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Why aren't there more atheist footballers?

22nd June, 2014
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Riccardo Montolivo is one of the few openly atheist footballers. (Football.ua, Wikimedia Commons)
Expert
22nd June, 2014
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It’s a shame Italy midfielder Riccardo Montolivo broke his leg before the World Cup. Not because Montolivo is a spectacular talent, but because he is one of the few openly atheist players involved in the professional game.

A World Cup in Brazil was always going to have religious overtones. In an overwhelmingly Catholic nation, the Selecao are among the most pious teams in world sport.

It didn’t take long for the first exhortation to the heavens to appear, with Neymar falling to his knees and signalling to the skies after he’d converted a contentious penalty against Croatia.

A few days later, Algeria’s Sofiane Feghouli went the tried-and-tested route for many players from Islamic nations, kneeling and kissing the Estadio Mineirao turf in Belo Horizonte after he’d scored The Desert Warriors’ first World Cup goal in 28 years.

Of course there have been plenty of players who’ve indulged in the age-old celebration of slotting home and simply wheeling away in sheer joy, often sprinting towards the bench to celebrate with teammates and coaches.

Yet, when it comes to goal celebrations, we barely bat an eyelid when they involve worshipping deities on the pitch. Why is that?

No doubt it has something to do with the fact that displaying overt signs of religiosity is so culturally ingrained in our societies that we accept it without question. Even on our football pitches, it’s more common than not to see players cross themselves as they enter the fray, bear crucifixes around necks and wear ‘I Belong To Jesus’ t-shirts underneath national kits.

There’s nothing inherently wrong with that, but why don’t we see more players like Milan skipper Montolivo, who long ago admitted he has no belief in any particular religious deity. Part of it is invariably cultural, with plenty of players no doubt carrying on the traditions and beliefs passed down from those around them, including from family and friends.

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It’s not like professional footballers spend their days pondering the mysteries of life, particularly ones that may put them offside with teammates or fans.

However, there is something admirable about a player like Montolivo openly defying convention in a deeply religious country like Italy, even if it has made him a somewhat unpopular figure as a result.

“I don’t believe in God. In Spain all 22 players cross themselves. If it works, the game is always going to be a tie,” famously non-conformist Dutch legend Johan Cruyff once said.

Despite the fact that more and more individuals in our societies are identifying as secular or non-religious, there still seems to be a taboo about openly declaring one’s lack of religious belief.

Often all it takes to offend religious sensibilities is for atheists to willingly admit their non-belief, with accusations that they’re ‘shoving their opinions down our throats’ a common refrain.

But if believers can so readily exhibit their piety on the pitch, then surely openly atheist and agnostic players should feel as comfortable as Montolivo does in admitting their lack of belief?

Perhaps it’s not even much of an issue for non-religious players, who simply get on with the business of playing football and leave the worshipping to others.

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But wouldn’t it be great to see a player lift his jersey to reveal an ‘I Love Science’ slogan – or at the very least, an image of the Flying Spaghetti Monster?

In age in which openly gay footballers sadly remain few and far between, it’s hardly a surprise non-religious footballers are not exactly putting their hands up to rock the boat.

But for the non-religious among us, it’s always nice to see players celebrate goals among teammates and fans – especially when the religious devotion is left back in the dressing room.

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