Socio-environmental costs of modern football. Capitalism, transformation and climate change

Abstract

In the 21st century, the football industry has grown faster than in the entire 21st century. The organization of continental cups, football world cups between two or more host countries, the construction of huge stadiums and the increase in the physical condition and level of play of football players is one of the most publicized faces. However, being a global consumer product, the football spectacle hides a series of socio-environmental exploitations that have not been discussed by the social sciences. Some clubs and federations are implementing projects and actions to mitigate impacts such as the carbon footprint and energy sustainability. However, many of them are not free from contradictions since, on the one hand, they are efficient in things like capturing rainwater in the stadiums, while their construction was carried out from deforestation and dispossession. In this sense, the article is an exploration of these strategies, as well as the fetishism of football as merchandise, from a socio-environmental perspective.