The University of Tuzla

English language and literature

Introduction to British cultural studies I

The influence of Football Championships on the Construction of British

National Identity

Professor:

Student:

Dr.sc.Jasmina Husanovi

Admir Husi

Date: May 25th, 2011

The influence of Football Championships on the Construction of British

National Identity
-Introduction
This essay critically analyzes the influence of football championships on the
construction of British national identity. The aim of this essay is to give arguments of
construction of British identity through sport, especially, through football championships.
The first part of the essay presents the beginnings of the game of football; where and
when it was first found, it contains some basic elements of the game and which the most
important associations founded that influenced on British national identity.
The main part of the essay critically analyzes British national identity through many
football competitions starting from British International Championship until UEFA
European Championship 96.
-The beginnings of the game of football
In general, sport has become one of the most important features in the world since
the beginning of the 19th century until today. Football was first played in Britain, in
England in 1800s. As today, football was played by 22 players, two teams by 11 players
on the ground with minimal 100 metres length and 40 metres width. The first official
football match was played between England and Scotland on 5 th March 1870. During
history, footballs rules havent been much changed; there was only one referee on first
official match, today, we have 5 or 6 of them, the offside was made to decrease a number
of scored goals and the teams could substitute all of their players but today, it is possible
to do only 3 times per match. After quick development of football, there were founded
two most important football associations for Britain: FIFA and UEFA.
FIFA (Federation Internationale de Football Association) was first football
association founded in 1904 by seven countries. Today, it counts 208 countries and 6
confederations on each continent: UEFA (Europe), AFC (Asia), CAF (Africa), OFC

(Oceania), CONCACAF (North and Central America and Caribbean Islands) and
COMNEBOL (South America).1
UEFA (The Union of European Football Associations) was founded in
Switzerland in 15th June 1954. This football association was the most important for
British people in 1996 when England hosted European Football Championship.2
-The making of British national identity
Because the game of football was made in England, it was impossible to imagine
that England could lose in the game which they made. But it happened many times
through history and thats why it has a huge influence on construction of British national
identity and why football hooliganism appeared. During the World Cup 98 the St.
Georges Cross has become a new emblem of English national identity instead of the
Union Jack. Because England wasnt in the final of Euro 2000, it had powerful influence
on English society, especially, racism, football hooliganism and violence.3
Football is usually associated with England, not the whole Britain because
English people invest in football more than other nations. The UK nations were not
treated seriously because they didnt have good teams for winning until the match against
the Rest of Europe in 1947 and the London Olympics in 1948. All British nations played
in so called the British International Championship but it became less important during
the 1960s and 1970s. From the late 1960s, British football solidarity had disappeared
because Scot and Welsh people called themselves anti-English people. England won the
World Cup 66 and it made Scot and Welsh people annoyed because they are also a part
of the UK which is the place where first played football. Even though Scottish football
team didnt reach the final of any FIFAs or UEFAs competition between 1962 and 1970,
they qualified on the next two competitions being in 1974 and 1978 when they
represented British interests. Today, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and England dont
make much differences between each other, especially, not when it comes to football
because we can see many Scottish or Welsh players play in England an vice versa.
1

Meta-organizations by Goran Ahrne, Nils Brunsson pg.39

Regulating football: commodification, consumption and the law by Steve Greenfield, Guy Osborn pg.44
3
The Making of English national identity by Krishan Kumar pg.262-263
2

Football and sport in general became one more way for earning money and thats why
many players play in the teams which are not from their countries.4
-The influence of the 1966 World Cup on British society
England hosted FIFA World Cup 1966. Although there was a lack of technology,
it was heard in any part of the world and it was one of the most important events
happened in Britain, especially, when it comes to construction of British national identity.
English football at international level made British society disappointed and they didnt
expect any better results at World Cup 1966. Before 1966, British society had lost the
hope that their countries could play the best. But when England won the 1966 World Cup,
British society returned confidence. After winning this competition Britons paid more
attention in football and started to invest in it again. They returned national identity, they
felt more valuable again and other countries looked at them as serious football
association. All newspapers wrote about English football after World Cup. Some of them
wrote that England has been just unlucky and thats why they could not win any
competition. Many headlines appeared in the newspapers. One of them was in the Daily
Mirror When football is all kicks; it was written before the match against Poland. After
World Cup, when England lost the match which played against Norway, the headline in
the Sun Its the end of the world for England suggested that England was not unlucky,
but that they did not have good players to make English football best. Jimmy Greaves,
one of the editors of the Sun, said that the defeat could be just the result to start a football
revolution. Football is phenomenon in Britain which as first and foremost represents
national identity because the UK is the country where this sport was born. Every lost
match influenced a lot on British society, there appeared violence on the streets and
hooligans.5
Although this competition was held in England, many critics did not see England
as the winner because people have lost confidence in their players. But Wembley stadium
was national treasure and England has lost no one match on that stadium. It was an
additional motivation for English players. There was the belief that England is
4
5

The Association game: A history of British football by Dr.Matthew Taylor pg.294-299

Sport and national identity in the post-war world by Adrian Smith, Dilwyn Porter

unbeatable on Wembley. It has become the truth after the final match on World Cup
when England beat West Germany 4-2.6
FIFA World Cup 66 played an important role in British cultural history. Not just because
of success of England by winning a trophy, but to construct national identity and to be
respected by other countries. The final match was euphoric with a crowd of people and
fans on the streets wearing English flag, T-shirts and scarves. The streets were very
flamboyant and there were not any incidents because they all wanted to make fun and
everybody thought about football as sport, not as war or hate.7
-The influence of the 1990 World Cup on the construction of British national
identity
FIFA World Cup 90 was held in Italy. It was a great competition with many
surprises, some less familiar and less powerful football representations played well. West
Germany was the greatest opponent of England. They had some best players of the world.
Thats why England was defeated by West Germany after penalty kicks in semi-final
match. This lost match was very stressful and Britons were disappointed because they
have lost confidence and respect to their players. After this defeat, there were violence
and hooliganism, not only in Italy, but in Britain. There were two questionnaires before
and after the matches about results expectations and hooliganism. Before semi-final
match, English and German supporters were separated from each other as other
supporters before any match. But after the match, English hooligans attacked German
supporters. There were many incidents in the centre of the city, but it was quickly
prevented. The match of high risk was against England and the Netherlands in the
qualifying rounds for World Cup. Dutch supporters were the most violent in that time and
it was expected to be many incidents before and after the match but the supporters of both
representations were calm and they enjoyed the match. However, the defeat of England in
semi-final match influenced a lot on British society and today many people remember
that match and situation in the UK after the defeat.8
6

Football and European identity: Historical narratives through the press by Liz Crolley, David Hand pg.43
Sport and national identity in the post-war world by Adrian Smith, Dilwyn Porter pg.42
8
Football, violence and social identity by Richard Guilianotti, Norman Bonney, Mike Hepworth pg.175
7

-EURO 96 another issue on the construction of national identity in England

UEFA European Football Championship 1996 was held in England and this
competition was held before the elections which have brought many changes in British
society. English football players got a big exercise; to win an award or just to win
Germany how English society could take more respect towards their players, to revenge
their previous shameful defeat and to get back positive thoughts according to national
identity. But English football representation showed one more disappointment because
they had been defeated again by Germany in semi-final match. The match was played at
Wembley, the stadium where England didnt lose any match.9
Many critics said that this match woke up the war between England and Germany,
because Germany played very well as it is the country where the game of football was
first played. English fans made a transparent which said Two World Wars, one World
Cup, do da, do da. In that sense football had become the war and one time England must
win.10
-British national identity is constructed
Many football matches influenced a lot on the construction on British national
identity. Although England didnt play very well through history except of the 1966
World Cup, English people can be proud how their players play. Today, their football is
the most beautiful to watch and it is acceptable according to national identity because
other people from other countries are familiar with the beginnings of the game of
football. Today, there arent almost any British groups of hooligans and football as the
game is played more for fun, not for money. Thats why British players keep football
away from money as it has been during the 20th century.
-Bibliography

Football, Europe and the press by Liz Crolley and David Hand pg.160
Museums and popular culture by Kevin Moore pg.120

10

1. Meta-organization by Goran Ahrne and Nils Brunsson

2. Regulating football: Commodification, consumption and the law by Steve
Greenfield and Guy Osborn
3. The Making of English national identity by Krishan Kumar
4. The association game: a history of British football by Dr. Matthew Taylor
5. Sport and national identity in the post-war world by Adrian Smith and Dilwyn
Porter
6. Football and European identity: historical narratives through the press by Liz
Crolley and David Hand
7. Football, violence and social identity by Richard Guilianotti, Norman Bonney and
Mike Hepworth
8. Football, Europe and the press by Liz Crolley and David Hand
9. Museums and popular culture by Kevin Moore