Abstract

PEREIRA, Victor. The invisible soccer player: Portuguese in France and soccer. Etnográfica [online]. 2012, vol.16, n.1, pp.97-115. ISSN 0873-6561.

In 2009, at least 205 “Portuguese soccer teams” existed in France. This number demonstrates that soccer has been a “deep play” among Portuguese in France. Soccer helped the migrants to adapt themselves to an urban environment and to French modern society. It is also a valued “cultural good”. Portuguese migrants invented a savoir-faire that permitted them to reach a certain social recognition. Furthermore, soccer has been very important regarding the relationship between fathers and sons, which must be seen as a particular link in the migration context. Portuguese fathers transmitted their passion for soccer and their fervent interest for Portuguese soccer teams to their sons. Many times this passion was synonymous with the transmission of a Portuguese identity.

Keywords : soccer; Portuguese emigration; France; migrants associations; generational transmission; identity.

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