--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It's a shame to mix sports and politics." description: "\"It's a shame to mix sports and politics.\" — Eddy Merckx" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c3c/eddy-merckx-7014_mix_it-s-a-shame-to-mix-sports-and-politics_1992628.jpg" --- # It's a shame to mix sports and politics. ![“It's a shame to mix sports and politics.” quote by Eddy Merckx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c3c/eddy-merckx-7014_mix_it-s-a-shame-to-mix-sports-and-politics_1992628.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c3c/eddy-merckx-7014_mix_it-s-a-shame-to-mix-sports-and-politics_1992628.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c3c/eddy-merckx-7014_mix_it-s-a-shame-to-mix-sports-and-politics_1992628.jpg) > “It's a shame to mix sports and politics.” [Eddy Merckx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddy-merckx/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Mixing sports with politics can dilute the focus of both, leading to division and distraction. **In simple terms:** Sports and politics together cause conflict. Key Takeaway Keep arenas neutral. Themes sports politics neutrality Mood contentious reflective Type advice observational When to use this quote - team events - political campaigns - media coverage Key Concepts public discourse identity politics Questions to Reflect On - Should sports remain apolitical? - How does politicization affect fan unity? A Different Perspective Political topics may alienate fans. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Shame](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shame/) [Sports](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sports/) ## Related quotes > [You cannot mix sports with politics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-chan/you-cannot-mix-sports-with-politics/) [Jackie Chan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-chan/) > [Politics generally doesn't mix with sports very well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hickenlooper/politics-generally-doesn-t-mix-with-sports-very-well/) [John Hickenlooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hickenlooper/) > [Sports, politics, and religion are the three passions of the badly educated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-h-gass/sports-politics-and-religion-are-the-three-passions-of-the-badly/) [William H. Gass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-h-gass/) > [Sports and politics don't mix.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-heiden/sports-and-politics-don-t-mix/) [Eric Heiden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-heiden/) > [Of course sports and politics intersect, and those conversations belong, more than anywhere else, on a network devoted to sports.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-e-cupp/of-course-sports-and-politics-intersect-and-those-conversations/) [S.E. Cupp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-e-cupp/) > [My sentimental problems, my private life, should not be involved in sports and politics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peng-shuai/my-sentimental-problems-my-private-life-should-not-be-involved-in/) [Peng Shuai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peng-shuai/) > [I don't recall Pakistan ever mixing sports with politics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarfaraz-ahmed/i-don-t-recall-pakistan-ever-mixing-sports-with-politics/) [Sarfaraz Ahmed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarfaraz-ahmed/) > [My father was a Republican and my mother was a Democrat. In Michigan, we always fought about sports, not politics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elissa-slotkin/my-father-was-a-republican-and-my-mother-was-a-democrat-in-michigan/) [Elissa Slotkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elissa-slotkin/) > [President Trump wouldn't stick to politics, so he got to jump into sports. So I feel very comfortable now, moving forward, jumping back and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-sharpe/president-trump-wouldn-t-stick-to-politics-so-he-got-to-jump-into/) [Shannon Sharpe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-sharpe/) > [ESPN loves to cover every single conflict of sports and politics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clay-travis/espn-loves-to-cover-every-single-conflict-of-sports-and-politics/) [Clay Travis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clay-travis/) > [People used to say sports and politics are different, but now it is the opposite.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonio-inoki/people-used-to-say-sports-and-politics-are-different-but-now-it-is/) [Antonio Inoki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonio-inoki/) > [It's tricky when you have people tuning in to hear about sports, not politics, but I think in issues where they intertwine, that is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/molly-qerim/it-s-tricky-when-you-have-people-tuning-in-to-hear-about-sports-not/) [Molly Qerim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/molly-qerim/) > [You know, when we talk about leadership - in sports, politics, business - we talk a lot about success but not a whole lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harrison-barnes/you-know-when-we-talk-about-leadership-in-sports-politics-business-we/) [Harrison Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harrison-barnes/) > [But the rising chorus urging ESPN to change its stripes is missing something: The intersection of sports and politics is natural. And the left-wing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-e-cupp/but-the-rising-chorus-urging-espn-to-change-its-stripes-is-missing/) [S.E. Cupp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-e-cupp/) > [I feel like a lot of times we're put in a box that people always say: 'Oh, sports and politics should stay separate and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/coco-gauff/i-feel-like-a-lot-of-times-we-re-put-in-a-box-that-people-always-say/) [Coco Gauff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/coco-gauff/) ## More by Eddy Merckx > [You need talent as a rider and I think I had that in my genes. But I think I also had a talent for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddy-merckx/you-need-talent-as-a-rider-and-i-think-i-had-that-in-my-genes-but-i/) [Eddy Merckx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddy-merckx/) > [Absolutely, in stage races, Froome is better than Eddy Merckx. Maybe he can win five, six Tours de France, but my focus wasn't only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddy-merckx/absolutely-in-stage-races-froome-is-better-than-eddy-merckx-maybe-he/) [Eddy Merckx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddy-merckx/) > [I didn't win any bunch sprints. But I won in solo breakaways, I won time-trials, I won in the mountains.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddy-merckx/i-didn-t-win-any-bunch-sprints-but-i-won-in-solo-breakaways-i-won/) [Eddy Merckx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddy-merckx/) > [I always had and I still have that special desire in me to be the best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddy-merckx/i-always-had-and-i-still-have-that-special-desire-in-me-to-be-the-best/) [Eddy Merckx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddy-merckx/) > [I'm not saying that every time I race I go to the very limit of my strength. But when the opportunity appears I consider…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddy-merckx/i-m-not-saying-that-every-time-i-race-i-go-to-the-very-limit-of-my/) [Eddy Merckx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddy-merckx/) > [I can tell you I preferred my era. Yes, they make much more money now but I preferred my cycling. The passion for racing.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddy-merckx/i-can-tell-you-i-preferred-my-era-yes-they-make-much-more-money-now/) [Eddy Merckx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddy-merckx/) > [I sleep very well, thank you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddy-merckx/i-sleep-very-well-thank-you/) [Eddy Merckx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddy-merckx/) > [Doping has to be fought, cheats must be unmasked, abuse should be punished but all this should remain human.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddy-merckx/doping-has-to-be-fought-cheats-must-be-unmasked-abuse-should-be/) [Eddy Merckx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddy-merckx/) > [It's difficult for him, carrying the name. But Axel is doing what he likes to do, and for me, if Axel's happy, I'm also…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddy-merckx/it-s-difficult-for-him-carrying-the-name-but-axel-is-doing-what-he/) [Eddy Merckx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddy-merckx/) > [Cycling is a good school for life. It makes you hard and gives you ambition, but you can never say you've arrived.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddy-merckx/cycling-is-a-good-school-for-life-it-makes-you-hard-and-gives-you/) [Eddy Merckx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddy-merckx/) > [The most important thing is that you're the best of your generation and I can say that I was.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddy-merckx/the-most-important-thing-is-that-you-re-the-best-of-your-generation/) [Eddy Merckx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddy-merckx/) > [Sometimes it's strange being me. I travel the world meeting people, I'm surrounded with friends and my life is full, but all the time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddy-merckx/sometimes-it-s-strange-being-me-i-travel-the-world-meeting-people-i-m/) [Eddy Merckx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddy-merckx/) > [I think I was three or four when I first rode and four when I first crashed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddy-merckx/i-think-i-was-three-or-four-when-i-first-rode-and-four-when-i-first/) [Eddy Merckx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddy-merckx/) > [No sport is 100 per cent clean - I think 95 per cent of the cyclists are clean. In the normal world, not everybody is clean.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddy-merckx/no-sport-is-100-per-cent-clean-i-think-95-per-cent-of-the-cyclists/) [Eddy Merckx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddy-merckx/) > [Miracles can sometimes happen in cycling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddy-merckx/miracles-can-sometimes-happen-in-cycling/) [Eddy Merckx](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddy-merckx/) [Explore all 95 Eddy Merckx quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddy-merckx/) ## More Football quotes > [When I came to Chelsea, it was clear that, like many other players, I would first be loaned out. So I went to Belgium…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thorgan-hazard/when-i-came-to-chelsea-it-was-clear-that-like-many-other-players-i/) [Thorgan Hazard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thorgan-hazard/) > [If you take your eye off the ball or lose focus for even a minute you can lose a game against any team.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felipe-anderson/if-you-take-your-eye-off-the-ball-or-lose-focus-for-even-a-minute-you/) [Felipe Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felipe-anderson/) > [There are guys who play lacrosse, and there are lacrosse players.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brendan-mundorf/there-are-guys-who-play-lacrosse-and-there-are-lacrosse-players/) Brendan Mundorf > [Giggs is the realest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-kaluuya/giggs-is-the-realest/) [Daniel Kaluuya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-kaluuya/) > [You get a new coach; you do things a little differently.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/archie-manning/you-get-a-new-coach-you-do-things-a-little-differently/) [Archie Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/archie-manning/) > [You gotta have a little kid in you to play football.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-edwards/you-gotta-have-a-little-kid-in-you-to-play-football/) [Herman Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-edwards/) > [I don't really like too much credit. I know nobody's going to believe this, but I'd rather be able to score goals and nobody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradley-wright-phillips/i-don-t-really-like-too-much-credit-i-know-nobody-s-going-to-believe/) [Bradley Wright-Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradley-wright-phillips/) > [My team mates are fundamental for my characteristics, if they send in crosses I can play inside the area.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/filippo-inzaghi/my-team-mates-are-fundamental-for-my-characteristics-if-they-send-in/) [Filippo Inzaghi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/filippo-inzaghi/) > [The Copa del Rey is a different competition. It is football in its purest form and is different from the continuity of the league.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-laudrup/the-copa-del-rey-is-a-different-competition-it-is-football-in-its/) [Michael Laudrup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-laudrup/) > [“Wild card, got it," Duncan said. "Just like in Crazy Eights. I can be a diamond; I can be a spade. Whatever you need…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-healy/wild-card-got-it-duncan-said-just-like-in-crazy-eights-i-can-be-a/) [Christopher Healy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-healy/) > [Leo, Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar, Eden. Every year, you look at their numbers - score goals, assists, minutes - to see they play very well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pedro/leo-cristiano-ronaldo-neymar-eden-every-year-you-look-at-their/) [Pedro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pedro/) > [It's a lot harder to play football when you haven't got the ball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-gray/it-s-a-lot-harder-to-play-football-when-you-haven-t-got-the-ball/) [Andy Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-gray/) > [I just enjoy winning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/xander-bogaerts/i-just-enjoy-winning/) [Xander Bogaerts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/xander-bogaerts/) > [I think you can get, as a player, stuck in the mindset of trying too hard to prove yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trinity-rodman/i-think-you-can-get-as-a-player-stuck-in-the-mindset-of-trying-too/) [Trinity Rodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trinity-rodman/) > [We cannot change the cards we are dealt, just how we play the hand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/randy-pausch/we-cannot-change-the-cards-we-are-dealt-just-how-we-play-the-hand/) [Randy Pausch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/randy-pausch/) [Browse all 59,646 Football quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It's a shame to mix sports and politics.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Eddy Merckx" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddy-merckx/it-s-a-shame-to-mix-sports-and-politics/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Football" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddy-merckx/it-s-a-shame-to-mix-sports-and-politics/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c3c/eddy-merckx-7014_mix_it-s-a-shame-to-mix-sports-and-politics_1992628.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c3c/eddy-merckx-7014_mix_it-s-a-shame-to-mix-sports-and-politics_1992628.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c3c/eddy-merckx-7014_mix_it-s-a-shame-to-mix-sports-and-politics_1992628.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It's a shame to mix sports and politics.” — Eddy Merckx", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Eddy Merckx", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddy-merckx/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "It's a shame to mix sports...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddy-merckx/it-s-a-shame-to-mix-sports-and-politics/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddy-merckx/it-s-a-shame-to-mix-sports-and-politics/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```