A
new addition about social and Political events’ impact on the sport
1- The
Falklands War and Osvaldo Ardiles
Argentina’s
Osvaldo Ardiles was an idol for the fans at England’s Tottenham Hotspur fro
many seasons. He had transfered there along with compatriot Ricardo Villa
following the 1978 World Cup. He had been one of the rare foreign-born players
to adapt to the British game.
The
outbreak of the Falklands War in 1982 between his Nation and the United Kingdom
forced him to leave England on patriotic grounds.
He
was loaned to France’s Paris St. Germain at the start of the 1982/83 season.
In
the middle of the season, with the political situation stable, he returned to
Tottenham.
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Photo
From: Onze, Issue 81, September 1982
(Osvaldo
Ardiles at Paris St. Germain, 1982/83)
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2- Vittorio
Pozzo at the 1938 World Cup
Pre-War
Italy Manager Vittorio Pozzo used the politics of the day to his advantage to
motivate his squad.
During
the 1938 World Cup in France, he was well aware that many Italians that had
fled Mussolini’s fascism had settled there.
Before
Italy’s Opening match at Marseille vs. Norway on June 5, 1938 (Italy2 –Norway
1), he knew that some of the expatriate Italians in the Stadium would jeer the
Italian national Anthem, specially the customary fascist salute.
He
instructed his players to maintain their salute (their arms held up) until all
the jeering and heckling had subsided. This way he believed he instilled in
them patriotic fervor for the match.
It
is unclear if he himself was a fascist, many observers do not believe so,
though his methods and training regimen seemed dictatorial.
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Photo
From: La Nazionale Italiana, 1978
(Italy
and Norway squads prior to the kick-off: June 5, 1938, World Cup, Italy
2-Norway 1)
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Photo
From: Azzurri, Storia della Nazionale di calcio tre volte campioni del Mondo,
1910-1983
(Vittorio
Pozzo with the World Cup trophy, June
19, 1938, World Cup, Italy 4-Hungary 2)
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3- El
Salvador and Honduras, Futbol War of 1969
It
would be simplistic to say a Football match led to an all out war between two
neighboring nations. One would have to extensively study the history of the
nations and all the social and political events that led to it.
Following
two World Cup qualifiers that each home nation won, a play-off in neutral Mexico
City, on June 26, 1969, was to decide
who would qualify for the World Cup.
El
Salvador won the match (3-2) and on the same day cut off all diplomatic ties
with Honduras.
On
July 14, 1969, the El Salvador Air Force started bombing Honduras. On July 18th, the Organization of
American States negotiated a cease-fire to end the conflict.
4- USSR
and Chile, World Cup Qualifier, 1973
On
November 21, 1973, Chile were to host USSR in a World Cup Qualifying playoff in
Santiago’s Estadio Nacional.
The
first leg in Moscow on September 26th had resulted in a scoreless
tie.
On
August 11, 1973, General Augusto Pinochet had assumed control of Chile
following a Military Coup.
The
Soviets refused to play Chile in that Stadium. They claimed that Pinochet’s
regime had tortured and executed left leaning political prisoners in that same
stadium following the Coup.
The
match was forfeited and Chile qualified for the World Cup.
Chile
was present at the field on matchday and scored after a mock kick-off.
Incidentally
right after the farce ‘match’, Chile played a Friendly vs. Brazil’s Santos and
lost 0-5.
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Photo
From: World Soccer, March 1974
(Chilean
players during the mock kick-off, November 21, 1973)
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5- Billy
Bingham
Following
the 1986 World Cup, Northern Ireland Manager was employed as a Manager in Saudi
Arabia with Al Nassr.
He
was still the Northern Ireland National Team manager, in addition to his
management duties with Al Nassr.
On
February 18, 1987, Northern Ireland were due to play a Friendly vs. Israel at
Tel Aviv (1-1 tie.)
Due
to obvious political reasons, he diplomatically did not manage Northern Ireland
for that match. James Archibald Platt stood in for him.
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Photo
From: World Soccer, June 1993
(Billy
Bingham)
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