Book Review

Dauncey, H. & Hare, G. (1999) (Eds.). France and the 1998 World Cup: The national impact of a world sporting event. London: Frank Cass.

'Was the 1998 World Cup really about sport at all?' Not according to the editors of this collection of related essays. In fact, they contend that the finals were staged for external consumption, following in the tradition of earlier major sporting events held in France, including the 1924 Olympics, the 1938 World Cup, the 1984 European Championships, and the 1992 Winter Olympic Games. Indeed, in the words of the authors, the Coupe du Monde was "to serve as a shop window for French culture, sport and society" (p.1). However, one of the principal messages emanating from this volume is that it achieved much more than that; it gave France a sense a racial unity as reflected in the victorious Les Bleus: "a successful multi-racial team epitomising a successful multi-racial society" (Foreward). It is thus claimed that in the course of beating Brazil in the final "France has above all exorcised its own demons; the spectre of racism, the headlong rush back towards intolerance, the catastrophic image of a country hemmed in by fear, hatred and introspection" (Foreward). Zinedine Zidane, France's midfield maestro and the son of a North African immigrant worker, is cited as the personification of such inclusiveness, with patriotism perceived to have been re-claimed from Le Pen and the far right. However, the question concerning the permanence of these social changes in French society, within the wider issue of the power of a game to transform and re-create a national identity and image, is raised by the editors as an antidote to such unbridled optimism. The following contributions to this volume go some way to addressing this issue whilst providing a "framework for the understanding and further exploration of the impact of the 1998 World Cup on France and French football" (p.11). Additionally, wider global issues are also discussed, such as, the relationship between sport, the state, the media and sponsors; particularly the democratic availability of the 'people's game' in a commerce dominated age. Finally, the editors place the work ("in all due modesty" [p.11]) within that tradition developed by Elias, Dunning and Bourdieu whereby "sport is used as a standpoint from where to view changes in society and culture", thus not being "abstract from economic, social, political and ideological changes" (p.11).

Following an introductory chapter by the editors, Pierre Bourdieu presents a socio-political perspective on the place of sport, and particularly football, in French society. Specifically, the principal issue raised relates to the relationship between the State, economics and sport, and how the neo-liberal economic "rot has already infected the fruit of public service"(p.19) in the shape of the traditional autonomy of French sport. Although the two official forewards, preface, introductory chapter by the editors combined with this theoretical location of the work give a somewhat drawn out beginning to the volume, the detail provided clearly lays out the book's parameters from where the reader can chose a point of entry.

In the first of the following chapters, Ian Pickup places the World Cup of 1998 in an historical context, "highlighting the social and cultural development of the 'beautiful game' in France"(p.22). Thus, the history of the game is traced from its nineteenth century origins through to the triumph of the Michel Platini inspired European Championship winning side in 1984. John Marks, in the next chapter shifts the focus a little in an attempt to make some "tentative connections between French national identity and the French national team"(p.54). Particularly, this concept is examined through a comparison of the French World Cup side of 1958, which finished third, and the victorious Les Bleus of 1998. James Eastham, in the next contribution, discussion the current organisation of French football in the light of the far reaching Bosman ruling and the high-profile financial and political scandals that seemed to dog French clubs in the late 80s and early 90s. Here, French football is somewhat portrayed as being in a position of perennial catch-up in relation to the wealthy elite of Italy's Sierre A and England's Premiership, although the chapter finishes on the optimistic note that maybe "who knows, perhaps French football will even manage to use the current feel-good factor provided by high attendances and the World Cup triumph to boost its financial power, keep pace with the rest and move into a new economic era"(p.77-78).

Patrick Mignon, in his chapter 'Fans and heroes' changes the emphasis of the discussion to that of the culture of French football fandom. In it, he asks the question if the celebrations witnessed on the Champs-Elysees following the final victory over Brazil "refute the analyses which stress the tepid commitment to football among the French? Or, on the contrary, do they highlight the special place which the French national team holds in French football culture" (p.79). This is debated within the confines of French football's urban culture and the nature of the fandom that it created. The chapter concludes with some searching questions about the meaning and lasting effect of the victory celebrations mentioned above as they are viewed as "symbols of a call for unity precisely because that unity is far from real"(p.96). Consequently, it is emphasised that political action is necessary to realise the promises held out by the celebrations.

The following two chapters by Dauncey and Hare, focus more on the World Cup itself. Firstly, the infrastructure, and particular the stadia, required by the FIFA for hosting the World Cup is examined by Dauncey within the confines of two issues, particular to French football; that is, "the nature of French football as a 'semi-public' service (and) the long standing French psychodrama of indecision over building a national stadium" (p.98). Secondly, Hare concentrates on the 'buying and selling' of the competition, with television, using Bourdieu's image, being cited as the Trojan horse for business logic. This essay therefore looks at the relationship between the French Organising Committee (CTO) and FIFA, particularly in relation to the sale of television rights, ambush marketing, merchandising and ticket allocation. It is emphasised here that the importance of the World Cup is its televised nature, with a "symbiotic relationship of football, commerce and television" being increasingly firmly established (p.125). An interesting issue raised is the apparent tension between FIFA's commercial approach to the Coupe du Monde and the more interventionist dominant French view of the relation of sport and the State- "a tension that produced a sometimes uneasy compromise" (p.142).

The aim of the next chapter by Claude Journes is to explain the relative success of the security measures taken during the course of the tournament, both in relation to initial concerns over hooliganism and also the safety of fans inside and outside the stadia. Finally, in this section, Lucy McKeever discusses the media coverage of the competition, with the "impact of and on the French media during the tournament being explored"(p.161). The analysis is located within recent developments in French media in general and sports reporting in particular.

Following a 'diary of events' by the editors which aims to provide "a chronological and narrative account of the major sporting, social, political, cultural and economic aspects" (p.13) associated with France 98, the conclusion draws together some of the general points made throughout the book regarding the impact of the World Cup finals on French sport, culture and society. In particular, the interpretation of French success in winning the Coupe du Monde as "France winning a victory over itself" (p.219) in relation to its self acceptance as a multi-racial society is debated and somewhat queried. Finally, we are left with the lasting question with which we began, that is, how permanent this change in national mood and purpose will be. Only time will tell.

The book represents an informative insight into the spectacle of France 98 from a variety of perspectives. It is well grounded in the event itself, with the chapters being able to be read chronologically or as individual essays. It therefore, could prove a very useful resource to students of globalisation, and the sociology of football, which appears to be an expanding area of interest. However, it also provides an in-depth look at French culture and how it is reflected in national sporting organisations and attitudes, and the inherent tensions that exist between it and the more neo-liberalist philosophies of existing supra-national organisations and multi-national corporations. In this respect, the appeal of the book extends further than sport sciences, as it reaches to the students of French culture itself.

Copyright sociology of sport online, 2000