Club 2x11 Imperial Game – How can football be decolonized?, 8.5.25

May 8, 2025, 19:00
Main Library on the Gürtel
Urban-Loritz-Platz 2a, 1070 Vienna
Free admission!

Modern football is a cultural product of Victorian England. At the beginning of the 20th century, the game was exported all over the world by European colonial powers. The aim was to use sport to civilize and subjugate their subjects. How strongly is today's football influenced by its colonial and racist origins? Which imperial images of masculinity live on? How was the game appropriated in Africa and Brazil?

Who profits from player transfers from the Global South, and how global is world football really? And: Can football even be decolonized?

We will discuss these and other questions in a panel discussion with:
Ronny Blaschke, author of the book “Spielfeld der Herrenmenschen – Kolonialismus und Rassismus im Fußball” (The Playing Field of the Master Race – Colonialism and Racism in Football)
Bella Bello Bitugu, sports for development expert at the University of Ghana, first black referee in Tyrol
Henrie Dennis, activist, founder Afro Rainbow Austria, former football player at USV Nappersdorf

Moderator: Mareike Boysen, Secretary General, Wir Frauen im Sport (We Women in Sport)

Registration

This edition is part of the ‘Sport for Global Justice’ project and is largely funded by the Austrian Development Cooperation (ADA).