Pele, Argentina and the Dictators

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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.

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