Although much of what Philosophy Football stands for is tongue-in-cheek - since football and humour are seldom far apart in England - there is a serious motive behind Mark's efforts.
'Football fans of different teams and countries have far more in common with each other than they have differences,' he insists. Thus, to build bridges he makes a point of contacting Philosophy Football customers overseas and meeting up with them when England are visiting. 'As someone once wrote, England has some of the worst supporters in football, but we also have some of the best. Philosophy Football sets out to soften the edges of football, to promote a different kind of patriotism. Football is, to me, a symbol of popular internationalism. We should make the worst excesses of xenophobia into an irrelevant sideshow. But we also hope to put a smile on people's faces.'
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| | Glossary | | tongue-in-cheek (adj.) | | 不能当真的 | |
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