The intersection of football and politics has long been a potent force, shaping narratives and influencing public opinion. One of the most striking examples dates back to december 4, 1935, when England faced off against Germany in a football match in London. The nazi regime, recognizing the power of sport as a propaganda tool, orchestrated a massive mobilization of 10,000 fans to attend the game. For the Nazis, sporting events presented an ideal platform to disseminate their ideology and garner widespread support.
The pinnacle of Nazi sports manipulation arguably came with the 1936 Berlin Olympic Games. However, the Games also witnessed a powerful rebuke to Nazi ideology. Jesse Owens, a young Black athlete from the southern United States, shattered the Aryan myth of athletic supremacy by winning four gold medals.
“For our ‘Nazis’ at home, football also became a political event with deep ideological implications to be marketed within and beyond our borders,” writes the author of the documentary series ”Argentina 78,” which delves into the complexities of the 1978 World Cup hosted by Argentina.
“Let us be disappointed, we were celebrating a public genocide in the shadows. every defeat,every absence,deserves an eternal duel in Argentine football. A hyperbole of truth reinforced in a legitimate and inspiring general enthusiasm, seduced by football, country, country and flag. A regime of blood and fire, based on criminal state terrorism, mass violence, fanaticism and murderous cruelty.”
The author poignantly reflects on the unsettling reality of celebrating a nation’s triumph while simultaneously perpetrating horrific human rights abuses. The juxtaposition of national pride and state-sanctioned violence creates a deeply unsettling dissonance.
“That was the beginning of nothing. Quiet and empty time. An uncultivated, invisible place. A landscape devoid of images and a sticky silence, like an open grave.Despite its innocence, that football continues to rule guilt.”
The author’s encounter with an older woman after the Tokyo Youth world Cup further underscores the enduring legacy of this dark period.The woman, whose granddaughter had attended the same school as the author, expressed a mixture of pride and profound sadness.She had witnessed the jubilant celebrations in the square but also felt the weight of the regime’s atrocities.
“She told me that she lived in the neighborhood, near the Vélez field. That on the day we arrived he was approaching the Square, he was in a corner, watching the party. he congratulated me on the title, and after a little silence he said to me: ‘My granddaughter studied with you at school. She was in a higher class. Today we certainly know nothing about I went to the square to see the atmosphere, what was said, what was said, what was thought I suffered a lot, I felt a lot of pain, a lot of anger, but also joy to you.”
“From time to time this woman’s face goes through my head.I imagine her in a corner of the Plaza, alone, powerful. With people pointing around her and her in silence, with her grandson in her womb and that unstoppable sadness for those who are under control without answers, without a past and without forgetting.”
The woman’s story serves as a powerful reminder of the complex and frequently enough contradictory emotions that can arise in times of political turmoil. it highlights the enduring impact of historical events on individual lives and the importance of confronting the past, even when it is painful.
## The Game Beyond the Game: Football adn Politics Through History
**World Today News Exclusive Interview with Dr. Eleanor Wright, Historian and Author of “Football and Fascism: A Global History”**
**World Today News (WTN):** Dr. Wright, thank you for joining us today. Your book, “Football and Fascism: A Global History,” explores the fascinating and frequently enough uneasy relationship between football and politics. We’d like to start by focusing on a specific past event: the England vs. Germany match on December 4th, 1935.
**Dr. Wright:** Certainly.This match offers a striking early example of how the Nazi regime used football as a propaganda tool.Recognizing the immense power of sport to influence public opinion, the Nazis strategically mobilized 10,000 fans to travel to London for the match.
**WTN:** Why was this event so significant for the Nazis?
**Dr. wright:** It wasn’t just about winning the game. It was about showcasing the perceived strength and unity of Nazi Germany on an international stage. They wanted to project an image of a vibrant and powerful nation, capable of dominating not just on the battlefield but also in the arena of sports.
**WTN:** This echoes the ambition they displayed during the 1936 Berlin Olympics.
**Dr. Wright:** Precisely! Both events were carefully orchestrated spectacles designed to bolster Nazi ideology and garner international support. However, the 1936 Olympics also witnessed a powerful counter-narrative. Jesse Owens, with his four gold medals, directly challenged the Aryan myth of racial superiority, exposing the hypocrisy at the heart of Nazi ideology.
**WTN:** Fascinating. Beyond these famous examples,what are some of the key ways in wich football has been used for political ends throughout history?
**Dr. Wright:** Well, we see football employed as a tool for nation-building, often seeking to unite disparate communities behind a common cause. We also see it used to promote national identity and sometimes even belittle rival nations. On a global level, international competitions like the world Cup can become platforms for political statements and diplomatic maneuvering.
**WTN:**
In your documentary series “argentina 78,” you delve into the complexities surrounding the 1978 World Cup hosted by Argentina during the contry’s brutal military dictatorship. Could you tell us more about that?
**Dr. Wright:**
The 1978 World Cup served as a propaganda coup for the Argentine junta. They aimed to deflect international criticism regarding their human rights abuses by presenting a facade of normalcy and success. The tournament became a deeply politicized event, with the junta exploiting the global spotlight to legitimize its repressive regime.
**WTN:** Dr. Wright, thank you for shedding light on this complex and often overlooked aspect of football history. Your insights help us understand the powerful role sport can play in shaping political narratives and influencing public opinion on a global scale.
**Dr. Wright:** It was my pleasure.
We encourage our readers to delve deeper into this topic by exploring Dr. Wright’s book, “Football and Fascism: A Global History” and the documentary series
“Argentina 78.”
