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Elite Soccer’s Culture of Graft

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Re: Elite Soccer’s Culture of Graft

#21

Post by nicoburns »

scott_s wrote: post #17
ChrisSD wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Thanks for mentioning this. The article at least seems clear from the start it's talking about tax fraud and evasion but that headline had me expecting a very different article. This may be another case of English speaking communities being separated by the same language.

Huh. Indeed it is. I'm American, and I did not even realize that "graft" meant "hard work" in British English.

Yeah, I'm British and I thought I knew most Americanism's, but I didn't know this one!

Re: Elite Soccer’s Culture of Graft

#22

Post by photojosh »

scott_s wrote: post #17
ChrisSD wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Thanks for mentioning this. The article at least seems clear from the start it's talking about tax fraud and evasion but that headline had me expecting a very different article. This may be another case of English speaking communities being separated by the same language.

Huh. Indeed it is. I'm American, and I did not even realize that "graft" meant "hard work" in British English.

Interesting, I'm Australian and I understood it in the American sense. Haven't ever heard the British meaning used.

Re: Elite Soccer’s Culture of Graft

#23

Post by gerdesj »

scott_s wrote: post #17
ChrisSD wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Thanks for mentioning this. The article at least seems clear from the start it's talking about tax fraud and evasion but that headline had me expecting a very different article. This may be another case of English speaking communities being separated by the same language.

Huh. Indeed it is. I'm American, and I did not even realize that "graft" meant "hard work" in British English.

I'm a Brit and graft means hard work. I don't think I've ever heard it used in the sense of the article though - implying corruption. Graft, grafting etc (short "a") is a word I would generally associate with the north midlands (!) of England and up, ie around Derbyshire and up.

It is understood elsewhere in the UK but not used routinely. It might, say, be deployed for additional effect by someone not from northern England and imply very hard work. However, it might be pronounced in an exaggerated, imitation "generic Yorkshire" accent in which case it gets a bit complicated to explain.

...

Actually, isn't the US word "grift" rather than "graft"?

Re: Elite Soccer’s Culture of Graft

#24

Post by barbecue_sauce »

gerdesj wrote: post #23
scott_s wrote: post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Huh. Indeed it is. I'm American, and I did not even realize that "graft" meant "hard work" in British English.

I'm a Brit and graft means hard work. I don't think I've ever heard it used in the sense of the article though - implying corruption. Graft, grafting etc (short "a") is a word I would generally associate with the north midlands (!) of England and up, ie around Derbyshire and up. It is understood elsewhere in the UK but not used routinely. It might, say, be deployed for additional effect by someone not from northern E…

Grift means swindle, or trick, often used as a verb. Taking advantage of someone without them realizing it. Graft usually has the connotation of bribery. A con-man would be called a grifter, while a politician would be accused of graft.

Re: Elite Soccer’s Culture of Graft

#25

Post by onetimemanytime »

So under 2 years no jail for first time offenders and he was conditionally sentenced to 23 months :)? A lot of these guys might not understand the laws, lawyers suggest ways to "pay less taxes" and "John did it too" and it's done. Their taxes aren't as simple as entering the W2 info on a web form.

Re: Elite Soccer’s Culture of Graft

#26

Post by FlorianRappl »

What I always find interesting is that if a professional soccer player is caught only a (in absolute terms) substantial amount of money is fined, while "ordinary" people would certainly go behind bars in addition to paying the money. The 23 months seems to be quite a joke to insult the intellect of these ordinary citizens.

Re: Elite Soccer’s Culture of Graft

#27

Post by icebraining »

FlorianRappl wrote: post #26

What I always find interesting is that if a professional soccer player is caught only a (in absolute terms) substantial amount of money is fined, while "ordinary" people would certainly go behind bars in addition to paying the money. The 23 months seems to be quite a joke to insult the intellect of these ordinary citizens.

Which ordinary person in Spain has gone behind bars for their first time offense of tax evasion?

Re: Elite Soccer’s Culture of Graft

#28

Post by BookmarkSaver »

gerdesj wrote: post #23
scott_s wrote: post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Huh. Indeed it is. I'm American, and I did not even realize that "graft" meant "hard work" in British English.

I'm a Brit and graft means hard work. I don't think I've ever heard it used in the sense of the article though - implying corruption. Graft, grafting etc (short "a") is a word I would generally associate with the north midlands (!) of England and up, ie around Derbyshire and up. It is understood elsewhere in the UK but not used routinely. It might, say, be deployed for additional effect by someone not from northern E…

The closest Americanism that comes to mind for this term would be "grit", which I think is a bit different as it's more about enduring hardship (or hard work) than actually working hard. I think the word "hussle" is used similarly sometimes.

Re: Elite Soccer’s Culture of Graft

#29

Post by ChrisSD »

omaranto wrote: post #19
shellac wrote: post #11

In this article ‘graft’ means corruption or similar, rather than ‘hard work’. Slightly confusing.

The title uses the word "soccer", which should lead you to expect the American meaning of "graft" rather than the British meaning.

Sure but it seems I'm not the only Brit who was completely unaware of the American meaning.

Re: Elite Soccer’s Culture of Graft

#30

Post by estebank »

superkuh wrote: post #14

This is just a result of the culture in the areas where soccer is most popular. Most notably, south america, where the sneaky underdog grifter that defrauds others is almost a cultural icon and hero rather than a scoundrel.

If you're interested in seeing the prevalent philosophy in these places, watch "Nueve Reinas (2000)".
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