Pele, Argentina and the Dictators

Original version

Simulcast of network BBC One in high definition. From 03/11/2010

BBC One HD

BBC One Yorkshire

BBC One region covering Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire.

BBC One East Midlands

BBC One London

London

BBC One Yorks & Lincs

BBC One Channel Islands

Formerly part of a wider BBC One South East region that included London and part of the South region. Separated from BBC One London 2001-09-03 following reorganisation of the South East region.

BBC One South East

The BBC South region started on 5th January 1961 as part of the BBC Television Service, before becoming BBC One South.

BBC One South

The BBC West region started on 1st September 1957 as part of the BBC Television Service, before becoming BBC One West.

BBC One West

The BBC East region started on 1st May 1959 as part of the BBC Television Service, before becoming BBC One East.

BBC One East

BBC One North West

BBC One Cambridgeshire

The BBC North East & Cumbria region started in 1959 (tbc) as part of the BBC Television Service, before becoming BBC One North East & Cumbria.

BBC One North East & Cumbria

Simulcast of BBC One Wales in high definition. From 29/01/2013

BBC One Wales HD

BBC One West Midlands

BBC One Oxfordshire

Simulcast of BBC One Scotland in high definition. From 14/01/2013

BBC One Scotland HD

BBC One Scotland

Scotland

The BBC South West region started on 20th April 1961 as part of the BBC Television Service, before becoming BBC One South West.

BBC One South West

BBC One Wales

Wales

Simulcast of BBC One Northern Ireland in high definition. From 24/10/2012

BBC One Northern Ireland HD

BBC Northern Ireland region started on 19th April 1955 as part of the BBC Television Service, before becoming BBC One Northern Ireland.

BBC One Northern Ireland

Paul King

Tony Pastor

Goalhanger Films

Documentaries

Factual

Sport: Football

BBC One - Pele, Argentina and the Dictators

How South American military dictators attempted to exploit the 1970 and 1978 World Cups.

The story of how, in the 1970 and 1978 World Cups, Brazil and Argentina's military dictators took a vested interest in their nation's football dreams.

To most fans around the world Brazil and Argentina’s World Cup wins in 1970 and 1978 were wonderful football stories. But to the people of these two nations there was a hugely significant political context to these tournaments. Both nations won the World Cup while suffering under repressive military dictatorships. And in both cases these violent military juntas used their successful football teams to help improve their image around the world.

For many football fans, Brazil’s 1970 World Cup-winning team remains the greatest ever, while the scenes from the River Plate stadium of ticker tape cascading down onto the joyous Argentinian team remains one of the most evocative in footballing history.

In this revealing documentary, filmed in Brazil and Argentina and featuring the players and people directly affected by the tournaments, a darker story emerges.

Interviewees include Pele, Gary Lineker, Osvaldo Ardiles, Mario Kempes, Jairzinho, Rivellino, Gerson and Tostao.

Accessibility links

Programme Index

Pele, Argentina and the Dictators

Contributors

Genres

Formats

BBC One HD

About BBC One