In a moment when Britain grapples with overlapping crises, David Goldblatt's "Injury Time: Football in a State of Emergency" arrives as a timely and penetrating examination of how the beautiful game reflects our troubled times. Building on his celebrated 2014 work "The Game of Our Lives," which earned him the prestigious William Hill Sports Book of the Year, Goldblatt proves once again why he's considered one of the most essential voices in football literature.
The book's three-part structure masterfully weaves together the defining crises of our era—Brexit, Covid, and what Goldblatt terms the "polycrisis"—through the lens of football. What makes this work particularly compelling is how Goldblatt identifies the perfect footballing parallel for each societal upheaval, creating a rich tapestry that illuminates both sport and society.
Take, for instance, his examination of Marcus Rashford's child hunger campaign during the pandemic. The footballer's intervention forced multiple government U-turns and put child poverty at the top of the national agenda, demonstrating football's unique power to drive social change. Similarly, Goldblatt's analysis of the Gary Lineker controversy, where the BBC presenter's tweet about government immigration policy sparked a national debate about free speech reveals how football personalities have become central to our most pressing political discussions.
The book's most sobering sections deal with football's relationship to climate change, where Goldblatt documents the increasing number of matches and facilities lost to extreme weather. His examination of the proposed European Super League serves as a perfect metaphor for disaster capitalism, while his analysis of Russian ownership in English football provides a chilling parallel to geopolitical tensions.
What sets "Injury Time" apart is Goldblatt's ability to move beyond mere analogy. He demonstrates how football isn't just reflecting these crises—it's actively participating in them. The sport's growing inequality, its environmental impact, and its role in political discourse aren't just symptoms of broader problems; they're part of the mechanism by which these issues perpetuate themselves.
The writing is characteristically sharp and accessible, avoiding academic jargon while maintaining intellectual rigor. Goldblatt is gifted with finding the telling detail that illuminates larger truths, whether discussing the economics of Premier League ownership or the grassroots impact of austerity on local clubs.
If there's a criticism to be made, it's that the book's ambition occasionally leads to moments where the football-society parallel feels slightly stretched. However, these are minor quibbles in what is otherwise a masterful analysis of both the game and the nation at a crucial historical juncture.
"Injury Time" is essential reading not just for football fans but for anyone seeking to understand Britain's current predicament. Goldblatt shows us that football isn't just a game—it's the most accurate barometer we have for measuring the state of our society. In doing so, he's produced a work that stands alongside his finest achievements, offering both a diagnosis of our present troubles and, perhaps, hints at possible ways forward.
The title itself serves as a fitting metaphor: we are indeed in injury time, with multiple crises converging. The question Goldblatt leaves us with is whether we can find a way to score the crucial goal before the final whistle blows.
ROYAL MAIL TRACKED 48 Delivered to You Last Week August 2025
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Published: August 14, 2025Price: £14.99 Paperback: 368 pagesISBN-10: 0008697418ISBN-13: 978-0008697419Dimensions: 153 x 234 (mm)
