Playing the game: how the chamber of sports brutally mirrors the arena of politics

Teams competing against each other for victory. Everything on the line. Leaders attempting to outwit each other in a game of psychology. A tactical slip could result in defeat. The supporters of these teams are desperate for the win, loss is not an option, and victory means bragging rights. The world is watching. Which am I describing: sports or politics?

Both Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer were asked to give their advice to Gareth Southgate before Euro 2024; the former is a Southampton fan, the latter an Arsenal supporter. They both gave what Peter Mannion MP would describe as a “political meringue”; “sweet, lightweight, and with very little substance.”

This trademark banality is not unique to politics. Sports press conferences can be a minefield of linguistics, one must stay positive in the face of defeat while not attacking one’s teammates and remain composed in the face of tough questions from the media. Any drift from this sentiment is immortalised in folklore and constantly associated with that individual from then on. Think Gattuso branding his OFI Crete team “sometimes maybe good, sometimes maybe sh*t,” Kevin Keegan having a meltdown over Manchester United, or Nigel Pearson branding a journalist “an ostrich”. Both politicians and managers must reserve what they truly think behind closed doors, to the public they should appear confident and united with their team – collective responsibility.

“This arrogance is not inherently negative - athletes and politicians alike require complete belief in themselves to get what they want and this is arguably a prerequisite for glory”

Politics has been described as ‘showbiz for ugly people’, but perhaps ‘sports’ would be a more fitting comparison. To be a successful sportsman you have to believe in yourself; Muhammad Ali saw himself as ‘the greatest’, Michael Jordan lauded himself in his Hall of Fame speech, and Jose Mourinho declared his moniker as ‘the Special One’. Similarly, Liz Truss allegedly branded herself ‘Disruptor-in-Chief’ (indeed), Margaret Thatcher revelled in her ‘Iron Lady’ nickname, and I don’t know where to start with Donald Trump. This arrogance is not inherently negative - athletes and politicians alike require complete belief in themselves to get what they want and this is arguably a prerequisite for glory.

Rick Reilly has written an excellent analysis of why a combination of sport and politics demonstrates Trump’s narcissism in his book Commander in Cheat. Golf is a game built on trustworthiness and self-discipline – Reilly calls it a “Rorschach test of your morality”. Trump’s compulsive cheating and fraudulent bragging, mirror the mendacity he has displayed his entire political career (and in his financial records). Both sports and politics demand ethical decisions; taking money from a controversial donor is essentially the political equivalent of taking performance-enhancing drugs. Both will aid victory, but at the cost of integrity and, if exposed to the public, their careers.

Tiger Woods’ robotic monologue after cheating on his wife was painfully rehearsed and he was sorry that he was caught rather than for his actions. If he was a politician, he would be with Ant and Dec in the jungle a few weeks later. This is because they are role models, we want them to be something we aspire to. We want politicians to be beacons of trust, integrity, and intelligence; competent in leading the country. Analogously, we want sportspeople to be heroes, invincible elites who we crave adrenaline from watching and idolise for their exceptional skill.

The truth is that they are humans who are prone to mistakes. But fans are seldom forgiving for these, there is a tribal, almost primitive instinct of anger when something does not align with our individual wants. When Gareth Southgate did not start Cole Palmer during the Euros, it was an obvious misstep that arguably cost us the tournament. Why should we doubt him, having been so successful as England’s manager? Nevertheless, he had to go after the tournament. Liz Truss launched her mini-budget to disastrous effect, and this undermined her authority as it crashed the economy. She had to go. We refuse to follow idols who seem incompetent; as soon as this is the case, we need someone new, whether an England manager or a new prime minister to restore confidence.

There is a slight caveat; politicians are always viewed through a lens of cynicism, people are waiting for them to trip up, and we are disappointed but not surprised when corruption or dishonesty rear their ugly heads above the benches of the House of Commons. Yet, we want sportspeople to be sentinels of hope that we can enjoy even when our dysfunctional government is letting us down. We hope for their success and eagerly watch them in order to suffer the slings and arrows of a penalty shootout, or the 81st minute of a rugby match.

“Social media is a grim reality in all industries, but nowhere does it expose our societal brutality than in politics and sport. It is no wonder Barack Obama labelled politics a ‘contact sport’”

The disgusting racial abuse aimed at Saka, Rashford, and Sancho post-Euro 2020 demonstrated that we can treat defeat as cruelly as we celebrate victory. Whether in politics or sports, the public will always attack if something does not go their way. The truth is, nothing 62-year-old Barry from Skegness says on Twitter could possibly be constructive for helping these sportspeople, who do it professionally. Similarly, sending antisemitic, Islamophobic, or death-threatening tweets to MPs only regresses society. Social media is a grim reality in all industries, but nowhere does it expose our societal brutality than in politics and sport. It is no wonder Barack Obama labelled politics a ‘contact sport’.

Both of these games are ruthless. People spend their lives training and hoping for their career-changing break, whether being signed by a team or becoming an MP for the first time. They must take each step on the tightrope carefully, be organised and disciplined while ignoring the crowds watching them from below ready to pounce if they fall. Ahead of them are two paths, one to success, and one to failure. They could fall at any time and the game will be over. Their opponents shake the rope, trying to make their journey harder. How long can they stay up?