Class, Ethnicity, and Color in the Making of Brazilian Football:

Lopes describes that what while football began as organized social events for the elites it ultimately became a way for Brazils highly disparate population to recognize each other.  This can be seen through Vasco de Gama’s choice of players, popularity, and support and work to “proletarianize” football. (Lopes, 248)  This movement was continued by Internacional and through the national team as well.  However, there are still problems. This can be seen through their description of Ronaldo, who grew up poor and was successful as a soccer player.  But, “by doing so, they focused on Brazilian football as a model for helping poor youngers… marketing thus aestheticizes poverty…” (pg. 240) This is problematic because it encodes that it is okay to be poor and one can escape using football, but is not solving any social problems, essentially giving false hope.

Immigrants, Brazilian Football, and the Dilemna of National Identity:

Bocketti works to describe the influence of Italian immigrants in the Brazilian football scene.  He says, “football offered immigrants and their descendants a site in which to negotiate their integration Brazilian society, as well a means to maintain discrete ethnic personalities.” (Bocketti, 275)  This shows an interesting similarity to Barcelona, who were outsiders who used their football team as a form of opposition to the larger culture. “On the field and off, the club promoted an Italian identity and allegiance, helping the immigrant community to cultivate a sense of discrete ethnicity, even as it helped that community enter into the larger society.” (Bocketti, 285)  This trend has continued, just like with Barcelona and Catalan players.

Question: Why did the Brazilian elites have to choose the amateur route, rather than simply proving dominance from having the free time?