Political conflicts in the Cypriot football fields: A Qualitative Approach through the Press

Abstract

Sports and especially football have often become a field for political conflict in several societies around the world. In Cyprus the history of football follows the overwhelming history of the country, since, during the twentieth century and until today, the political events that take place in the island are often depicted within the football fields. Mass media and especially newspapers developed a crucial role and several times this role resulted in the deterioration of the already strained situation. The article examines the history of the Cypriot football in accordance to the political history of the country along the twentieth century, focusing on the turbulent period 1948–1953, as depicted through the newspapers, through Discourse Analysis. The aim of this research is to present the various ways in which football became an important field for political conflict and the role of the press in this situation.