【一起听英语】政治与足球

政治与足球有什么关联

Rob: Hello, I'm Rob and this is 6 Minute English and I'm joined this week by Jennifer. Hello

Jennifer.

Jennifer: Hello Rob.

Rob: This week we're discussing sport and politics and questioning if the two subjects mix

- should they influence each other? We'll also be looking at some words and phrases

linked to these issues. I know Jen is a bit of a sports fan and you support a wellknown

football club don't you?

Jennifer: Yes I do. Sunderland Association Football Club based in the north east of England.

Rob: Of course Sunderland football club has been in the news because of the political

views of its new manager. More on that in a moment, but shall we start with a

question?

Now you will know Sunderland football club formed in 1879 but it's not the world's

oldest club – do you know which is the world's oldest football club? Is it:

a) Sheffield FC

b) Manchester United

c) Blackburn Rovers

Jennifer: I'll go for a) Sheffield FC.

Rob: Well, I'll let you know the answer at the end of the programme. But now let's kick

off - or make a start with our discussion about sports and politics. The British

football club, Sunderland, has had a number of recent poor results and this has led

to the appointment of a new manager called Paolo di Canio – but his new role has

become a political football.

Jennifer: That's a good phrase – you mean it's become an issue that is continually being

debated but left unresolved. You could say it's an issue that gets kicked around – like 

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a football! And it's an issue not because of his sporting expertise¹, but because of his

political viewpoint.

Rob: Of course having a new manager in any situation can be a real game-changer. In

other words, introducing someone new to a situation can change the performance of

what you are trying to do. In this case, it's hoped Paolo di Canio will change the

fortunes of – or improve the situation - for Sunderland.

Jennifer: Ah well, that's a good thing but it's the issue about his political views that most

people seem to be talking about. Some people are uncomfortable about his

appointment because they feel someone with his views is not good for the club. Let's

find out exactly what his political views are from BBC reporter, Tom Esslemont:

Tom Esslemont, BBC reporter:

He doesn't hide his fascist² stance. While a player nearly eight years ago, di Canio gave a

number of Nazi³ salutes⁵ to Lazio fans. That appears to be the reason why David Miliband,

resigned from Sunderland's board following Di Canio's appointment.

Rob: So Tom Esslemont describes Paolo di Canio's stance, or his political view, as fascist.

So he supports an extreme right-wing ideology⁶, or political view – and he's been

accused of praising Mussolini and has been seen giving Nazi salutes.

Jennifer: So that's why the politician, David Miliband, from the left-wing British Labour Party

has given up, or resigned from, the football club's management team. He doesn't

agree with the views of Paolo di Canio.

Rob: But should sport be a place for playing politics? In other words, should sport be

used for expressing and arguing over political viewpoints?

Jennifer: Well one fear is that his fascist viewpoint means he is a racist⁷ – so he doesn't respect

people from backgrounds other than his own. And this could discourage some people

from going to see a match. Racism⁸ in football is something people want to stamp

out – or stop.

Rob: Well, being a racist is something Paolo di Canio denies, as we can hear from the

BBC's Tom Esslemont. What advice has his supporters offered him?

Tom Esslemont, BBC reporter:

The man himself says being fascist doesn't mean being racist, and the extended arm salute⁴

was a gesture among comrades. Those close to di Canio say his appointment at Sunderland 

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will be good for football. But they've also offered him some advice: keep the politics off the

pitch.

Rob: So di Canio's friends say he will be good for football and their advice is...

Jennifer: …'keep the politics off the pitch'. Good advice. Well let's hope he keeps his eye on

the ball – and just concentrates on getting Sunderland football club to win more

games.

Rob: If not, he might get the boot – in other words, the sack! Of course, sport can be a

good place to make a political statement – it's a place where your views can get

noticed. In the 1980 Olympics in Moscow, several countries boycotted⁹ – or refused to

attend – the games because of Russia's invasion of Afghanistan.

Jennifer: Well there's no evidence that Sunderland's new boss will be making any political

statements soon. In a recent press conference he said "I don't want to talk about

politics because it's not my area. We are not in the Houses of Parliament, we are in a

football club. I want to talk about sport. I want to talk about football."

Rob: Well let's hope he plays by the rules – and his personal views off the pitch do not

reflect what takes place on the pitch. But now we've come to the time when we

reveal the answer to today's question. Earlier I asked you Jen, do you know which is

the world's oldest football club?

Jennifer: And I said a) Sheffield FC.

Rob: And you are right. The world's oldest football team is Sheffield FC. It formed back in

1857. OK, well, it's almost time to go but before we do, Jen could you remind us of

some of the words we have heard today.

Jennifer: Yes. We heard:

kick off

a political football

game-changer

playing politics

to stamp out

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keeps his eye on the ball

get the boot

a political statement

play by the rules

Rob: Thanks Jen. Well, that's all we have time for today. Please join us again soon for 6

Minute English from bbclearningenglish.

Both: Bye

1 expertise   

n.专门知识(或技能等)，专长

参考例句：

• We were amazed at his expertise on the ski slopes.他斜坡滑雪的技能使我们赞叹不已。
• You really have the technical expertise in a new breakthrough.让你真正在专业技术上有一个全新的突破。

2 fascist   

adj.法西斯主义的；法西斯党的；n.法西斯主义者，法西斯分子

参考例句：

• The strikers were roughed up by the fascist cops.罢工工人遭到法西斯警察的殴打。
• They succeeded in overthrowing the fascist dictatorship.他们成功推翻了法西斯独裁统治。

3 Nazi   

n.纳粹分子，adj.纳粹党的，纳粹的

参考例句：

• They declare the Nazi regime overthrown and sue for peace.他们宣布纳粹政权已被推翻，并出面求和。
• Nazi closes those war criminals inside their concentration camp.纳粹把那些战犯关在他们的集中营里。

4 salute   

vi.行礼，致意，问候，放礼炮；vt.向…致意，迎接，赞扬；n.招呼，敬礼，礼炮

参考例句：

• Merchant ships salute each other by dipping the flag.商船互相点旗致敬。
• The Japanese women salute the people with formal bows in welcome.这些日本妇女以正式的鞠躬向人们施礼以示欢迎。

5 salutes   

n.致敬，欢迎，敬礼( salute的名词复数 )v.欢迎，致敬( salute的第三人称单数 )；赞扬，赞颂

参考例句：

• Poulengey salutes, and stands at the door awaiting orders. 波仑日行礼，站在门口听侯命令。 来自辞典例句
• A giant of the world salutes you. 一位世界的伟人向你敬礼呢。 来自辞典例句

6 ideology   

n.意识形态，(政治或社会的)思想意识

参考例句：

• The ideology has great influence in the world.这种思想体系在世界上有很大的影响。
• The ideal is to strike a medium between ideology and inspiration.我的理想是在意识思想和灵感鼓动之间找到一个折衷。

7 racist   

n.种族主义者，种族主义分子

参考例句：

• a series of racist attacks 一连串的种族袭击行为
• His speech presented racist ideas under the guise of nationalism. 他的讲话以民族主义为幌子宣扬种族主义思想。

8 racism   

n.民族主义；种族歧视(意识)

参考例句：

• He said that racism is endemic in this country.他说种族主义在该国很普遍。
• Racism causes political instability and violence.种族主义道致政治动荡和暴力事件。

9 boycotted   

抵制，拒绝参加( boycott的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• Athletes from several countries boycotted the Olympic Games. 有好几国的运动员抵制奥林匹克运动会。
• The opposition party earlier boycotted the Diet agenda, demanding Miyaji's resignation. 反对党曾杯葛国会议程，要宫路下台。