I
heard about this troubling situation in the news, but we should have
anticipated it. Why? Because the soccer team players do not earn a lot of
money. Around soccer, there are a lot of interests and a hidden market in which
organized betting moves large amounts of money. El Salvador is a small country
and it is classified as middle income, although it does not have control of the
money that comes from the mafia or drug trafficking, for such reason, this
situation is easy to happen. Nevertheless, Salvadorian society has never known
how much money circulates around this. The Federation International of Football
Association (FIFA) says that soccer moves approximately $500,000 million, and
also it recognizes that racketeering earns about $15,000 million. Therefore,
the fixing of the result of the soccer game is common in the world. It is not
only a particular situation to El Salvador, it is something more generalized.
To
deal with this situation, it would be necessary to have a policy to the
accountability of the money around soccer, not only concern the money that
comes from the entrance fee, rather also than coming of gambles. If the soccer
matches move a lot of money it could be possible to design a special tax to
finance the education or health of the children and adolescents. This could
give soccer, not only a de-stressing activity but rather a laudable goal for
our society.
Other
situation that´s important to remark is the characteristics of the soccer
players. They are the reflection of 75% of Salvadorian population, and who do
not have the income to complete and satisfy their basics needs. Most of them
are humble and more vulnerable to fall in this kind of deal. But, not only the
economic part reflexes the Salvadorian reality; soccer players have not had the
opportunity to develop themselves. The main opportunity that they have is that
they know how to play well.
Most
of the time, the government uses soccer matches to distract the population, who
may be worried about the national economic and social situation, it is also a
way to de-stress people. Salvadorian love their national soccer team. Most of children
admire and follow all the matches with the hope of celebrating the victories.
If government would had another vision, it would use this role model
of the soccer players to change some bad behaviour and to make other kinds of
citizens. If they try to offer integrated development to young soccer players,
and involve them in educative activities, -soccer schools, soccer journal,
discipline practices, forum and other cultural activities-, they would have
different motivations and values.
Recently,
in some schools teachers are promoting a programme called “Juego Limpio”, for
the children breaks´, this is a good practice. Most of the students like it,
because they can participate and have healthy competition, without need to
always win. Thus, sports, and in our particular case, soccer is an important
instrument to provide others channels to children to express their energy and
strength. Some municipalities’ uses this to distract youth from violence or becoming
involved with guns. Therefore national government needs to think in a different
way about this sport and change its´ constrains scope for other more integrated
and comprehensive.
