Politics and The Game, Part Ten

1- Gheorge Popescu and spying 1986-1989

Romanian star from the 80s-90s, Gheorge Popescu, admitted in July 2009 that he had spied on his teamamtes for the Romanian Secret police (the Securitate) for three years starting 1986. He did say that even when he spied he only wrote good things about the players.

Photo From: Panini Holland 1991/92

(Gheorge Popescu)

2- Spanish Teams changing names during Franco’s Regime

After the take-over of General Franco in Spain after the Spanish Civil War in the 1930s, some teams were forced to change their names. In March 1940, Barcelona changed its name to the more Spanish ‘Club de Futbol Barcelona’ since their original name ‘Futbol Club Barcelona’ was too anglicized. They reverted back to their original name in 1973.

Similarly, Athletic Bilbao were forced to change their name to the more Spanish Atletico Bilbao in 1941. They revered back to their original name after Franco’s death.

3- Sampdoria players and Jacques Chirac’s Nuclear tests, 1995

In 1995, France President Jacques Chirac started conducting Atomic Bomb tests in the Pacific Ocean. Sampdoria players protested against the decision and released this photo.

Photo From: World Soccer, November 1995

(Sampdoria players)

4- Celtic Glasgow and Chernobyl disaster, 1986

In the Fall of 1986, Celtic Glasgow were to meet Dinamo Kiev in the Champions Cup, at Kiev just months after the Chernobyl nuclear disaster. It was said as a precaution, Celtic traveled with their own food as they did not want to take any risks with the food there.

5- Sylvain Kastendeusch and politics

Former long-serving Metz player Sylvain Kastendeusch started working in the Metz mayoral office after his playing days. He worked with the division of youth and sports. He is currently the co-president of the French players union (UNFP).

Photo From: Onze-Mondial, Issue 60, January 199

(Sylvain Kastendeusch)

Politics and The Game, Part Three

1- Politics on the stands-USSR vs. Poland, 1982 World Cup

During the Poland and USSR matchup in the 1982 World Cup (July 4, 1982, USSR 0-Poland 0), Polish fans unfurled the Solidarity Banners of Lech Walesa.

The Spanish police (under a chorus of jeers) had to intervene and remove these banners after pressure from Soviet Television.

Photo From: Spain '82, The Winning of the World Cup, Authors Phil Soar and Richard Widdows

(Solidarity Movement Banners, July 4, 1982, World Cup, Poland 0-USSR 0 )

Photo From: Onze, Issue 90, June 1983

(Oleg Blokhin and Zbigniew Boniek, July 4, 1982, World Cup, Poland 0-USSR 0 )

2- English players giving the Nazi salute, 1938

The 1938 friendly between Germany and England in Berlin (May 14, 1938, Germany 3-England 6) is always remembered for the sight of the English players giving the Nazi salute.

It is somewhat unclear as to why the players did it (more importantly who forced them).

According to England Captain Edris Hapgood, he was called in by FA President Stanley Rous and tour leader Charles Wreford-Brown. They told him that after a meeting with the ambassador Sir Neville Henderson, they were instructed to give the Nazi salute prior to the kickoff to avoid any political incidents. (remember appeasement)

For his part, Stanley Rous claimed that he put the decision up to the players, but did point out that the match atmosphere might be affected by their refusal.

Given the sensitivity of game with the possibility war looming on the horizon, it seems unlikely that the authorities (Football or Political) would have left it up to the players.

Photo From: Calcio 2000, Issue 31, June 2000

(Edris Hapgood leading out England, May 14, 1938, Germany 3-England 6)

3- War in Bosnia/Yugoslavia, 1992

Just weeks prior to the 1992 Euros in Sweden, Yugoslavia who had already qualified were excluded from the tournament on Political grounds.

This was due to the escalation of the war into Bosnia-Herzegovina.

Denmark, the runner-ups in their Group, were invited to take their place and ended up winning the Tournament.

Photo From: (Magazine Source unknown) / Contribution From a blog viewer

(Denmark’s victorious squad, June 26, 1992, European Championship, Denmark 2-Germany 0)

4- Jacques Chirac and Bolivia 1997

For Years Bolivia’s home venue of Estadio Hernándo Siles at La Paz has been criticized by visiting teams. Due to the fact that it is very high above sea level, makes it hard to breath especially for visiting teams who are not acclimatized to the local conditions. Many have suggested for that particular venue to be banned. For their part, the Bolivians have claimed that it is an advantage similar to some nations playing in hot weather or cold.

When 1998 World Cup hosts France’s President was in an official visit in Bolivia in 1997, he lent public support for Bolivia to maintain what it considers a home field advantage.

Photo From: Onze-Mondial, Issue 115, August 1998

(French President Jacques Chirac celegrating the World Cup win, July 12, 1998, World Cup, France 3-Brazil 0)

5- France and Italy Match 1938 World Cup

Italy and hosts France were to play one another during the Second Round of the 1938 World Cup in Paris (June 12, 1938, France 1-Italy 3).

Naturally, the Italians (under Benito Mussolini) expected a hostile reaction from the local fans, not to mention all the exiled Italians living in France.

Both teams wore Blue as their primary colors, it has been said lots were drawn to see who would wear blue and the French won. (Although perhaps as the host country, they already had that option).

The Italians could have worn their away strip of white, but it has been suggested that Mussolini himself wanted the Italians to wear their all Black jerseys to taunt the crowd and evoke memories of Fascist Black shirts.

Note: The Italians had already worn these black shirts weeks prior in a friendly (May 22, 1938, Italy 4-Yugoslavia 0)

Photo From: La Nazionale Italiana, 1978

(Italy squad, Top, left to right:  Aldo Olivieri ,  Michele Andreolo,  Ugo Locatelli , Alfredo Foni, Pietro Serantoni, Luigi ‘Gino’ Colaussi ,  Pietro Rava,  Amedeo Biavati ,  Giovanni Ferrari, Silvio Piola, Giuseppe Meazza  , June 12, 1938, World Cup, France 1-Italy 3)