The immeasurable importance of football in a pandemic

"Football inspires us to extend ourselves beyond our cognitive limitations, and enables us to foster purposeful connections that enhance our sense of pride, identity, and sociability."

An elated Wilfred Zaha celebrates after a crucial Crystal Palace win in May 2019.

By Dhee Sylvester

There are many times when football takes itself too seriously. Jurgen Klopp, the Liverpool manager, said as much when he queried the media's propensity to ask football people about sociocultural and political issues unrelated to the sport. But its inflated …