Debate: Beautiful Game?
Duration: 40-60 minutes
Aim: To evaluate the positive and negative aspects of football in countries around
the world.
WARM UP – OPINION LINE
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Put ‘agree’ and ‘disagree’ signs on either side of the classroom. Read out four
or five ‘agree/disagree’ statements. Explain to the children that they should
stand next to agree/disagree or somewhere in the middle, depending on their
point of view.
The statements could be things like: ‘Football is the best sport’; ‘Real Madrid is
the best team’; ‘keepy uppies should be an Olympic sport’; ‘Messi is the best
player in the world’; and so on.
Introduce the debate question: ‘Football is a force for good in the world.’
Do you agree? Vote on the debate question.
ACTIVITY
 Divide the class into small groups providing each group with statements either
for or against the idea that ‘Football is a force for good in the world.’
 Explain that the groups do not have to believe in the statements in real life but
they must consider what the statement means and argue in its favour for the
purpose of the debate.
 Give the groups time to think about the statements and prepare their
arguments. Set ground rules for conduct in the debate. It may be useful to
introduce terms such as ‘I agree with … because’ or ‘I disagree with …
because’.
DEBATE
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Run the debate
POST-MATCH DISCUSSIONS
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At the end of the debate, hold a vote on the debate question.
Did anyone change their mind? Why? What was convincing or not? Which
arguments are the most convincing?
How could local, national and international football be made more just?
How can you make your involvement in football positive, here and globally?
Article 31 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child states
that children should have the right to, “rest and leisure, to engage in play and
recreational activities… to take part freely in cultural life and the arts.”
Why do you think play is a right rather than a privilege?
Ideas – For ‘football being a force for good’
 The building of World Cup stadiums provides jobs for people
 The World Cup is a fun time for the host country
 Football is an opportunity for team building
 Football can bring communities together
 Football can keep people fit and healthy and you don’t need lots of money to take
part
 Football can be a ‘leveller’, rich and poor are equal on the field
 Football can be a way out of poverty for a few people
 Football can help people learn skills and the value of fair play
 Being talented at football is a gift from God that lifts the heart and inspires hope
 The football industry provides jobs for people in developing countries
Ideas – Against ‘football being a force for good’
 Football can cause rivalry and bad behaviour between teams and fans
 Competition can pressurise players to cheat
 Famous international football stars earn lots of money while the people that make
footballs and sports clothes in developing countries don’t get a fair wage
 Professional football is easier for the rich to access than the poor
 Football is a sport dominated by men and it excludes women
 Billions of pounds are being spent on football, especially the World Cup, that could
be spent on making the world a fairer place and helping people out of poverty
 People are made to leave their homes to make way for new football stadiums
CURRICULUM LINKS
English:
En1Speaking and listening
Speaking 1a-f
Listening 2a-e
Group discussion and
interaction 3a-f
Citizenship:
Developing confidence and
responsibility and making the
most of their abilities 2a
Preparing to play an active role
as citizens 2a
Developing good relationships
and respecting the differences
between people 4b