St. Pauli captain Irvine: half-time shows are not part of football!

St. Pauli captain Irvine: half-time shows are not part of football!

In football, it's more than just goals and points. It is a very own life, shaped by passion and tradition. But in recent years, the trend towards half -time shows and musical interludes has increased, which is pissed off to many fans. The St. Pauli captain Jackson Irvine expressed his opinion on this topic in a current podcast. He has a very clear picture: "Football has its own culture, which does not need any additional forms of entertainment," said [St. Pauli 24] (https://stpauli24.mopo.de/2025/07/16/ half-time shows-im-stadion-was-st-pauli-kapitaen-irvine-haelt.html). Irvine is a fan of the peculiarity of football and believes that you shouldn't shake it. He mentions the fan culture in awe, which is omnipresent in the stadium and should determine what is relevant in football.

The question arises: Where does the path lead if even the big tournaments such as the Champions League final are upgraded with band appearances? In 2023 the band Linkin Park performed before the final, which was not well received by all spectators. According to a report by [Tagesspiegel] (https://www.tagesspiegel.de/sport/kritik-um- half-time-show-bei-fussball-WM-Ein-wenig-offe-bitte-13324618.html) there was whistles and displeasure with Helene Fischer's appearance in 2017 during the DFB Cup final. These events show that the commercialization of football and the associated entertainment elements encounter resistance, especially in Germany.

half -time show at the 2026 World Cup - a controversial experiment

The FIFA plans to introduce a half-time show in the style of the Super Bowl for the first time at the 2026 World Cup final. FIFA boss Gianni Infantino calls this a "historical moment for the World Cup" and hopes that such a show will attract new viewers, especially in the USA. But these innovations are not undisputed. Critics fear that the direction of football is increasingly shaped by commercial interests, such as Sport Illustrated notes.

In Germany, there has been a certain aversion to this type of event since the 1980s. Many “real” football fans do not see half -time as a stage program, but as their opportunity to exchange ideas about the game and enjoy snacks. The local connection of the acts, such as an appearance by Udo Lindenberg at Hamburger SV, could be better.

a topic for the future

How can you reconcile tradition and entertainment? Jackson Irvine and many of his fellow human beings believe that real life in the stadium and the connection to the fans should not be replaced by showholes. It remains to be seen whether football develops towards commercialization or whether traditional culture has existed. One thing is certain: the dialogue about these topics will continue and the voices of the fans will have to be heard above all.