Free market football

The World Cup is upon us, and for a few weeks the language of amity and unity will be pushed aside by rants and rumbles of nationalistic exclusivity. In the wake of the Greek financial crisis, European national amity and unity have also been severely tested, which leads one to wonder whether the future of capitalism will resemble the beautiful game.  Whether in football or Europe, don’t be fooled, the integrative forces of the market will overcome the divisive dynamics in both. Football has long been an advanced manifestation of what open markets are supposed to be about: players move with little difficulty across national borders; a great deal of money liberally exchanges hands as a consequence, in no small part greased by highly profitable television contracts; marketing and appeal is global; and the most talented players and managers usually come out of the maelstrom far richer. Some might protest