Should Politics Stay Out of Football?

Walk into any stadium in the world and you’ll see it: flags waving not just for clubs but for causes. You’ll hear chants echoing through stands that speak louder than just football. And in recent years, you’ve probably found yourself asking a question that fans, players, and pundits alike keep returning to, should politics stay out of football?

It’s a debate that’s become louder than ever. Some argue that the sport should be a sanctuary, untouched by the chaos of real-world ideologies and conflict. Others insist that football, as a reflection of society, has no choice but to be political. I’ve wrestled with this myself, during games, in conversations at pubs, even alone at home replaying headlines in my head. There’s no simple answer, but maybe that’s the point.

Football Has Never Been Apolitical

Let’s get one thing straight: football didn’t suddenly “become” political in the past decade. It’s always been tied to the world around it. From the working-class roots of clubs like West Ham or Schalke, to the fierce Catalan nationalism wrapped in FC Barcelona’s DNA, politics has long been stitched into the fabric of the game.

In the 1970s, players like Sócrates used their platforms to push for democratic reform in Brazil. In 1998, France’s World Cup win was more than a sporting triumph, it became a symbol of multicultural France. Even the boycotts and protests of apartheid South Africa played out on the pitch as nations refused to compete against teams that represented oppression.

So when people say, “keep politics out of football,” they’re often forgetting that politics was already there before they fell in love with the game.

The Player’s Platform

Today’s footballers have more visibility and influence than ever before. With a single tweet or Instagram post, they can reach millions. And for many, that comes with a responsibility.

Think about Marcus Rashford. His off-the-pitch work during the UK’s free school meal crisis forced government action. Was it political? Yes. Was it also humane, necessary, and deeply tied to the values of community and fairness that football claims to uphold? Also yes.

And then there’s Megan Rapinoe, who stood tall not just for equal pay in women’s football, but for broader issues of justice and equality. Or Mesut Özil, who spoke out against the treatment of Uighur Muslims in China and paid the price for it, both commercially and professionally.

These aren’t publicity stunts. These are personal convictions. They’re reminders that players aren’t just athletes. They’re people, many of whom came from communities that still face discrimination, poverty, and marginalisation. If they don’t speak up, who will?

When Politics Becomes Propaganda

Of course, there’s a flip side. Not all political involvement in football comes from a place of conscience. In fact, some of it is pure state propaganda.

You’ve seen it: regimes investing in clubs or hosting tournaments to improve their global image. Qatar hosting the 2022 World Cup wasn’t just about football, it was about reshaping the world’s perception of the Gulf nation, despite controversies surrounding migrant worker conditions and human rights.

Similarly, clubs have become vehicles for sportswashing. Manchester City’s owners have brought glory to the pitch, but the political discussions surrounding the UAE’s policies off the pitch are impossible to ignore. Same goes for Saudi Arabia’s growing influence in the sport.

In these cases, politics isn’t entering football from the grassroots or the players, it’s being pumped in from the top down, with billion-dollar backing. And that’s where fans start to feel powerless.

Fans Are Not a Monolith

Whenever the topic of politics in football comes up, there’s an assumption that “the fans” want the game to be pure and untouched. But fans are not one voice. We come from different countries, classes, and cultures. Our views aren’t all the same.

Some fans are proud when their club stands for something. Others just want the focus to be on the game. Both are valid. But pretending that there’s a single “correct” way to support a team misses the point entirely.

What we do share, though, is the belief that football belongs to the people, not governments, not corporate sponsors, not billionaires with a branding strategy.

That’s why it’s so powerful when fans push back. Like when Bayern Munich supporters unfurled banners criticising Qatar. Or when Liverpool fans walked out in protest of ticket price hikes. These aren’t just acts of rebellion, they’re political statements in their own right. And they come from love.

The Tightrope of Unity and Division

One argument I’ve heard often is that politics divides fans, while football is supposed to bring them together. And there’s some truth in that. A stadium should be a place where your background doesn’t matter as much as your colors. When you’re in the stands, singing the same chants, you’re part of something bigger.

But unity that demands silence isn’t real unity. If my fellow fan is being racially abused in the stadium and I’m told not to speak out because “we’re all here for football,” then what kind of unity is that?

Football doesn’t need to be neutral to be inclusive. In fact, pretending to be neutral often just means ignoring injustice. If we want football to unite us, we need to be honest about the things that divide us outside the stadium too.

Governing Bodies Can’t Keep Avoiding This

FIFA and UEFA have a history of trying to keep politics out of football, at least on paper. Bans on political statements, fines for political gestures, rules against players expressing certain opinions. But enforcement is often selective and hypocritical.

A rainbow armband might be seen as a violation in one country, while entire World Cups are awarded to authoritarian regimes. A message about peace might be sanctioned, while militaristic national anthems play on. It’s all a bit murky.

The truth is, these governing bodies can’t have it both ways. If football is going to be global and powerful, it has to accept the responsibility that comes with that. That means clearer guidelines, yes, but also a willingness to stand up for values that go beyond money and optics.

The Role of the Media

Another player in this whole drama is the media. They’re often the ones framing the conversation, deciding what’s seen as political, what’s called “divisive,” and what gets applauded.

When players kneel for racial justice, some outlets focus more on the backlash than the cause. When women speak out about equal pay, coverage often leans into controversy rather than fairness.

But media doesn’t just report on football, it shapes how we think about it. And the stories they choose to highlight (or ignore) often say as much about their politics as it does about the game.

So, Should Politics Stay Out of Football?

Here’s where I land after all this thinking: politics can’t stay out of football because football doesn’t exist in a vacuum. The pitch is not a separate universe. It’s part of the same world where people struggle, dream, and fight for change.

What we should be asking is which politics are welcome, and why. Who gets to speak? Who gets punished for speaking? And who benefits when we pretend the game is neutral?

Football is too big, too powerful, and too loved to be politically innocent. And maybe that’s okay. Because when it’s done right, politics in football doesn’t ruin the game, it deepens its meaning.

Football as a Mirror, Not a Mask

I’ve seen banners that made me tear up. I’ve heard chants that reminded me what people can stand for. I’ve watched players use their spotlight to light the way for others. None of that took away from the magic of football. If anything, it added to it.

Yes, we should be careful. Not every political message belongs in the stands, and not every club should be a battleground. But when the values being expressed are rooted in justice, fairness, and community, aren’t those the same things we celebrate in football anyway?

So no, politics shouldn’t be shoved into football for profit. But when it comes from the heart, from the fans, from the players, maybe we shouldn’t be so quick to push it away.

After all, if football is truly for everyone, then everyone’s voice should matter, even when it makes us uncomfortable.