"Serious sport has nothing to do with fair play…it is war minus the shooting."
Hate
I am currently reading Simon Barnes’ excellent book, A Book of Heroes (or a sporting half-century), Short Books 2010. The following quotation jumped off the page.“There is a sense in which sport legitimises hatred. It’s no longer acceptable for white people to hate black people or for Christians to hate Jews. But it is considered OK for everyone who is not a Manchester United supporter to hate Manchester United, to hate all the Manchester United players and especially to hate the Manchester United manager.”
I was reminded of a drama I had seen in a church service. When two Oxford United supporters appeared – I know the church did well get both of them there at the same time! They started to chant “We are Oxford United and we hate Swindon Town”. Then one of them stopped and asked his friend “Why do we hate Swindon?” The first is shocked at the naive question and explains that it is an essential part of supporting Oxford United that you have to hate local rivals Swindon Town. The discussion continued.
Jesus said “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbour and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous”. Matthew 5:43-45
Now I know that my enjoyment of Manchester City’s defeat last night – all the better that they lost two late goals – and my disappointment that Liverpool came back from 0-1 to win is part of football and the banter that we all enjoy in football.
Yet I am haunted by the phrase “sport legitimises hatred” and would have to acknowledge that I have my most aggressive reactions when I watch sport – at officials, at players and coaches from the opposition. I mean as a player or a spectator.
Jesus challenges us to love the referee whose decisions frustrate us and to pray for the opponent who is holding our shirt. Why? Because God is like that. That is how we are to live for Christ in the world of sport – and who said it was going to be easy?