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Pitch Fever : Swedish Football and the Politics of Grass

Herd, Katarzyna LU orcid (2023) In Football Research in an Enlarged Europe (FREE) p.151-170
Abstract
This chapter explores moral and ethical discussions that emerged in Sweden when the number of artificial grass pitches rose substantially. Based on research in the Swedish top-tier football league, named Allsvenskan, I shall present conflicting discourses that appear whenever grass is considered. The grass discussions often take a wider, political turn and reflect attitudes towards developments in modern football. The main problem, as perceived by supporters, is the growing number of artificial pitches. In spite of strong critical voices, green plastic carpets keep being rolled out around Sweden. Thus, grass has become a point of pride, protest and almost ideological fight against an elusive enemy of traditional football, as artificial... (More)
This chapter explores moral and ethical discussions that emerged in Sweden when the number of artificial grass pitches rose substantially. Based on research in the Swedish top-tier football league, named Allsvenskan, I shall present conflicting discourses that appear whenever grass is considered. The grass discussions often take a wider, political turn and reflect attitudes towards developments in modern football. The main problem, as perceived by supporters, is the growing number of artificial pitches. In spite of strong critical voices, green plastic carpets keep being rolled out around Sweden. Thus, grass has become a point of pride, protest and almost ideological fight against an elusive enemy of traditional football, as artificial pitches are seen by many as harmful for Swedish football. While tracing the grass discussions, I shall focus on the broader social meanings ascribed to grass and conflicts revolving around it. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
organization
publishing date
type
Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding
publication status
published
subject
host publication
The Political Football Stadium : Identity Discourses and Power Struggles - Identity Discourses and Power Struggles
series title
Football Research in an Enlarged Europe (FREE)
editor
Alpan, Başak ; Sonntag, Albrecht and Herd, Katarzyna
pages
151 - 170
publisher
Springer Nature
ISBN
978-3-031-29144-9
978-3-031-29143-2
DOI
10.1007/978-3-031-29144-9_8
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
04dfe3e8-3d1d-45ab-95f1-f4336f9e758c
date added to LUP
2023-07-21 11:23:34
date last changed
2023-07-25 02:15:58
@inbook{04dfe3e8-3d1d-45ab-95f1-f4336f9e758c,
  abstract     = {{This chapter explores moral and ethical discussions that emerged in Sweden when the number of artificial grass pitches rose substantially. Based on research in the Swedish top-tier football league, named Allsvenskan, I shall present conflicting discourses that appear whenever grass is considered. The grass discussions often take a wider, political turn and reflect attitudes towards developments in modern football. The main problem, as perceived by supporters, is the growing number of artificial pitches. In spite of strong critical voices, green plastic carpets keep being rolled out around Sweden. Thus, grass has become a point of pride, protest and almost ideological fight against an elusive enemy of traditional football, as artificial pitches are seen by many as harmful for Swedish football. While tracing the grass discussions, I shall focus on the broader social meanings ascribed to grass and conflicts revolving around it.}},
  author       = {{Herd, Katarzyna}},
  booktitle    = {{The Political Football Stadium : Identity Discourses and Power Struggles}},
  editor       = {{Alpan, Başak and Sonntag, Albrecht and Herd, Katarzyna}},
  isbn         = {{978-3-031-29144-9}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  pages        = {{151--170}},
  publisher    = {{Springer Nature}},
  series       = {{Football Research in an Enlarged Europe (FREE)}},
  title        = {{Pitch Fever : Swedish Football and the Politics of Grass}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-29144-9_8}},
  doi          = {{10.1007/978-3-031-29144-9_8}},
  year         = {{2023}},
}