Ah, the Tunisian Football Federation and its unrivaled sense of timing! Always where you least expect it, especially when it comes to making things simple and effective. This time, she found the magic formula to “fill” the Hamadi Agrebi stadium: free entry for women and children! Generous, isn’t it? An irresistible offer… for a match scheduled for 2:00 p.m. on a Monday, in other words right in the middle of classes and work hours.
We can already imagine the scene: mothers dropping everything at midday to run to Radès, sandwiches in one hand, children in the other, under a blazing sun, just to applaud an already qualified Tunisia. A Tunisia which, let us remember, plays a match “without stakes”, but “important for the FIFA ranking” – this great concept which mainly fascinates the algorithms and very little the supporters.
As for the children, they will have a nice memory to tell their teachers: “Sorry ma’am, I skipped math to support the Eagles of Carthage. » A great lesson in sporting citizenship, offered by the FTF. Perhaps the Ministry of Education could follow the example and introduce “Football Monday”: a national holiday for each match?
The worst part is that we can guess the justification: “We want to create a family and popular atmosphere. » Except that to create an atmosphere, the public must still be able to come. At 2 p.m., the only audience really available is the stadium staff and a few pigeons.
So yes, the intention is beautiful on paper. But on the ground of common sense, it is a direct red card. Maybe next time, the FTF will offer free tickets… at midnight, to “avoid traffic jams”.
In the meantime, let us salute this initiative of rare modernism: the football festival without spectators, the full price of the void. Well done the Fed, another successful dribble… on logic.
