Passion & Tradition
by Pablo Abreu
Palma de Mallorca, April 23rd, 4:40 PM, although it could very well be another place, another day, or another time, the emotions that football awakens in people is something common to fans all over the world, and it's something that, unfortunately, is being lost in favor of the money that floods football clubs, increasingly favoring the elites and distancing itself from the people for whom it was created.
However, despite everything, there still exists a sort of romanticism, a sense of belonging in people that gives a glimmer of optimism that not everything is lost, even though the paths society is taking are precisely the opposite of rejoicing in victory or grieving over defeat, of wanting the common good for your people, your community, your colors, your team. The common good is evolving rapidly towards an increasingly dominant individualism in our society, and this is something that is reflected in all aspects of life, and of course, in football as well. And it is here where the sense of belonging appears as a glimmer, as something utopian that makes us think that not everything is lost yet.
For a true fan of a team, it's not all about winning or losing. There are things that money and victories can't buy, but rather the feeling of being part of something, of being part of a community with shared values, an idiosyncrasy of a sense of belonging that is passed down from parents to children, like a kind of initiation ceremony that takes place from the first day you enter through the doors of the stadium, the cathedral of fans. It's not just football, it's much more than that. How else can we explain that something seemingly simple can influence people's moods?
And what about the pre-match gatherings, sharing a beer, where friendships and bonds are forged and reinforced, where feelings are shared? The more experienced fans pass on their experiences and past memories to the younger ones, who in the future will pass on their own to the new generations to come. Dreams, that even in defeats, and especially in those moments, we are together and we will rise together, stronger.
And what can be said about the receptions where flares symbolize passion and raise the temperature, creating an almost magical atmosphere, where flags and scarves represent the choreography and chants become the soundtrack? Football belongs to the people, to the fans, to those who feel something that can't be explained for colours and a football shield, or at least it should be that way, even though it seems increasingly utopian.
