"At last, a
real sociology of football which, crucially,
examines central elements of
the game as well as the
cultures and behaviour patterns of its fans. Worldwide in its
scope, and both perceptive and provocative in its conclusions, this
book will become a key text for academics, students and lay readers
who profess a serious interest in understanding why football, above
all sports, exercises such a long-standing and tenacious hold on
the global sporting imagination."
--
John Williams, Sir Norman Chester Centre for Football
Research, University of Leicester
"This book is full of insight, well written and with
praiseworthy clarity of ideas. It is an important and synthetic
work which covers the social and cultural complexity of football
dealing with class, gender, ethnicity, business and nationalism. At
the same time the inner meanings, the profound emotional
attachments of the supporters, the role of football heroes and the
aesthetics of the game are discussed in a fascinating comparative
perspective. The comparison of the football world-views in the
United Kingdom, Europe, South America and Africa is presented in a
masterly way. Giulianotti has produced a pioneering book that
surpasses by far previous and partial attempts to discuss the
complexity of football."
--Eduardo P. Archetti, Department of Social Anthropology,
University of Oslo
"This study brings together more than 600 historical,
anthropological, geographic, as well as sociological and
theoretical sources, in an integrated analysis of world
(association) football, or soccer.With a welcome eclecticism,
Giulianotti draws upon Baudrillard, Bourdieu, Bakhtin, Giddens,
Foucault, Goffman and Appadurai, among others, to relate to wider
sociological debates."
--Alan Tomlinson, University of Brighton, British Journal of
Sociology
"Football is a masterly example of soccer as an academic
subject. Giulianotti's knowledge of the sport is without question,
while his grasp and application of theory is superb. In each
subject area Giulianotti applies different theories to provide a
detailed understanding of the game and its complexities ...
Football is readable, original and its primary focus is the game.
Although it has large theoretical content, it is never dry or
obtrusive. Giulianotti's pleasing style is crucial in making the
book a success, and it should be considered as a seminal text in
the field of football academia." (International Sports
Studies)
"A comprehensive and studied project that ably expresses the
maturity and significance of Giulianotti's work ... One cannot help
but be impressed by Football'ssheer substantive range,
within which Giulianotti displays an enviable knowledge and command
of a myriad of national football cultures." (Soccer and
Society)