White football in South Africa: empire, apartheid and change, 1892-1977

Abstract

This essay traces the development, domination and decline of white football in South Africa. It suggests that white football was more significant and popular than generally acknowledged and was at the forefront of globalizing football in the early twentieth century. In order to better understand the broader history of twentieth-century South African football, a more detailed examination of the organized white game at the national and international levels is necessary. This historical analysis of elite white football draws from the archives of the Football Association of South Africa. The analysis underscores the important role of white football authorities in the contestation of power and identity in the game in South Africa and abroad. In the first period under consideration (1892-1940s), local football authorities challenged the dominant sports within South Africa. This period was followed in the 1950s by the challenges of professionalism and anti-apartheid organizations. In the final phase (1967-77), officials experimented with football on 'multi-national' and multi-racial lines - a failed reform that led to the demise of white football.

Publication DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/14660970903331318
Divisions: College of Business and Social Sciences > School of Social Sciences & Humanities > Sociology and Policy
College of Business and Social Sciences > School of Social Sciences & Humanities
Additional Information: This is an electronic version of an article published in Bolsmann, Chris H. (2010). White football in South Africa: empire, apartheid and change, 1892-1977. Soccer and Society, 11 (1-2), pp. 29-45. Soccer and Society is available online at: http://www.informaworld.com/smpp/ with the open URL of your article.http://www.informaworld.com/openurl?genre=article&issn=1466-0970&volume=11&issue=1&spage=29
Uncontrolled Keywords: white football,South Africa,globalizing football,twentieth-century South African football,Football Association of South Africa,professionalism,anti-apartheid organizations,multi-national,multi-racial,reform,Social Psychology,Sociology and Political Science,Cultural Studies
Publication ISSN: 1743-9590
Last Modified: 27 Mar 2024 08:10
Date Deposited: 21 Oct 2010 11:54
Full Text Link: http://www.info ... ssue=1&spage=29
Related URLs: http://www.scop ... tnerID=8YFLogxK (Scopus URL)
PURE Output Type: Article
Published Date: 2010-01
Authors: Bolsmann, Chris H.

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