I’m ambivalent towards soccer. As a kid, I supported a few teams (namely Celta Vigo and Cruz Azul), but never felt the raging support some comrades who love ‘the beautiful game’ felt for their teams. It was no big deal to me, just something fun to watch.
Argentine author Jorge Luis Borges, who witnessed fascism and Peronism destroy his country, makes some valid points against soccer for the same reasons people who become zealots for politics and religion (even fashion, as I’ve seen some women go at it over dresses more than once in my life). It causes strife and division for no good reason.
The New Republic posts the story here.