The Media, Transfer Gossip, and the Soul of Football

This week’s Run of Play at Pitch Invasion feature looks at the question, “What is the soul of football?”, and comes to the obvious conclusion that the answer is “transfer gossip.”

Like the soul, transfer gossip comes into the world—no one knows from where; passes through the world—no one knows how; and departs the world—no one knows why. It can’t be bound by the crude material of fact, or even of sensible opinion. If it wants to say that Ronaldinho is going to Chelsea, it just says so, animating itself insubstantially, like the soul. For some people, it may be “unfounded” or “dishonest” or “impossible to prove.” It may be “unbelievable.” But then, doesn’t faith mean believing in the unbelievable? Isn’t that how we recognize the soul?

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