World Cup: New Marketing Strategy

Things have been a bit hectic for me lately and I wasn't able to write about the World Cup at all while it was going on. But I have to say that the officiating and playing done at this year's Cup has given FIFA a better way to market soccer to Americans. As anyone who has played or watched competitive soccer will tell you it is a rough and tumble sport. A full fledged contact sport without the benefit of large amounts of padding. As much as I would hate for that aspect of the game to be exploited if you want most American men to embrace the game that's what you've got to do. Going into the championship match this World Cup had seen more red and yellow penalty cards than any other previous Cup, but then came "the head-butt seen around the world." French captain Zinadine Zidane allowed 90+ minutes of frustration and trash talk get to him and proceeded to head-butt Italian defender Materazzi. For days following this incident I heard more men talking about soccer than I ever have before. While there is more to soccer than violence, if FIFA wants to increase it's American male audience they should use the footage of Zinadine Zidane to market the next World Cup.

Click here for some humorous versions of the head-butt, courtesy of The Register.