International studies, Vol. XIII No. 2, 2013.
Review article
The Language Of hatred In Sports As A Means Of Political Propaganda Overview Of The Case In Ex-yugoslavia
Mustafa Ibrahimi
; Faculty of Languages Cultures and Communication University of South East Europe in Tetova
Abstract
In the recent years sports workers and researchers as well as sports audiences are focused on the issue of fans associations and solidarization on aggressive basis with the extreme right. According to Didier Pages, “there are groups of fascists who operate on the football grounds and terrains”. He goes on to say that all European teams have their fascist fan groups. According to the crime investigator Kris van Limbergen, “The vandalism in football is a very good
opportunity for the recruiting of fans-vandals working for the extreme right.” Limbergen goes on to describe, first of all, the situation and the circumstances in Belgium, saying, “The football scenes in Belgium are characterized with extreme racism, sexism, regionalism and anti-Semitism.”In the communist countries there existed a belief that sport is a very powerful means of political propaganda, and finally of war that may burst. This was the way how sport was seen in ex-Yugoslavia, as well as nowadays in multicultural countries like Macedonia, Bosnia, Serbia, etc. The idea that supporting and doing all for sport, making the countries morally stronger and more ready to fight in a war (if needed), has unfortunately been found in Yugoslavia during the time the country was ruled by Tito and after
his death. This was symbolized by so many songs and poems in various sports matches, which used to generate strong hatred and nationalism on ethnical basis, which as such finds its market in today’s Bosnia, Macedonia and Serbia.
Keywords
language of hatred; vandalism in sport; political propaganda; ex-Yugoslavia; the language status; the official language
Hrčak ID:
122998
URI
Publication date:
12.6.2013.
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