Football Versus Commercialism

Football in the modern era has turned into a global industry. The big clubs are successful in the field are now required to maintain the financial balance to avoid a deficit. Moreover, with the high player salaries and transfer of such a large price. Therefore, a global marketing strategy to gain additional supporters elsewhere in the world is now being adopted by the big clubs.

One strategy used by many big clubs in Europe is to utilize the pre-season tour. The match at the break between seasons is often used as a promotional event. Besides as a rehearsal to welcome the new season for the players, club officials also get other benefits.

Tournament International Championsip Club (ICC), for example. The champions will receive 1 million dollars. However, in addition to money prizes, participating clubs also get a chance to expand their fan base, which means additional revenue from the sale of trinkets clubs.

Let's consider Manchester United, the champions of the ICC. During the course of the tournament, "Red Devils" has generated a lot of fans in America. Recorded a total of 311.105 spectators have witnessed United's four matches at the ICC.

The match between United and Real Madrid in the ICC's own record-breaking number of spectators largest in American football. A total of 109.318 spectators came to watch the duel of the two European giants. This number beats the previous record in 1984, when France meet Brazil in the Olympics, which was attended by 101.799 spectators.

In addition to the ICC, another pre-season tournament held in 2014, this is the Emirates Cup. Pre-season competition is organized by Arsenal at home to their pride at Emirates Stadium, London, England.

Many European clubs participated in this tournament. For example, Paris Saint-Germain, Juventus, Internazionale of Milan, Valencia, Madrid never had to compete in the Emirates during the seven-year history of this competition.

In 2014, the Emirates Cup present status as champions Benfica Portuguese league last season. Then there is the AS Monaco as a runner up in the French league, and representatives of Spain last season perched in eighth, Valencia.

Arsenal as the host, had to look stunning when bending Benfica with a score of 5-1. However, it was Valencia who won the title in the final game Monaco ousted Arsenal 0-1, and Valencia beat Benfica 3-1.

Valencia as the Emirates Cup champion in 2014 was 'just' get 10,000 euros as prize first prize, much smaller than IIC, 2014. However, the Emirates Cup Valencia provides opportunities more widely known. In addition to broadcast live on Arsenal's official website, the tournament was also broadcast live in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, Brazil, and India.

However, the purse money and the opportunity to expand the fan base does not make pre-season activities deemed entirely positive. There remains the question of a positive impact on the club game in the field.

Louis van Gaal, the new coach of Manchester United became the first coach to criticize the United schedules filled with commercial activities.

"We have to prepare for next season and we also have a lot of commercial activities for the players. We have to travel far away, often flying on a plane resulting jet lag. This is not a positive impact on our preparations. However, this tour has been scheduled in advance (before he handles United) so I must and will adapt, "said van Gaal relevant United dense tour schedule.

Being a champion in the pre-season tour itself is obviously not the size of the club will gain the same success or not, when the real competition starts.

Real Madrid (ICC Champion 2013) and Galatasaray (Emirates Cup Champion 2013), for example. Both failed to excel in their respective leagues. Madrid finished the season in third position, while Galatasaray only be ranked second in the Turkish league. However, Madrid has won the 10th title of the Champions League and also the Copa del Rey.

Manchester City, which fill the gap of pre-season last year by going to various parts of the world such as South Africa, Hong Kong, Germany and Finland, also supported by a world class player, in fact only able to reach the English League title in the final game.

Therefore, it is interesting to see the extent to which the big clubs trying to get support from other parts of the world, as well as the extent to which the activities of pre-season fitness affects the mentality and players when the actual competition has begun.

In the meantime, football lovers beyond the European continent, such as America and Asia, can enjoy their favorite club appearances each summer, while the players can only do their job: playing football and chasing kemanangan in the field.