 2006 World Cup final were a reminder of what English author Philip Stubbs wrote in his pamphlet "The Anatomy of Abuses" in 1585 on the nature of football: "Football playing is a devilish pastime."

Zinedine Zidane, the talented French captain head-butted a player from the rival Italian team. In a scene that saddened viewers the world over, he got a red card and was sent off, missing a chance to lift the World Cup.

What Italian defender Marco Materazzi did was perhaps even more condemnable. Instead of employing his skills on the pitch, he used insults to deny Zizou, as Zidane is popularly known, a glorious farewell.

Still, for France, Zidane remains a hero. His name will be added to a list that includes Voltaire, Danton and De Gaulle. And despite the red card, he was voted the Golden Ball winner.

Of course, Materazzi is a hero no less, at least to the Italians. He used his tongue instead of his legs to clear the hurdle for Italy in its quest for victory.

Italians are revelling in their team's fourth World Cup success, so are fans of the Italian team all over the world.

In any activity that puts national pride at stake, nationalism will invariably rear its ugly head. It has even led to war.

For instance, a war broke out between Salvador and Honduras in 1969 over tickets to the World Cup.

This World Cup went on more smoothly than previous ones. But the word "hero" still has different meanings for people in different countries.

Playing the role of the little boy in "The "Emperor's New Clothes", a German student has this to say: "The World Cup has not much to do with either football or sporting spirit, the most important thing is that your country must win and the winner is king of the world."

Fortunately, "football is a game for gentlemen played by ruffians", no matter how tough the battle on the pitch is, the organisers, referees and the majority of fans both at the stadiums and in front of the TV sets are basically clear-headed.

"It's only a game, it's only a game" - this constant reminder will help calm the hysteria within a minute even the team that you support loses the match.

Fair play is another reason that helps fans to remain cool and calm. Never mind the many things that can go wrong during a match, football is still the fairest and most transparent sporting event in the world. And it is much more straightforward compared to trade, military affairs and politics.

We have to thank several students in England for this.

The team that they led was unable to compete in London as it was playing in its own way with no clear rules.

They sat down in a bar in October 1863, and after a few days of deliberation, came up with 13 rules which included the size of the ball. Also, players are not allowed to touch the ball with their hands and the opposing team gets to kick off after a goal has been scored.

They called themselves The Football Association and referred to the rules as The Football Association Laws.

Who would have thought that casual chats among some students in a bar would change the world.

After The Rule Book of Association Football 1863 by A Group of Former English Public School Men was published, the game quickly took off under a uniform set of rules to become the most popular sport in the world.

Without the book, "the beautiful game" of football might not even have been kicked off, said Brazilian soccer star Pele.

Football is unquestionably the most globalised industry. It's changing the global sporting landscape, the media coverage of the sport and the way people entertain themselves. It has also united people from all over the world.

Held once every four years, the World Cup is a time for people from different cultures to meet and interact. It is also a time for fans from different countries to celebrate together.

The nature of football has not changed. But the World Cup sure is changing the way we live.

The writer is a seasoned Chinese journalist living in the UK. Translated by Yap Gee Poh.