THE CULT of celebrity has been an integral part of football for decades; from the days of Tommy Lawton, Denis Compton and Stanley Matthews through to the obsessive media-hungry contemporary stars. Ordinary young men from humble backgrounds can become figures from another world, adored, worshipped and mimicked by equally ordinary men and women who want to be “someone”. People, especially those from the grey streets, sink estates and favelas, have always needed an escape route from the mediocrity of their upbringing. The social media explosion of the 21st century has introduced an easy access route to “celebrity”, where everyone can open the door to the 15 minutes of fame that Andy Warhol was once championing. Young people from New York to New Zealand, from Manchester to Mumbai now include jobs like “influencer” and “celebrity” among their career aspirations.
One way to get noticed is to appear on television as part of a major event. When Portugal met Turkey in their recent EURO 2024 group game, there were no less than six pitch invasions. Most of the culprits wanted to have “selfies” with the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo. The instant acquisition of celebrity, however fleeting, by being pictured alongside the ultimate modern sporting icon, was the goal. CR7 was irritated, and who can blame him?
In this age of high security and legions of hi-vis wearing stewards, it seems remarkable that so many people are gaining access to the pitch with relative ease. There were times when the playing surface was sacrosanct, but nobody seems particularly respectful of the hallowed turf these days. Indeed, there is certainly no fear of authority or the fact that being charged with any offence can come with a ban from watching football. Are the guilty invaders really football fans? Or are they merely using the game as a facilitator for their own flirtation with fame and notoriety?.
The cost of watching football is significant for almost everyone. Notwithstanding the admission prices, the transport costs and additional expenses all make the pastime a very expensive exercise. Why would anyone want to jeapordise that for a shambling sprint across the pitch and exclusion from the game and any future afternoons of football? It can only be lack of intelligence or a very defined agenda to grab the attention of thousands of people.
Football fans must realise that continual incursions may damage any future plan to install terracing at stadiums. Safety is being compromised by this reckless behaviour, not just for the spectators, but for the players. Lionel Messi has a bodyguard at Inter Miami, an intimidating figure who appears everywhere he goes. How long before Cristiano Ronaldo insists on something similar, especially after EURO 2024’s debacle? He has rock star status and, on the evidence of the Portugal-Turkey game, it is apparently very easy to get to him. Once it is introduced in Europe, bodyguards will soon become a status symbol in football.
UEFA will undoubtedly be concerned because they will be heavily criticised for their security gaps. The Champions League final had an invader after seven seconds, allegedly because he was rising to the challenge set by Russian streamer Mellstroy, who offered £ 300,000 to anyone who breached stewarding and made the pitch.
And then there are traditional catalysts for mayhem – booze and drugs. Marijuana is smoked openly in countries where it is illegal, the smell of “weed” pervades respectable suburbs around London. Police have more pressing problems to deal with. Theft and assaults happen in broad daylight with the public looking on, a hoodie-wearing figure can operate an electric saw to steal a bike in front of a street full of shoppers. With out-of-control football crowds, the critical mass is too vast to manage properly. Drunk fans have very little fear of what might happen to them if they break the law. One reason is that thousands of young men in England shirts (or any other country) all look very similar. There is, to some degree, safety in numbers and plenty of hiding places.
It has to be noted that generally, going to a match is a peaceful event, but tournaments like the World Cup and European Championships are carnivalesque and something of a free-for-all jamboree. Similarly, big finals like the Champions League in a neutral country can become logistical nightmares. It is the melting pot factor. Most big domestic games in England are watched by season ticket holders who have waited for the privilege. A big percentage of fans who attend a major competition do not necessarily enter the stadium. Many are there for the vibe and a bit of fun.
What will happen next? We may see draconian measures introduced if the problem deteriorates, such as fences, ditches and more restrictions on movement. Given the amount of missiles that are thrown onto the pitch when a corner is taken, there may already be moves to install some form of barrier. Whatever the solution may be, we should all perhaps reflect on how this may be a definite backward step for the game of football.
GAME OF THE PEOPLE 