Football fans will cheer on their teams at the World Cup finals in Russia later this month but researchers suggest the passions involved can be put to good use even off the pitch. Crucially, national victories do not only affect attitudes but also reduce violence,” it added. In 1998, France’s World Cup football-winning side were held up as a model of racial integration at a time of tensions about immigration. South African president Nelson Mandela’s use of the 1995 rugby union World Cup was designed to help heal a fractured nation emerging from decades of apartheid. – High-stakes games –The study — “Building Nations Through Shared Experiences: Evidence From African Football” — analysed more than 70 Africa Cup of Nations and World Cup qualifying matches in sub-Saharan Africa between 2000 and 2015.

Source: Punch June 04, 2018 12:56 UTC