pRoF E5510 N AL

THE POLITICAL INSTRU1ENTALIZATIONO FOOTBALL

IN FRANCOISTSPAIN, 1939 -1975

THESIS SUBMITTED FOR THE DEGREE OF PHD

AT THE UNIVERSITY OF LONDON

BY

DUNCANRICHARD SHAW

QUEEN MARY COLLEGE

MARCH1988

: " ..

ABSTRACT

is to be the first

thesis

of this

The objective
political

in Francoist

of football

instrumentalization

study of the

systematic

Spain from 1939

to 1975.

Seven separate

may be isolated,

instrumentalization
of

consist

introductory

a first

After

application
the

by the

Franco

the

is

Four

regime

itself

with

the

subject

of

lack

of

Five.

Chapter

the

of

Spanish

In

and coaches

fromrp

and ambassadorial

significance

in

sixth
Francoist
Europe

of

Spain
will

football,

third
was used

structures

democracy.

the

of

imposed

comparison

mirrored

of

The

deliberately

Franco

Chapter,

the

the

the

within

political

the

turn.

be discussed.

which

during

in

football

an incomfortable

footballers,

the

In

to have been

and local

workers

presence

of

create

will

examine

will

democracy

alleged

national

the

significance
players

order

of

majority

is

of

thesis

aspects

extent

soporific

lack

to not

conditions

working

great

in

the

that

game, a situation

by the

poor

regime

seven

football.

Spanish

as a political

this

Two will

and to wh 4E

whether

of

these

Chapter

to

political

accordingly,

each one of

concepts

questions

Chapter

theme of

and,

chapter,

Fascist

of

chapter,

examining

a chapter

this

of

aspects

and contrasting

for
The

those

of

are

the

period,

the

political
a group

of

refugee

be examined.

The diplomatic

in

of

particular

the

spectacular

international

triumphs

discussed

in Chapter

focus

Basque and Catalan

for

centralist

Seven.

Madrid regime,

of the Real Madrid club,

The political
nationalist

is the subject

significance
sentiment,

will

of football

in opposition

of Chapter Eight.

be
as a
to the

TABLE OF CONTENTS
PAGE
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

PREFACE

CHAPTER 1:

INTRODUCTION

13

CHAPTER 2:

FOOTBALL AND FASCISM

77

CHAPTER 3:

FOOTBALL AND POLITICAL

CHAPTER 4:

FOOTBALL AND DICTATORSHIP

175

CHAPTER5:

FOOTBALLAND EXPLOITATION

204

CHAPTER 6:

FOOTBALL AND THE REFUGEES

221

CHAPTER 7:

FOOTBALL AND DIPLOMACY

244

CHAPTER 8:

FOOTBALL AND REGIONALISM

285

CHAPTER 9:

EPILOGUE

352

PASSIVITY

126

APPENDIX OF INTERVIEWS

385

BIBLIOGRAPHY

387

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I would

like

without

whose generous

Professor
Raquel

to express

Paul

my particular
help

this

thesis

Preston
Martin

Gonzalez

My parents
Joan Josep

Bellessort

Caroline

Sir

(r. i. p. )

Botines

J.

Alex

Artells

Raymond Carr

Julian

Garcia

Isabel

Fernandez

Juan Pablo
Gabrielle

Fusi
Joseph

Llewellyn

Howell

Alessandro
Keiran

Marembio

McGovern

Sarah
Keir

Candau

Menage
Radnedge

Nigel

Townson

Graham Turner
Manuel

Vazquez

Montalbn

gratitude
would

to

the

following

have been impossible:

persons

fliguel

Vidal

John Walsh

PREFACE

The objective
political
1975.
of

this

of

the
in

football

aspect

academic

examination

Francoist

of

in

The political

for

all

of

the

example

Dictatorship
Crisis,

-edited

subject
very

in

Sir

recent

studies

To Democracy
by Paul

of

only

and
In

brief

2.

Sir Raymond Carr and Juan Pablo

Democracy,
1980.
Oxford,

3.

Paul Preston,
In Carr
football

English

Juan

a serious

these

and
and

Spain In Crisis,

the

the

Spain:
Spain

however,
4

The

1981.

Dictatorship

to

years,

political

to

Sussex, 1976.

for example,
the political
and Fusi,
op. cit.,
is discussed
in just
two very brief
paragraphs,

in

treatment.

Oxford,

Spain:

Franco

studies,

superficial
to

alluded

Fusi, 2 and in

general

allusions

Fusi,

about

Pablo

Modern Spain 1875-1980,

editor,

to

1875-1980,1

Spain

Modern

Sir

4.
of

in

written

1.

Raymond Carr,

political

has been briefly

of football

a necessarily

even these

general

social,

subjected

the

years.

by Carr

Preston.

other

has been

Spain

in

sport

of

of

1939 to

from

Spain,

Francoist

every

study

systematic

politicization

Raymond Carr's

has received

existence

the

significance

general

in

practically

particular,

first

to be the

football
of

exception

economic

in

of

manipulation
With

is

thesis

manipulation
p. 122.

In
the

and highlights

the lack

With regard

remains

the

studies

of

the

Historias
Manuel

political

being

notable

Deporte

Vazquez

The politicization
various

of
in

stages

three

these

Julian

intended

originally
manipulation

Maria

the

under

Cazorla

Prieto,

in

is

Spain

Francoist

in

but

studies,

pseudonym

Garcia

too heavily

"Luis

Davila".

at
than

rather

an anecdotal

to democracy. 9

the controversial

sports

El

ley was

but failed

during

bisturi

to be

the transition

de Jose Mara

Garcia,

by

of the same name,10 and La gran

journalist

espanol

sin

study of the political

on the situation

from dictatorship

Botinesll

6
by

discussed

in the Franco years,

of Spanish football

del ftbol

the

y deporte
of

Candau book El ftbol,

to be such a systematic

so by concentrating

10.

general,

The excellent

5.
6.
7.
8.
9.

in

sport

manner.

analytical

estafa

by Luis

have been several

There

Marco, 7 and Politica

written

football

study

the Franco period

Spanish

of

y estado

by Vicente

Montalbn,

during

y franguismo.

manipulation

deporte

del

the only comprehensive

of football

own Ftbol

author's

importance

academic study of the subject.

of a systematic

manipulation

its

Spain demonstrates

to Spanish publications,

of the political

most

in Francoist

of football

significance

by Garcia's

Catalan

both touch upon the political

colleague

significance

Alex J.
in

of football

Duncan Shaw, Futbol y Franguismo, Madrid, 1987.

Luis Maria Cazorla Prieto,
Deporte y Estado, Barcelona, 1979.
Vicente Marco, Historias
del deporte, Madrid, 1982.
Manuel Vazquez Montalban, Politica
y deporte, Barcelona, 1972.
Julian Garcia Candau, El futbol,
sin ley, Madrid, 1980
Jose

Maria

Garcia,

11. Alex J. Botines,

El

de Jose

bisturi

La gran estafa

del

Maria

futbol

Garcia,

espanol,

Madrid,

1974.

Barcelona,

1975.

Francoist

in

but,

Spain,

bf. Spanish sport

aspect
With

footballers

Tomas Martin
giant
in

detailed

12

Ba r13

in a similar

Cerecedo in Posible

addition,

in February

del

balon

by

of the

significance

in

with

Barca:

Artells

cara

Athletic

the

Spain,

del ftbol

during

the political

espanol"

the winter

series

by

of 1974-1975.16

anos del nacional-futbolismo".

12.
13.
14.
15.

being the

the most notable

1977 El Pais Semanal published

"Cuarenta

by the

by Joan Josep

examined

have dealt

insolente

Francisco

Candau article

received

Club concentrates-on

in Francoist

humorous "La sociologic

Francoist

way. 15

magazine articles
of football

de oro

and political

specifically

in

and the-football

authorities

Los esclavos

study

del Athletic

de Bilbao

significance

sporting

on one

football

of

and by Jaume S. Sabartes

Historia

Several

rather

usually

treatment

patronizing

The social

is

club

creu, 14 whilst
club

studies

and dramatic

manipulation

poor,

Francoist

Arnoriaga.

Barsa,

political

the

to

the

FC Barcelona

Bar a,

the

from-the
is

general

books which concentrate

other

of

regard

there

clubs,

three

manner.

There are several

Spain.

sameway as the

above, in an anecdotal

mentioned

than systematic

particular

the

the Julian

In
Garcia

17

Tomas Martin Arnoriaga,

Los esclavos del oro del-balon,
Madrid 1975.
Joan Josep Artells,
Barba, BarCa, Barca, Barcelona,
1972.
Jaume S. Sabartes, Barca: cars i creu, Barcelona,
1982.
La Gran Enciclopedia
Vasca, Historia
del Athletic
Club, Bilbao,
1984.
tbol
16. Francisco Cerecedo, "La sociolog(a
insolente
del f
espanol",
Posible
(Madrid) No. 1-4, November 1974-January 1975.
17. Jul
Garcia Candau, "Cuarenta anos del nacional-futbolismo",
El Pais Semanal (Madrid) 27 February 1977.

Given the lack

the various

of the political

aspects

had not been isolated

or inability

unwillingness

Seven different

chapter

examining

Chapter

Two will

because of

either

thesis

and this

will

the questions

The theme of Chapter Four is

football,

of whether

not to create

national

and local

the footballers,
workers

during

an uncomfortable

democracy.

political

which mirrored
the Franco years,
the political

chapter,

Francoist

Spain of a group of refugee

Europe will

be examined.

of football,

in particular

significance

and final
as a focus

18. See Carr and Fusi,

players

be discussed

chapter
for

will

op. cit.,

for

of

of Spanish

of the presence

In

in

and coaches from Eastern

international

be football's

example,

of

of Chapter Five.

in Chapter

Basque and Catalan

in

conditions

majority

and ambassadorial

of the spectacular

the Real Madrid club, 'will

of the eighth

The poor working

significance

The diplomatic

the lack

with

are the subject

be

will

by the-regime

those of the great

the sixth

and to what extent

of democracy within-

the lack

comparison

to the

soporific

imposed deliberately

allegedly

a situation

in turn.

concepts

was used by the Franco regime as a political

discussed.

of a

consist
aspects

of fascist

examine the application

in

of football

of the politicization

chapter,

have

These aspects

different
these
seven
of
one
each

In the third

football

order

aspects

now

them. 18

to separate

Spain may be isolated,

Francoist

game.

bundled together,

until

of Spanish football

manipulation

and examined separately.

been clumsily

previously

of the subject,

study

of a'comprehensive

Seven.

significance
triumphs

of

The subject

political
nationalist

p. 122.

sentiment,

in

to the centralist

opposition

is necessary

It

The newspapers most useful

ABC (Madrid),
(Madrid),

sports

have been consulted

interest

first

for

Triunfo
Franco

(Barcelona)

transition

to

and Barrabas
to

the

(Madrid),
Nacional

club

(Madrid),

Barca

Murcia

second

Boletin

del

dilogo

(Madrid).

10

with

(Madrid)

Boletin

(Madrid),

Oficial

de la

into

those
In the

(Madrid),
during
during

Don Balon
consulted,

CF

(Murcia)

sport.

(Madrid)

category,

Real Madrid

and the

Deportiva

can be. dinided

and Tiempo

daily

specialist

events.

have been systematically

(Barcelona),

de Deportes

the

El Pais

have been Posible

and Cuadernos Para el

La

In addition,

concerned

journals

Ya

Mundo Deportivo

specific

and those specifically

In

the

El

consulted

newspapers

(Barcelona),

period,

other,

as:

can

general

Espanola

(Barcelona):

such

thesis

Pueblo (Madrid),

post-Franco

about

the journals

(Barcelona)
journals

(Madrid),

and Dicen

information

democracy.

of this

As (Madrid),

and Cambio 16 (Madrid)

period,

The

thesis.

newspapers;

the daily

and on the

the most useful

category,

the

newspapers

In a similar-way,
of general

for

and,

(Barcelona)

provincial

other

several

this

groups:

La Vanguardia

16 (Madrid);

Sport

(Barcelona),

for

to the research

(Madrid),

Marca

newspapers

four

(Madrid), -Arriba

(Bilbao),

Norte

and Diario

(Madrid)

into

the

explanation-of

of material

two categories:

El Alczar

Informaciones

del

Gaceta

into

be divided

themselves

a brief

interviews.

personal

-documents;

to-offer

point

used can be divided

sources

journals;

at this

employed in the gathering

methodology
primary

Madrid regime.

the
the

(Barcelona)
in

addition

Aupa Atletico
Delecacin

The documentary material

for

this

have

been

those

Barcelona,

For

Eastern
that

the

the

served

by Real Television

that

claim

the

high

Espanola

number

of

been

sports

far

from

documentary

from

obtained
conclusive.

either

evidence

refugee

players

and coaches

symbols

for

Franco

football

(RTVE) actually

of a high level

the

FC
RFEF, of

the

of

and of

examined

Madrid,

The evidence

find

as anti-Communist

phenomenally

the maintenance

de Bilbao)

has in many cases

to

(Real

clubs

(COE),

Espanol

has been impossible

Europe

The archives

As and El Mundo Deportivo.

or disprove

to prove

or

it

example,

football

and Athletic

Olimpico

however,

archives,

disappointing.

Four"

de Madrid

Comite

Marca,

newspapers
these

the

"Big

the

of

Atletico

DND, of

the

has been slightly

thesis

in the course of the research

discovered

the

matches

regime,

broadcast

live

or not towards

contributed

of political

from

in Francoist

passivity

Spain.

The inadequacy
of

certain
high

the

abstract

concepts

of

personal

interviews

number

been with

former

footballers,
with

of

historians

sport

Francoist

veteran

in

Francoist

The questions
according
interviewee.

slight,

club

and commentators,

social

the

explains

football

whose work

the

with

with

These interviews

officials,

scientists

largely

thesis

conducted.

journalists

sports

in connection

evidence

this

of

sporting

and social
however

connection,

of the documentary

have
officials,

as well

as

has had some

and political

significance

Spain.

asked in these interviews

to the specific
For example,

famous of the footballing

areas of expertise
the questions
refugees

11

have obviously

varied

and experience

of the

to Ladislas

from Eastern

Kubala,

the most

Europe, naturally

centred

on the

Spain, 19 and the

Saporta
to
that

the

obviously
Franco

to

questions

of

the

on the

centred

regime

of his

significance

political

the

Real

diplomatic

many spectacular

in

Francoist

Vice-President
and ambassadorial
international

Raiumundo
importance
triumphs

of

club. 20

19. Author's interview

with Ladislas
in the appendix of interviews.
20.

Madrid

arrival

Author's

interview

with

Raimundo

12

Kubala,
Saporta.

details

of which are given

CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION

The purpose of this

in Francoist

about football

ation

of the seven conceptual

Introduction

will

Spanish football

in Francoist

of sport

character

of the Delegacin

of the "Big

nature

de Madrid,
Spanish

point

Before
in its

1.

during

to place

the Civil

regionalist

See Garcia

Candau,

op.

Atletico

an examination

of the

football

of Spainish
it

context;

was only

of politicization

and Artells,

13

the general

Real Madrid,

of the game before

This lack

cit.,

into

period.

War, Spanish football

aspect. '

sig-

(DND) and the Real

clubs,

historical

history

of

of the political

insight

de Bilbao;
Franco

the

proper

a brief

of the political

an examination

the politicization

in its

to offer

survey

football

this

of the politicization

(RFEF); a brief

Spanish

an understanding

Accordingly,

de Deportes

Nacional

and Athletic

Press

sporting

the Franco period

this

Four"

FC Barcelona

In order

history

Spain;

de Ftbol

Espanola

follow.

will

up to 1939, a general

nificance

Federacion

that

a brief

of:

consist

for

Spain necessary

chapters

inform-

the background

is to provide

Introduction

op.

cit.

during

is necessary
1939.

really

politicized

in other

at

aspects

low,

game was very

century

by visiting

students

returning

exciting

game.
of

efforts
1898,

from
The big

in

following

year.

organized

by these

Because

officials.
wages of
the

brought

which

created,

King

these

Civil

of

with

Athletic

trophy
In

to

1928,

of

remain

club

de

and

the

patronage

coaches
members,

was

and club

however,

low until

relatively

of

league

a national

players,

numbers

de Bilbao

1902,

under

and

combined

and Atletico

in

clubs

professional

were

1902,

a novel

the

after

War.

was Athletic
won over half

to action

de Bilbao.

on the field,
Together

of the national

success of Bilbao

was their

both the huge British

that

by the

XIII.

small

professionals

With regard

style

the

created

knockout

it

with

were

in

by Spanish

for

enthusiasm

Madrid

almost

nineteenth

and also

with

football

Alfonso

clubs

the

end of

beginning

Real

a national

enthusiast

sports

today

of

1899,

The RFEF was founded

the

filled

clubs

the

at

in the

the Madrid authorities.

and engineers,

and foreigners,

Spaniards

immediately

Spain

sailors

Britain

FC Barcelona
the

Madrid

into

British

interest

governmental

and autonomy vis-a-vis

was introduced

Football

that

the RFEF and the football

thus giving

independence

complete

in

due to the fact

was mostly

the other

cups disputed
direct

influence

was adopted by the mostly

dramatically

with

the dominant

won the silver

before

and aggressive

at the club

pre-Civil

Basque clubs,
1936.
style,

and climatic

Basque Spanish Olympic

War club
Bilbao

The key to the

the product
factors.

football

of
This

team

medal at the 1920 Antwerp games, and

14

however,

Antwerp,
impact

in

Italy

only

above,

politicized

in

image

de Bilbao
because

the-Basque

in

statements
of

favour

these

ikurrina

incidents

flags
between
football

visiting

2.
3.
4.
5.

directors

the

of

official

the

campaign

statements
of

flying

popular

crowd,

in

of

France.

War was really

for

from

both

autonomy,

policemen

The two

Partly
their

clubs,
with

hundreds

explosive

several
on duty

Madrid.

pre-Civil

issued

autonomy. 3
from

in

born

players

both

and with

those

Basque clubs,

immediate

directors

War, the majority

and members rallied

For obvious

and Navarre.
the

support

that

had a pan-Basque

only

Basque

national

especially

27
See El Mundo Deportivo,
Revealed by an examination
For details,
see La Gaceta
1935.
Revealed by an examination

for

terraces,

the

of Civil

of

agitation

on the

teams,

Upon the outbreak

Sociedad

boards

was hoped

Civil

Alava

significance

respective

became centres

stadia
of

political

when their

War years

because

their

falling

The two major

accepting

Guipzcoa,

Vizcaya,

to

San Sebastian,

of
of

policy

bravely

France.

the

aspect.

Sociedad

rigid
of

provinces

increased

clubs

and Real

before

football

from

Apart
''

on show in

was not

regionalist

their

of

Fury"

to make a major

it
in

1938 tournament

Spanish
its

After

scene.

Cup quarter-finals,

"Spanish

As stated

Athletic

the

journalists.

team failed

national
football

in

the

though,

reasons,

Spanish

1934 World

the
follow

would

success

the

by impressed

Fury"

international

on the

hosts

"Spanish

the

was christened

and the

of the Bilbao

to the Republican

and Real

cause. a

As

June 1920.
of the archives of the two clubs.
del Norte, 12 May 1934 and 7 November
of the archives

15

of La Gaceta del Norte.

be seen in Chapter

shall

Seven, certain

small

only

and

a very

minority.

joined

Many of the Basque players

the imminent

homeland against

however,

careers,

military

earned his popularity

football

logically,

team was christened,

Basque

1937,

April

from

players

where

by which

Nationalists.
they

played

the

team in

for

Czechoslovakia,
Basque

The Basque

players
in

distinction

1940.

Only

Basque

Country.

nearly

as clear-cut

rivalry

between

founded

by foreigners,

the

bear

heroes

Union

and

where

dissolving
of

returning

Mexican

either

the

the

by the

before

for
of

in

Paris

France,

After

the prospect

signed

three

earned

Soviet

league

national
could

exiled

or

Basque

of football

as in

FC Barcelona

the

for

to move on to Mexico,

became the

significance

left

had been conquered

decided

with

and even included

Basque cause.

Country

the

the world

the Basque cause.

performances

The others

in these countries.

was not

would tour

Poland,

two players

and promptly

The political

the

decided

centre-forward,

El Euzkadi

winning

Aguirre,

who had originally

Euzkadi,

Madrid-club.

the

clubs,

communities

Real

El

spectacular

time

with

an occupied

Argentine

its

on to

team continued
Norway,

the

money and sympathy

considerable

team that

..

Jose Antonio

were to be shortlived.

de Bilbao

their

The footballers'

both funds and sympathy for

the aim of collecting

This

invasion.

Francoist

as an Athletic

to form a Basque national

to defend

the militias

of the autonomous Basque Republic

the President

to

but they constituted

to Franco,

members gave their-support

Basque directors

prosperous

the

Basque Country,

and Espafiol

FC Barcelona,

16

in pre-Civil

or

clubs.

Bam aas

the

War Catalonia
due to

Despite
club

the

bitter

having

been

was popularly

known, had a far

between
of

the

the

supporters

Barba

followers

were

the

Espanol

whilst

autonomy,

to Catalonia

officials,

and even

way, the political

1912,

for

The hostility
more ferocity

to

Espanol.

General

Miguel

local

1927,

actual

the

violent

the

players

occurred

'

matches.

and supporters
these
in

of
derby

October

1935.

however,

was

of Castilian

the centralist

six

derby

suspending

clashes

the military
for

and it

and

century,

local

May 1924 and March

In June 1925 during

stadium

of

authorities

manifestations

Primo de Rivera,

speak Catalan,

many violent

of the Ba_
rsa supporters,

Bar a's Les Corts

This gulf
See Artells,
This view
interview
author in
Montalbn

the

personnel.?

of the FC Barcelona-Espanol

between

Similarly

October

towards

towards

6.
7.
8.

led

two years.
1923,

the

state

Catalans. e

beginning

very

battle

a pitched
clubs

the

men,

name had been chosen as both a

context

towards

contributed

March

closed

from

middle-class

and military

members could

to the native

two rival

1921,

club

majority

regional

professional

policemen

and a provocation

was important

matches

of

the very club

considerably

the

number

The great

were mostly

regions,

that

In this

April

other

The gulf

rival.

who favoured

speakers

supporters

from

a good

thought

was widely

In

Catalan

local

was huge. 6

two clubs

none of the Espanol

Practically

rivalry

the

of

immigrants

slight

image than its

more Catalan

governor

directed

with
than

centralism

dictatorship

of

of Barcelona

months because the crowd had

has been best illustrated

by Artells,
op. cit.,
p. 25-28.
op. cit.
p. 27.
has been expressed by Artells,
op. cit.,
and in an
This view has also been expressed to the
with the author.
for example with Manuel Vazquez
many other interviews,
and Alex J. Botines.

17

and jeered

whistled

March

Royal

Spanish

looked

supporters
of

always

granted

Corts

in

a pre-match

entertainment.

the

and powerful

textile

the

The FC Barcelona

Real

Madrid

the

club

Madrid

as a

team was
to

visits

the

Les

manufacturer

the club clearly

1934.11

Companys and Josep

independent

fighting

of both

Catalan

the

Republic
directors

many Barca players,

of the Civil

and died

politically

in favour

out

Along with

on the outbreak
militias

from 1933 to 1957, was a

Lluis
of
.

nationalism

and the short-lived

the many Catalan

War, Sunyol

joined

on the Jarama front

one of
in

1937.

As with

their

upon a tour

men for

of Central

long.

the political
were just

ventured

9. Revealed
10. Revealed
11. Revealed

1937,

In April

and South America.

to the Generalitat

Nationalists,

however,

Basque counterparts,

not to be militia

players

A wealthy

in October

and supporters,

directors

Navy playing

on its

reception

of FC Barcelona

President

he brought

Autonomy Statute

returned

'

accordingly,

hostile

to the moderate

Tarradellas,

February

British-

10

Barca director.

established

and,

centralism,

Josep Sunyol,

favourable

the

wealthy

an extremely

stadium.

typical

Royal

the

upon

Castilian

symbol

band of

at

for

of the touring

afterwards

by an examination
by an examination
by an examination

to Francoist

of the archives
of the archives
of the archives

18

were

team embarked

funds

were-not

from the

of Catalonia

as in the Basque case.

as clear

to return

the BarT

Even though

the-defence

convictions

the Barca players

players
Again,

Spain,

and

few of the
the majority

of FC Barcelona.
of El Mundo Deportivo.
of FC Barcelona.

to

choosing

It
the

political

had the

and Catalan

satisfaction

be set

not

to

but

also

the

Franco

the

the

their

by a brief

history

the general

the

directors

finished

Francoist

who
were

Spain

War football,

pre-Civil
of

players

and supporters.

in

football

state

cause.

convictions

political

of

military

collectively
these

that

Republican

Nationalist

was only

clubs'

of

the

of

poor

shortly,

speeches
of

Real Madrid

tennis

up the

truth,

painful

12. See Garcia

13.

cover

be seen very

traditions

their

of

such as the
to

myopic

of

the

nonetheless,
It

the

against

for

conflict.
that

towards

fighting

one fell

however,

Spanish

sport

during

years.

individuals

this

the

and Catalonia,
leant

politicization

only

The brilliance

shall

lives

knowing

by a description

partially

their

majority

great

of

footballers

players,

of
of

The context

the

a single

as a result

by the

needs

not

or Argentina.

Basque Country

lost

whilst

exile

shared

of

Basque

the

up in

sympathies
Many players

insurrection,
Only

the

only

Mexico

either

in

was not

cause. 12

in

remain

Spanish

state

Manuel
of

the sporting

contenting
of

star

football

Press
with

and DND officials.

ministers

this

triunfalismo,

for

Santana,

Spanish

themselves

team and ahandful

sporting

sport
did

example,
in

its

general.

best

faithfully

of
served
13

As

to disguise

reproducing
In

Press

the
went

best
into

pp. 17-19.

Candau, op. cit.,

interviewees
this widely-held
Only two of the author's
contested
football
Prats,
the
Matias
commentator
ultra-nationalist
opinion:
during
Jose
Maria
Franco
the
television
years,
and
and
radio
Marca journalist.
the veteran
Lorente,

19

on

flights

of euphoria

even if

the sport

clay

pigeon

gold

Spain

medal

was won,

worse

than

and the

Irish

Republic,

Nazi

to

that

the

emulate

of

during

as

sporting

This

the

not

Olympic

period,
is

way for

achievements

of

one

only

a pathetic

such as Finland,

countries

and was certainly

hallowed

Franco

the

and two bronze.

tiny

insignificant

In the six

themselves.

participated

record,

Spain

speak for

two silver

occurred,

hookey. '4

or roller-skate.

however,

which

was as internationally

in question

shooting

The facts,
Games in

whenever one of the few Spanish victories

New Zealand
Francoist

Fascist

'

Italy

and

Germany.

for

The responsibility
Franco regime.

As shall

direction

of sport

political

party.

twofold.

Firstly,

healthy

and virile

Whilst
massive

state

sport
race,

Mussolini

aims

of

lies

in Chapter Two, the

the only permitted

Francoist

and, secondly,

sporting

and Hitler,

Franco was not.

14. A good example of this

can be found with the
in'the
May 1953 world
23-25 May 1953.
15. These aims were clearly
de la
Oficial
Boletin

as a focus for

Spanish virility

the

with

were

policy

was supposed to serve as a means to create

in
sport
of
money
amounts

objectives,

detail

was handed to the Falange,

The initial

largely

of affairs

be seen in greater

of rediscovered

exhibition

this

and national

however,

were p reared

in order

to fulfill

The DND, a department

the international
pride. 15

to invest
the same two

of the Falange,

was

triunfalismo
exaggerated and inappropriate
Press coverage of the Conde de Teba's victory
Marca,
See
championship.
shooting
clay-pigeon
first
in
the
edition-of
expressed
DND, Madrid, April 1943.

20

the

to be practically

obliged
the

football
in

noted

for

pools

the

following

the

on Spanish

model

greater

part

Franco

the
"but

sport,

its

of

document

perceptive

de Catalunya

Unificat

depending

self-sufficient,

regime

without

In

money.

from

the

wanted

to

for

it:

paying

on the

this

way,

as

Socialista

Partit

impose

from

revenue

a totalitarian

in Spain is suffering
from the
of sport
organization
the whole of the
which characterized
consequences
of the ambiguity
Between the "liberal"
Francoist
model for
organizational
period.
model, the Franco regime
activity
and the "totalitarian"
sporting
(sport
its most formal
as a
aspects
chose the latter,
maintaining
of the masses)
panacea of the race and as a means of alienation
to practise
of sufficient
economic resources
without
ever disposing
in sport. "16
participation
promotion
of collective
an authentic
"The

Spanish

The principal
was the

resolve

for

existed

the

The gulf

between

always

progressing

Mexico

Samaranch,
garden

on the

Even in

world.
games,

triunfalistQ

the

In

then

was still

Delegado
trying

of

the

of

the

further

de Deportes,

to

out

that

and the

the

was
failures,

Olympic

one of

Nacional
point

DND

DND, everything

all

after

the

of

becoming

1969,

only

really

sports

clubs.

to

spite

point

February

other

rhetoric

According

splendidly.

was permanently

private

to

The opportunity

or most

members of

DND failed

the

facilities.

public

was enormous.

reality

sporting

of

that

problem

basketball

tennis,
wealthy

sombre

Spain

lack

acute

to play

regularly

sporting

leaders

of

in

the

failure

the

Juan Antonio

everything

in

the

sporting

was rosy:

"I ask all of you to continue with the same enthusiasm and with
And I also say to you that we are on
this exemplary dedication.
The only thing that we have to do right
the right road.
now is

16. Reproduced in Antonio Alcoba,

moderna, 1980, p. 254.
21

El periodismo

deportivo

en la sociedad

accelerate
our pace, because our
consciousness
will
automatically
"17
the same enthusiasm.

This blind
is all

facts,

h
Jos Antonio

the more surprising

of the DND in his

for

the continued

international

other

honest

sufficiently
perfect

After

imports.
and the

reason
ill

for

19

upon leaving

to admit that

Unlike

the Movimiento

in the Olympics

Spanish failures

competitions.

he was

that

Samaranch, Elola
Spanish

Jose
and in

Olaso was
was not in

sport

condition:

"There is still
have committed
unconditionally

Spanish

The official

was common knowledge

the Minister-Secretary

superior,

because of

it

failure

Samaranch was the former's

Olaso with

however,

At the time,

removed by his
Solis,

of Elola

in the job,

the partial

admitted

the

all

predecessor

speech in December 1966.

farewell

the replacement

health. 1e

had effectively

Olaso,

his

that

given

a sporting
working
with

of creating
we continue

in the face of

of Samaranch, flying

optimism

Elola

objective
if
arrive

lack

the

sport

In the path followed we

a great deal to be done.
I am the first
many mistakes.
person to
"20
accept this,
and I blame myself for the failure.

of

during

the

The football
other

big

became naturalized

facilities,

public
Franco

were packed

Spaniards

other

was the

period

and basketball

clubs

the

teams of
with

and played

foreign
for

the

major

profusion
Real

problem
of

Madrid,

players,
Spanish

for

foreign
FC Barcelona

' many of

whom
teams.

national

17. Reproduced in Boletin Oficial

de la DND (Madrid) No. 387, March
1969.
18. See Boletin
de la DND, No. 281, January 1967.
Oficial
19.

This view has been expressed

to the author
in many interviews,
example with Jose Maria Lorente,
and With Juan Jose Castillo,
veteran
editor
of El Mundo Deportivo.

20. Reproduced in Boletin

de la DND, No. 281, 'January

Oficial

22

for
the

1967.

Spanish

This

in

for

the

there

Spanish
the

were

the

body FIFA

to

vociferous

team including
The Spanish

Chile.

complaints
its

on imported

rules

but foreign-born

when they shouted

in the moment of triumph,

the world

upon winning

in July

Porthcrawl

handful

in

governing
their

of

Legra,

as did

the
there

whether

in

Francoist

either

use a decent

boxer Jose Legr

from Howard qfins tone in

were thousands

court

Spanish

of
or

waste

of

did
For

Spanish

ground,

gymnasium

or

Spain

infrastructure.

sporting

box on patches

or

This

Viva Espana slogan

Cuban-born

title

sportsmen,

something

tennis

champions,

than none at all.

the Falangist

the black

featherweight

Spanish-born

1968.

of

achieved

because

or Jose

the

failed

representing

better

champions were obviously

true

was especially

than

June

players

football

players

have preferred

The DND would undoubtedly

actually

In

nonetheless,

international

the

caused

foreign-born

team,

presence

about

many countries

four

the

about

21

new country.

The

from

In August

Americans.

South

teams

sports

years.

protests

seven

complaints

football

tighten

team of

national

the

over

Italian

strong

the

'in

countries

other

pelota

Cup team in

but

foreigners

were

national

national

World

again,

from

there

example,

Spanish

1962,

including

of

many protests

provoked
1953,

policy

or

foreign-born,
so in

be guided

the

spite

of

Manuel

every

youngsters

without

who

trying

rather

Santana
to clay

opportunity

to

by a professional

coach.

21. For details

1962.

of the FIFA

rule

23

changes,

see World Soccer,

October

In

spite

the

of

triunfalista

de Deportes

Palacio

with

the

choice.

The DND received

football

pools

constantly

increased

in

During

the

This

and from

May 1962 onwards

the
to

DND to

raise

consequence
the

practically

football.

only

but

facilities,
on any patch

a ball

the

the

game.

pools
1957--1962,

period

football

the

a figure

pesetas,

sums of

1971-1972,

money,

an

however,

infrastructure

sporting

lack

this

the

relatively

also

revealed

public
to

to

normal

in

the

lower

be played,

unlike

squares

around

the

streets.

Whilst

in

youngsters

by examination

24

gradually

of the archives

was

pitches

most

postwar

a football

car-deserted

of

or on the

across

was

classes

a lack

Right

equipment.

the

the

facilities

sports

from

suffered

game could

ground,

however,

of

accessible

sport

grew up kicking

countries,

22. Figures

of

as essential

generation

of

football

Of course,

European

Spanish

the

by season

also

levels.

A major

and in

the

even

the

in

Thus in

261,856,206,280

these

Not

the

his

of

itself

3% of

only

every

revenue

interest

22%.

a considerable

total

revenue

10% during

to

sport

money from

the

public

DND received

pesetas

the

whole

in

1,969,285,473,100

allowed

only

increase

DND received

almost

sports,

total

to

of

training

the

was increased

100%. 22

that

and because

the

increase

European

of

the

to

share

had risen

which

share

1951-1957,

1962-1963,

season

sums of

a new

providing

the

large

percentage

rose,

proportion

years

takings.

its

because

generated

inceasingly

time

every
of

to practise

regularly

opportunity

poured

DND was incapable

the

was opened,

Spaniard

that

rhetoric

other

streets,

with

Europe,

empty
most
began

and

bombsites
other
to

play

of the DND.

on

the newly-laid

by the lack

Spanish boys were compelled

dominated

almost

completely

during

the Franco years.

streets,
leaving

of time,

the private

sports

Even if

Sunday afternoon.

clubs

surprising,

be called

the deporte-rey

lamentably

23.

therefore,

to continue

favourite

and the high

during

sporting

Upon
playing

that

had time to
team

another
of joining

cost

combine to dampen his

it

day in the

all

he only

Therefore,

and see his

in Francoist

football

to hold down two jobs,

these circumstances,

between the popularity

deficient

sports,

of one of the big clubs.

he did have time to practise

given

of Spanish sport

contrast

to

of the average Spaniard

he was trying

papers

would quickly

is hardly

In conclusion,

if

facilities

of public

other

he would be unable

work,

the Franco period.

read one of the daily

feature

be a supporter

especially

so many during

then the lack

the

facilities

sports

As a boy, he would be playing

and begining

school

for

life

the sporting

and would quickly

due to lack
like

of facilities

because of the lack

Partly

of public

centres,

on the waste ground and in the streets.

playing

continue

and in the new sports

out grass pitches

play
sport,

one of

enthusiasm. 23
football

on

It

came to

Spain.

must be said

that

the Franco years

of football
infrastructure.

the most significant

was the striking

as a spectator

sport

and the
-

been the sporting

history
This has approximately
of most of the
Spanish men who grew up in the Franco period
that
the author has
interviewed.
facilities
in
For details
of sports
of the level
Francoist
Spain compared to other
Prieto,
countries,
see Cazorla
op.
pp. 212-214.
cit.,

25

is now necessary

It

institutions

that

governed

it

however,

would be appropriate
two institutions,

of these

character

himself.

24

The full

de las JONS.

de

de Deportes

In this

way, all

scrutiny

At this

on

point,

approach to the

a conceptual

1941 decree signed

by Franco

body was to be la

governing

Falange Tradicionalista
that

possibility

from the new Francoist

degree of independence

The

of the general

an outline

of the new sports

title

Nacional

Delegacion

to a close

follow.

will

before

by a February

The DND was created

the Franco years.

is adopted.

of football

politicization

that

to give

of the two

during

be subjected

in the seven chapters

many occasions

sport

Espanola y

could maintain

political

order

was

Francoist

Spain

being

destroyed.

swiftly

Three
placed

under

the

Franco's

sport.

Secondly,

demonstrated
regimes

of

direction

of

by assigning
desire

Hitler

means of

"improving

prestige.

25

the

The third

-Sport

to

to

the

and Mussolini,
the

race"
reason

The first

means to

sport

apply

in

Falange.

had the

ministries

its

for

can be given

reasons

none of

the

Spanish football

of the DND and the RFEF will

actions

illustration

a brief

to offer

gaining

to

attempt
Falange

same concepts
namely

and of
that

the

that

the
to

Franco

is

should

that

regime

as had done

sport

sport

that

administer

international

can be offered

is

reason

serve

respect

as a
and

Franco

24. Reproduced in Boletin

de la DND, No. 1, April
1943.
Oficial
25. This view is shared by Juan Pablo Fusi, Z leading historian
of
Spain, and by Dr. Sheelagh Ellwood, specialist
twentieth-century
instrumentalization
For details
Falange historian.
of the political
Italy
of sport in Fascist
and Nazi Germany see Cazorla Prieto,
op.
cit.,
pp. 170-188.
26

possibly

realized

dangerous

Falange
social

radical
Ministry.

that

than

order

for

at,

in

which

the

their

ideas

damage with

do less

could

Finance

the

example,

potentially
a

about
or

new

Interior

26

contol

1941 gave the DND, in effect,

decree of February

The founding
complete

was an area

sport

Spanish sport,

over

ever been exercised

by a Ministry

than has

more complete

in a pluralist

of Sport

to dictatorships

been confined

phenomenon having

far

a control

democracy,

the

the Right

of either

or

Left.

the DND executive

To begin with,

This arrangement

Spanish Olympic Committee.

Olympic Committee's

of the International
Committees should
as possible

ection

many other

central

with

international

de Deportes,

to name the President

sports

federations,

members of these

that

rule

this

contravention

national

Olympic
conn-

As was the case with

and recommendations,

overlooked

served as the

and have as little

government. 27

rulings

The regime-nominated

also

was in clear

"non-political"

be strictly

Franco regime cynically

Nacional

committee

however,

so

the

rule.

head of the DND, known as the. Delegado

was empowered by the February

and Vice-President
but also

federations.

to appoint
In

1941 decree not only

of each of the separate

all

addition,

of the executive

Spanish

committee

the Delegado Nacional

26. This view is similarly

shared by Dr. Sheelagh Ellwood.
27. Revealed by examination of the archives of the Spanish Olympic
Committee.

27

was

to nominate
divisions

and Vice-Presidents

the Presidents

to exercise

sufficient

As if

federation.

of each sports

control

complete

the regional

of all

of these powers were not

all

Spanish

over

of the decree empowered the Delegado Nacional

article

federation

of a national

liking.

Therefore,

expected

of them, then he would be able either

obedient

men or simply

if

As was pointed
Introduction,
by the

local

from

central

1941 decree

completely

federations

to

West European

force

before

government

this

changed
of

control

immediately

The DND was a Falangist

institution,

Falangists.

Inspite

with

or Delegado
1936 siege
figure

with

militiamen

of

the

the

of

the

was the

fulsome

regime's
way in

who had fought

which

alongside

have caused

possibly

largely,
however,

Jose

Moscardo,

but

their

of

the

not

its

first

the

hero

was an exremely

because

way in

head
of

which

he had

into

a war hero,

praised

the

200 Falangist

regular

soldiers

in

the

popular

machinery

he had
his

the

subjecting

this,

of

propaganda

of

rebel.

Moscardo

however,

Falangists,

formed

been

The February

War.

staffed

army general

Alczar.

Toledo

up by the

been built
because

Nacional

Civil

would
to

this

level

high

a very

situation,
that

in

had originally

the

more

decisions.

RFEF earlier

and had enjoyed

counterparts

exclusively,

the

federation

sports

clubs,

a degree

to

regard

with

was

then with

to replace

them to change their

Spanish

every

chosen men did not do what

the Delegado's

out

various

autonomy

or regional

to veto any

was not to his

that

decision

the fourth

sport,

the

and

Alczar

siege.

The appointment

of Moscardo as the first

28

Delegado

Nacional

should

be seen, as the awarding

properly
was tired
for

be the

to

years.
popular

and important

trophies

christened

was the

Spanish

the

man with

greatest

for

In

own name.
to

power

fifteen

by far

example,

the

even to
of

spite

influence

most

He hardly

total.

not

match,

for

Sport

of

was practically

sport,

passion

he was scarcely

Minister

football,

his

Despite

ground.

shooting,

football
his

with

pigeon

of

a professional

attended

parade

Spanish

effective
ignorance

Moscard's

ever

and the

and clay

sports

equestrian

competent

barracks

the

of

to an old war hero who

of a sinecure

the

award

many
he

however,

this,

War Spanish

post-Civil

football.

As shall

shortly

RFEF officials
were loyal

be seen in detail,

at very short
and obedient

The two most notable

in football

The powerful,
extensive

the death

personality

match at all
instead

leadership

power and influence.

successor,
and a dull,

Jose Antonio
uninspiring

29

Elola

levels,

and the
red one.

the DND lost

Olaso,

leader.

partly

being

a certain
due to

a rather

the

to make

in Spanish sport.

was also

the

arm symbol by

1941 decree

force

1956,

This

into

symbols

of Moscardo combined with

dominant

the uncontestably

the

of the usual

to the DND in the February

of the old war hero in April

its
of
amount
Moscardd's

irresistible

powers given

the institution

every

they

in the 1940s, personally

such symbols were the right

team use of blue shirts

Spanish national

for

the

that

way assuring

of a number of Fascist

and the crowd before

the players

in this

and fired

He was responsible

Period"

introduction
the
upon

insisting
game.

intervals,

Falangists.

"Blue

Falangist-inspired

Moscardo hired

weak

With

Olaso was as little

Elola

Moscardo had been.

A Falangist

in the Civil

volunteer

he had served as the head of the Falange's

de Juventudes,

virulent

six
it

Melbourne

Olympic

Ministros

as a protest

befell

that

possible

and damaging

the

against

decision

disappointed

Spanish

from

to

above

Olaso will

enemy of the powerful

Elola

his

and dutifully

were largely

Real Madrid

the product

Olaso further

This
Jose

view is
Castillo,

Hungary.

It

be both

to

attempted,
and his

however,

obediently

did

his

best

be remembered in football

Bernabeu because Real Madrid's

de

to

the

is
futile

and most

Cabinet
accepted
it

explain

to

the

journalists.

and sports

of any more foreign

Consejo

Caudillo

the

team from

Spanish

of

have

Delegado

of

boycott

this

Olaso,

President

for

circles

Santiago

footballers,
spectacular

of their

foreign

stars.

30

Prats,

Jose Maria

This

was

the

which angered

in the late

The following

annoyed the Real Madrid President

shared by Matias
op. cit.
t

to prohibit

a decision
successes

making an

Bernabeu.

August 1962 decision

the consequence of the Delegado's

importation

the

invasion

and therefore

persuade

post

by Franco's

Soviet
judged

have

sport,

29

withdrawal.

sportsmen

Elola

28.

of the

not been for

the

withdraw

ordered

the

against

have succeeded,

probably

to

Games, a gesture

would

to

appointment

Olaso

to Elola

Moscard
for

his

after

months

Nacional,

Elola

1940

the Frente

organization

of 1957 had it

reshuffle

as

anti-monarchism.

Only

this

youth

expert

War, since

and would have become Minister-Secretary

in the Cabinet

Movimiento

and football

of a sportsman

by refusing

Lorente

1950's
summer,
to

and Juan

the

accept

resignations

His unpopularity
in Spanish

figures

stated

football

international

and other

Elola

Olaso

Juan Antonio
Samaranch

the

to

emerge

from

means,

his

strengths

power,

namely

the

Presidency

which

he assumed

a model

in

Falangist

disadvantage

the

that

a move towards
in

the

Francoist

the

the

of

to
being

Catalan,

-but,

cultivate

With regard

the support

to football,

of the giant

of both of which he was a fully

29. Revealed by examination

Barcelona.

clubs

paid-up

in

in

the

sporting

Committee,
He needed

be

to

the

DND, especially

1970s,

he realized

was necessary

in

order

to be, a very popular

he was sufficiently
Real Madrid
member. 29

of the archives

31

world

to

make

movement.

Samaranch was, and indeed continues

Spanish sport.

of

Olympic

himself

centre

Olympic

of-independent

ambiguity.

establish

by

time,

Catalonia.

A-Catalan
pinnacle

the

sports

able

International

political

democratic

international

the

to

at

DND in

the

of

Spain.

rising

was his

of

as already

expected

intelligent-and

most

originally

with

progress

1980,

director

young

in

one of

premature

in the Olympic Games

as was generally

the

Olaso's

competitions.

was replaced,

was undoubtably

administrator

influential

factor,

Spanish failure

sporting

Samaranch,

important

The other

was the continued

earlier,

towards Elola

contributed

in December 1966.

retirement

Jose Villalonga.

Bernabeu and most of the other

with

Pico

Benito

RFEF President

unpopular

team manager

and thenational

Martinez

the

of

figure
wise to

and FC Barcelona,

This

support

of Real Madrid,

for

and of FC

in

from

Samaranch
because

his

of

players.

In

football

clubs
to

committed
in

sacking

the

perseverance

on occasions,

was,

with

to Elola

contrast

the

generally

the

a dubious

penalty

award in a tense

Barra

Juan Gich as replacement

the furious

with

for

invasion

match with

view was the appointment

this

of the

Samaranch, in an attempt

however,

of FC Barcelona,

President

Costa and the chairman

Jose Luis

Committee Jose Plaza.

and club

Furthermore,

as shall

had very little

Bam

of power during

was not directed

member, but rather

Catalan

30.

pitch

cup quarter-final

Samaranch, a-fellow

corridors

in which FC

scandal,

to

Catalans.

The indignation

Eight,

to

from the post of

Samaranch's dismissal

that

Consistent

secretary

his

reasons,

and a disappointment

a surprise

Real Madrid. 31

in Chapter

these

Camp Nou stadium was the scene of a violent

Barcelona's

upon by the

a man genuinely

was due to the June 1970 Gureceta

Delegado Nacional

ban on foreign

game. 30

the

The view exists

placate

For

sport.

largely

weak,

he was looked

and dialogue,

Spanish

1970 was both

September
in

of

progress

rather
unpopular

however,

Olaso,

as a man of`compromise

many involved

after

clubs

giant

the Franco years,

towards RFEF

of the Central

Referees

be seen in greater

influence

towards

detail

in the sporting

because it

was viewed as a

felt
This surprise
to the author by
and disappointment
was expressed
journalists,
by several
for example
many veteran
sports
sportsmen,
the tennis
Manuel Orantes
Manuel
player
and the footballer
interviewed
in Madrid,
Velazquez,
and also by two former Francoist
the ex-Delegado
Nacional
Benito
Castejn
sports
officials,
and the
former
RFEF President
Pablo Porta.

31. See, for

example,

Marca and As, 9-13 September 1970.

32

Catalan

of dubious

club

have brought

Jose

for

reason

the

Secretary

for

Secretary

Torcuato

Fernandez

appointed

Delegado

Nacional

in October

Solis'

friend

own good

as Minister-

example

by the majority

In addition,

being

by an enfuriated

and boycotted
the non-Catalan

Spaniards

because of both a sporting

masses, and the acute

Gich

32.

to play

made himself

lifting

the

seemed to

Revealed
Superior
and with

32

he was loathed
by most of

and mistrusted

shortage

popular

ban on foreign
have got

apathy

the

the measure

33

only

on the part

sports

the

of the Spanish

in

clubs

By 1975,
of

very limited

facilities.

football

players.

by the author's
interviews
de Deportes,
formerly
of
Benito
Castejn.

led by the slogan

met with

of public

with

a massive publicity

more sport,

The campaign, however,

Contamos contigo.

secretary

Real Madrid,

and

being an outsider.

of FC Barcelona,

secretary

from June 1971 onwards,

campaign encouraging

success,

for

leader,

clubs.

Gich organized,

finally

of the DND staff

the former

and

Juan Gich.

Compared to Samaranch, Gich was a weak and uninspiring

was resented

old

The new Minister-

followed

Miranda
his

by Franco

1969.

his

was that

Samaranch

of

been dismissed

Movimiento

the

they could not

of Samaranch even had they wanted to.

removal

had himself

Solis

Therefore,

character.

about the downfall

The major
friend

political

the

Delegado

with staff
the DND, in

May 1975,
former
Nacional

of the Conselo
March and April

by.

Barga
post,

1986,

the respect

and was earning

for

his

Solis

hard work.

consciencious

made as surprise

and immediately

to head

DND.

the

young

and so the

him,

failure

at the Montreal

dismissed

time

the

both the Movimiento

is

Although

33. See, for

not

the

therefore,

was finally

by the
by the

particularly
the

promising

Olaso

bolder

ever

new radical

Spanish

complete

transition

post-Franco

assistant

to

in September 1976.

that

to democracy

after

and ambitious

had begun,

of being

dissolved.

so many years of being

Falangists,

and

the

the post of

to a keen sportsman and efficient

offered

man in Spanish sports

as Samaranch's

Inter-

the

Games, Pelayo Ros was, as expected,

Olympic

in the shape of Benito

administrator
respected

wake of

of ageing was heroes

Delegado Nacional

went

and the DND were on the point

perhaps ironic,

sinecure

the

Samaranch

within

criticised

Press,

as Delegado Nacional

By this

It

In

friend

of the

as Moscardo and Elola

of a sportsman

sporting

Don Baln. 33

weekly

position

and as such was continually

and more independent

back his

Jose

Ros.

Pelayo Ros was as little

before

however,

year,

had ambitions

though,

Tomas Pelayo

technocrat

of that

to bring

tried

Samaranch,
Committee,

Olympic

national

In July

to the post of Minister-Secretary

return

Movimiento,

of sportsmen and journalists

of the majority

Castejn.

as a result

He was already-a

of having

efficiently

served

from 1966 to 1970.

a member of

the

party,

Castejon

(Barcelona)

example, Don Baln,

34

was-politically

No. 27,6

April

close

1976.

to

the

UCD of Adolfo
leadership

political

and democratization
in

the

office

in

the Calle

Epilogue

of October

victory
General

man to preside

the

over

transformation

in

sport.

As shall

be seen

to

thesis,

Castejon

was to remain

this

1982,

Fierro
first

the

until

as head of

and afterwards

of

socialist

the

the

greater

general

his

election

Direccion

provisional

Consejo

permanent

in

Superior

Deportes.

In conclusion,
that

everything

into

Spaniards

to obtain

11

must be stated

attempted

a nation

much glory

competitions.
general

it

it

pyblic,

for

the

Furthermore,
of

largely

sportsmen,

become courageous-enough

sports

Francoist

DND failed

to express

the

itself

in

the

the

failed

to
failed

The DND also

international

to gain
Press,

in practically

to transform

because it

facilities.

Spain

and of

failed

It

to achieve.

public

the DND failed

that

of sportsmen,

much-needed

construct-the

-"

ideal

new centrist

Spanish

Martin

de Deportes,

was seen by the

and as such

as the
of

detail

de

Suarez,

the

sports

respect

once the

latter

of

the

had

freely.

>il

The two major reasons

best

expressed

for

the general

failure

of the

DND have been

by Castejon.

"The biggest
cause of the lack of effectiveness
of the DND was the
in sport,
low level
level
the lowest
extremely
of State investment
in post-war
for Portugal,
Europe except
Greece and the Irish
Republic.
This meant that practically
the only money the DND had
in the sporting
infrastructure
to invest
was its share of the
football
failure,
The second major reason for this
pools revenue.
in my opinion,
is that most of the Delegados Nacionales,
and indeed
DND staff,
most of the Falangist
were in the job because of their
beliefs
than because of
political
or personal
connections,
rather
for or understanding
I remember how shocked
any passion
of sport.

35

I was, upon arriving

and disappointed
at the DND as Samaranch's
in 1966, at the lack of commitment,
assistant
enthusiasm,
imagination,
that
I found there. "34
efficiency
and understanding

There
the

was not

DND and the

led

was also

a huge difference

RFEF during

administer

domestic

would

international

earn

the DND, failed

independence
being

period,
regional

European football

Generalisimo,

as the national

cup tournament

whole host-of

dominated
Civil

War.

it

above,
without

it

thesis,

team that

Spain.

the RFEF has

during

the Franco

DND and the busy

league,

and amateur game.

the Copa del

was known from 1939

Nevertheless,

of this
for

problems

As stated

team.

RFEF

to

a national

the juvenile

the national

in the course

the

objectives:

federations,

between the domineering

of

Further-

Francoist

to perform

had to organize

occasions

for

and glory

The RFEF only

and the national

35

two major
create

which administered

onwards,

character

accounts,

Falangists.

in its

and few functions

federations,

general

By all

years.

efficiently

prestige

sandwiched

the

gto

football

Compared to the other

little

Franco

by unenthusiastic

and staffed

more, the RFEF, like

the

between

these

as shall

be seen on many

few functions

created

the RFEF.

was the clubs who founded

the RFEF in 1902 and

interest

until

governmental

From 1939 onwards,

however,

or interferance
the clubs

were forced

the

to accept

interview
34. Author's
with Benito Castejon.
35. This is the view of Benito Castejon, Pablo Porta, and of the
majority
of veteran sports journalists
and football
club officials
during the Franco
who were well acquainted with the RFEF staff
to the author.
years, expressed in interview

36

the

new sporting
in

shall

be seen

power

and influence

Francoism

that

influence,

detail,

patience
symbolism

with

the

decesions

for

regime.

The series
army colonel
his

leadership,

Falangist

world

vast

the

of

this

power

years

in

the

committee's

to

to

full

plans

upon a nine-day

of

Fascist
team

national

and actually

for

vetoed

for

training

to Brazil

camp with

in

Moscard

a four-day
fly

to

reign

lack

applying

In May 1950,

for

iron

his

make the

extent

committee.

DND.

Vice-

in

Furthermore,
the

the

be seen below

demonstrating

unable

the

camp at
World

a strict.

36

of short-lived

and Civil

War hero Julio

the right-arm

began with

RFEF Presidents

Fascist

anthem Cara al sol'were

Troncoso
salute

36. Revealed by examination

of the archives
Circular
No. 6 of May 1950.
37

the retired

Sagredo in 1939. Under

and the singing

made compulsory

of

and

the

RFEF Presidents,

as

year

shadow of

during

zealous

team about

national

height

sufficiently

powers

final

part

regularly

football.

their

the

the

RFEF executive

insisting

Cup tournament,
disciplinary

the

not

lost

completely

As shall

or men who were

in

the

of

he vetoed

El Escorial

at will,

game,

used his

occasionally

example,

and fired

and,

until

its

RFEF reached

Moscardo,

was not

1941 to 1956.

hired

force

an unstoppable

the

thirty

men who were

to

almost

It

RFEF.

suffered

and directors

Presidents

Four,

to regain

from

war hero

DND and General

began

the

of

Moscard

the

the

clubs

having

by the

Chapter

within

the

after

General

in

detail

DND domination
of

imposed

order

of the

at every football

of the RFEF, in particular

match,

Troncoso

Presidents

from
del

large

general
fired

who would
from

Barroso

the

former

The brief

be'seen

Barroso

of

Rivero

War army hero,

Barroso

owed his

Antonio,

to

Chapter

1961.

Irish

Seven,

army

Moscard

blue-shirted

when the

the

ascendancy

a powerful

1957 to

1946,

heavy defeats

and the Irish

Republic.

the head of Rivero

for

the treasurer
failings

Falangist

ended

in

Republic,

one of
to

prepared

however,

He also

and four

37. Information
from the archives
No. 3 of August 1939.
38

ex-Real
1947,

Rivero
Madrid

play

Meneses,
director.

after

team against
was not content

dismissed

directors,

of the national

Jesus

March

the national

Moscardo,

Meneses.

the

and another

Meneses

humiliatingly

the continual

Madrid

with

Inspector,

DND National

Presidents,

however,

Civil

from

June

in

as a

Spain.

replaced

reign

in

lost

him,

another

brother

in

presidency

as shall

Francoist

Moscardo

his

as Army Minister

serve
the

Barroso,

of

six

had served

where'he
before

of

office.

de Madrid.

influence

team surprisingly

few countries

against

was Javier

club,

in

first

and the

Sagrado

one year

to Atletico

the

to

part

national
the

time

Madrid

Troncoso

as RFEF

and was replaced

a good Falangist

Real

only

President

this

Pan,

Like

after

1940,

April

the

with

1930-1936.

The next
connected

del

Saura

Pan died

in

died

connected

director
Saura

37

Sagredo

by Luis

President

in

level.

at every

both Portugal
simply

with

one of the RFEF Viceso frustrated

was he with

team.

of the RFEF, in particular

Circular

Rivero
doctor

minutes

Munoz Calero
in

his

have

on the

body FIFA,

beaten

executive

the

to

committee
to devote

order

telegram

to

Had he wished,

for

many more years,

as the

serve
of

during

England.

presidency

order

the

football

world

more time

Spanish

to his

medical

practice.

RFEF President

The next
whose lack

fellow

of
the

accepted

past

in

1954 after
A third

in

job

fifteen

Touzn Jurjo
leadership

successive

retired

in

humiliating

obedient

two having
Civil

Manuel

Valdes
in

World

Larranaga,

1952,

when he

He was succeeded

who was ousted

Cup exit

Jurjo,

at

by

by a disgusted
the

hands

Falangist

and unimaginative

was Juan Touzn

to

Moscardo's

of

spend

eighth

man

years.

was dismissed

Alfonso

Falangist

Venezuela.

Fernandez,

in 1956 when Elola

of the DND and installed

friend

Falangist

other

the

Falangist

game was demonstrated

ambassador

as RFEF President

two years
the

the

Sancho Davila

Turkey.

minnows

of

was the

to

commitment

Falangist

Moscardo

for

Civil

by sending

circles
Albion"

over

the

since

Cup campaign,

Francoist

perfidious

in

down in

and in

1950 World

the

against

President

victory

remained

a Falangist

fighting

effective

within

decisive

1950 he stood

Division"

Spanish

popularity

the

after

representative

most

we have

could

July

governing

be the

successful

"Caudillo,

famous

Franco

but

the

"Blue

the

with
to

he increased

which
the

He proved

organizing

was Armando Munoz Calero,

successor

who had served

Soviets.
War,

Meneses'

his

own man, his

de la Fuente Chaos.

RFEF President,

been former

army officers.

39

"Old Shirt"

He was the fourth

and the sixth

War heroes knew practically

Olaso assumed the

one since

1939,

These Falangists

and

nothing

about football,

the

and

consequently

failed

competitions

efficiently.

football

to

RFEF. 38

influence

within

the

seen in

Chapter

Four,

committee
however,

could

Nacional.

39

Elola

the

annual

All

frustrated

in

be and frequently

the Real Madrid

Would reestablish

director

July.

These

in 1960.

Benito

do,

lack

of
be

as shall

recommendations,

by the

Delegado

of the clubs,

nor an ex-army officer,

of the clubs

by the

RFEF executive

His nominee for

Pico Martinez,

the confidence

the

the frustration

realized

a Falangist

their

could
to

domestic

men respected
at

clubs

were rejected

to change tactics

was neither

the

that

assembly

dull

these

were

was make recommendations

Olaso apparently

thus decided
presidency

Neither

team and the

national

who had become acutely

clubs,

at

the

organize

whom Elola
in both

and

the RFEF
but rather
Olaso hoped

the RFEF and the

DND.

This change of tactics,

failure
continual

because of Pico Martinez'

failures

Chapter Four,
was, ironically,

38.

however,

uninspiring

of the national

the club

proved to be something

most hostile

team.
in its

style
As shall
opposition

of a

of leadership

and the

be seen in detail
to Pico Martinez

Real Madrid.

by Raimundo Saporta,
to the author
This frustration
was expressed
by Agusti
Montal,
former
the Vice-President
of Real Madrid,
de Miguel,
former President
President
and by Julio
of FC Barcelona,
CF.
of Valencia

39. Revealed by examination of the archives of the DND. In July 1954,

for example, the RFEF annual assembly recommended that a full-time,
but this proposal
team manager be appointed,
professional
national
by the Delegado Nacional Moscard.
For further
was rejected
details,
see Marca, 9-10 July 1954.

40

in

The new Delegado Nacional

the

in

RFEF Presidency

installing

1967,

a director
Luis

was Jose

choice

from

unpopular

as all

of

national

team hit

continued

Costa

before

doctor

him.

low when it

an all-time

Olaso's

tactic

of

Samaranch's

clubs.

who was on the

to be just

proved

Presidents

the

football

Falangist

another

own man to

Elola

with

big

the

one of

board.

de Madrid

Atletico

but

Costa,

his

Samaranch appointed

as ineffective

and

his

the

During

reign,

from the 1970

was eliminated

World Cup qualifying

demanded Costa's
still

in

within
Delegado
highly

RFEF, and instead

and his
of

critical

dynamic

the

the

Garcia

Candau,

Francoist

Jose

was Jose

Delegado

Nacional

Juan

Two, had been a Falangist

with

his

devoting
vacilation

day: the scandal

overlord

Maria

led

Garcia

decisions

Gich.

Perez

by the

and Alex

Perez

football
himself
over

Pay,

Pay,

previously

J.

to his
the

to traverse

for

two major

41

of

in

Chapter

the

Madrid

He annoyed

football

problems

entering

the ban on foreign

by

a good choice

both

law practice.

mentioned

increasingly

be seen

as shall

of

Botines.

on paper

or playing

The-

by a new generation

to have to work in this

Luis

the

of

were becoming

hierarchy.

inspired

of the South American players

documents in a bid

was

influence

their

they

sporting

journalists,

sports

ambience

clubs

of his

the

accepting

were were partly

critical

clubs,

the fall

President,

appointed

The next RFEF President

before

angrily

of power and influence

reasserting

of weekly

entire

clubs

and critical

Julian

were gradually

clubs

Nacional

criticisms

lack

The clubs

1970.

September

of

Finland.

he remained in power until

The football
the

but their

resignation,

such that

Samaranch

by tiny

competition

with

players;

the
of

false
and the

the

difficult
the

question,

social

security
to solve

capacity
between

the

for

system

uncomprehending

DND on the

failed

better

World

Given

Cup.

rather

that

surprising
being

until

replaced

in this

Earlier

Perez

during

right-at

the end of that

unable

in

to

to

the irony

for

head of Catalan

university

in

remain

of Benito

dictatorship,
existence

himself

to his business

Espanol

club,

interests,

the

1958-1962.

of the RFEF by Elola

later

of the Catalan

Olaso,

regional

interview
Author's
with
This is the view of the
Castejn,
example Benito
Agusti
Montal.

is

presidency

Delegado

being appointed

being largely

the CivilWar.

since

having

past,

from 1944 to 1947.

In 1962, Porta

it

Castejn,

War, and then serving

haven for

the footballing

1974

the

was commented upon.

he had a Falangist

sports

team

criticisms,

the most popular

RFEF President

in the Civil

intrasigent,

national

qualify

subsequent

"sandwiched

May 1975.

institution's

predecessors,

young blue volunteer

presidency

the

of Porta should be seen in the same light,

most of his

committee

own words,

Furthermore,

and certainly

as the most effective

the period

Pay had little

and the

the whole of the Franco

The appointment

40.
41.

Porta

his

to

affiliation

of

on one side,

and the

Introduction,

Nacional

in

Pay managed

by Pablo

the most effective

Like

being

problems

probably

regarded

40

other".

Five,

Perez

players.

clubs

results,

these

Chapter

being,

demanding

critical,

to yield

the

problem,

either

in

be seen

as shall

been a

as the Falangist
He then dedicated

working

as the secretary

Francoists

in Barcelona,

was appointed

of the
during

to the executive

and two years later

federation.

41

to the

Porta himself

claimed

Jose Luis Perez Pay.

interviews,
for
majority
of the author's
Jose Luis Perez Pay, Raimundo Saporta
and

42

that

he was offered

his

difficult

finally

Porta

Porta

vented
than

a President

any sports
three

in

detail

ineffective

institution,

clubs

increasingly

critical

the

were,

Delegados
Madrid

the

decree
in

remaining

of
in

clubs,

interview

inept
for

their

and docile

with

years
of

the

to

say at

that

prefor

office

more

being

or qualities

Pablo Porta..

this

in

point,

dominated

and influence

RFEF.

by the
of

the

be

them to

and uninspiring
political

be

RFEF will

was a largely

caused

and obedient

43

of

The power

DND and the

than for any knowledge of football

42. Author's

Franco

which

the

general,

Nacionales

it

DND.

limited,
both

Suffice

as a result

chiefly

was strictly

and directors

Four.

Chapter

and ineffective

unpopular

various

from

in

retired

and only

government

RFEF workings

the

of

RFEF during

the

that

football

Socialist
President

workings

conclusion,

equally

had designed,

by

times

three

terms.

in

examined

he was re-elected

that

been very

be seen in the Epilogue,

As shall

he himself

that

federation

The internal

with

leadership.

a controver'Ial

of

for

no time

in May 1975, having

the presidency

accepted

system

1984 because

it

that

42

was so popular
democratic

would leave him with

post that

of Perez Pay's

critical

the

interests.

business

because he realized

down both offers

Gich in 1970, but turned

was an extremely

by Samaranch in 1976 and then by

the RFEF Presidency

The RFEF Presidents

men,

record,

chosen

connections

personalities

of leadership.

rather

by the

These leaders

obviously

of the Spanish national

domestic

competetions

Of the

team, and rarely

them were won by one of

Four",
another

Although
follow,

that

illustration

managed to organize

disputed

Spain's

gianlfour

during

Franco

the

years,

"Big

'The

or,

contested,

60 of

Real Madrid,

clubs,

de Madrid.

and Atletico

monopoly of success

the

football

won 80% of the trophies

way, their

once every five

and cups

de Bilbao

Athletic

therefore,

performances

efficiently.

73 leagues

FC Barcelona,

the international

prejudiced

expressed

was broken by a smaller

in

club only

years.

"Big

the

Four"

clubs

it

seems appropriate

of

the

feature

will
this

at

political

character

a special

study

heavily
to

point
of

in

the

chapters

a brief

offer

each one during

the

Franco

years.

In particular,
Real Madrid club

should

study would be required

that

club during

section

be made here.
to explain

the Franco period.

is to offer

a brief

on the other

and manipulation".

43.
44.

Author's
Author's

hand,

Indeed,

fully

significance

an entire

the political

The objective

and conscious

the "defenceless

victim

with
with

played

by

considering

Real,

team of the regime", 43

of Francoist

Manuel Vzquez Montalbn.

Jose Maria Lorente.

44

monographic
role

for

""

interview
interview

of the

of the following

resume of the reasons

on the one hand, to be the "proud

or,

of the political

exploitation

This is a debate
and dinner
the

tables,

domineering

figure

According

to

number

sports

of

the

to do with

his

supporters

of

great

Bernabeu
lent

Garcia

to

the

firstly,

because of this

benefited

from partial

his

in

death

supporters

but

regime,

leader

rather

J.

who clearly

regime,

which

that

that

such

fifthly,

48

Botines,
took

helped

advantage

Real

of the club;

to achieve

to the

dominated
that

who

secondly,
were also

fourthly,

that

the RFEF and thus

the club

consciously

Madrid sports
This is the view of the majority
of veteran
journalists,
for example Jose Maria Lorente,
Rodolfo
Belarmino
de
la
Gil
Vega "Gilera",
Enrique
Marca,
"Belarmo"
and
of
as well
interviewed
Real Madrid supporters
by the
of most of the veteran
author.

46. Author's
47. Author's

interview
interview

48. Author's

interview

with Manuel Vazquez Montalbn.

with Julian Garcia Candau.
with

Alex J. Botines.
45

of

and was proud of the

and most of his ministers;

referees;

as Manuel

Bernabeu was a Francoist

leadership

support,

everything

Cup victories.

the club cultivated

official

whose

to many

journalists
and Alex

and a good

According

sports

for

1978.

was a charismatic

Franco

Bernabeu,

Real

of

of the Real members and supporters

of the Franco himself

support

fortunes

Madrid

European

Franco in his

majority

thirdly,

Santiago

always

1943 until
Real

of Spanish bars

Bernabeu and Real may be reduced

accusations:

the great

the

Francoist

by the

club

against

to emulate

over

Candau47

significant

attempted

is

and imagination.

+6 Julian

five

45.

the

and critical

following

Real,

do with

in thousands

figure

45 Bernabeu

clubs

politically

Francoists;

of

was an obvious

The arguments

that

majority

to

other

however,

five

from

own commitment

Montalbn,

their

who presided

journalists,

Vazquez

favours

central

years,

had nothing

success

the

and the

thirty-five

remarkable

has been held

that

as

itself

allowed
the

general

Francoist

history

to

regard

a provincial

in

capital,

Real

of

his

father

the

Civil

in

for

the

period
at

the

diplomatic

he took

refuge
In

as a Lieutenant

afterwards
Grandes.

position

both

of

beginning

his

support

Franco.

The

Madrid.

His

1912-

1927,

and afterwards

as trainer,

club.

His

administrative
farm

with

1938,

Bernabeu

army.

command of

of Catalonia

French

from

Madrid

took

Alonso

Vega,

part
and

Munoz

and the boardroom of

in September 1943.

Bernabeu's

of

He then

Camilo

to Madrid

the

escape

General Agustin

with

he returned

to

from

outbreak

in

friends

managed

Nationalist

the

to confirm

Real

the

at

he inherited

Upon the

means.

several

the

which

post

political
revealing

This personal
sympathies.
statements

over

example:

"I am not political.

In the war I was a volunteer
against
ism, and I would be again now, in spite
of my age. "49

Bernabeu also

time

centre-forward

he made a number of politically

for

in

Law himself

independent

in

for

personal

up by playing

long presidency

sufficient

Furthermore,
the years,

the conflict,

his

confirm

the

of

taken

Cuenca under

in the invasion
After

is

of

study

700 hectares

and the

two years.

conquest

to

was mostly

made him a man of

and enlist

history

improve

to

order

a brief

he studied

lawyer,

Finance

War,

embassy

Real,

in

regime

concrete

charge,

enough

and director

Ministry

the

is

however,

Madrid

secretary

in

and the

first

the

Bernabeu

of

son of

for

image

overseas

Franco

Spain.

With

the

be used by the

to

followed

49. Quoted in Garcia

the Francoist

Candau, op. cit.,

46

line

in expressing

p. 92.

contempt

Commun-

for

the

regionalist

In

movements.

by declaring

to Murcia

of the above,

sympathies

of Bernabeu.

he provoked

a bitter

controversy

Deportiva:

I don't like Catalonia

are not correct.
in spite of the Catalans. "s"

"Those who say that

her and admire her,
Given all

1968,

July

can be little

there

I love

doubt about the political

to emulate Franco,

attempted

actually
According

The answer to the question

to Julian

Garcia

however,

he

of whether

is far

less

clear

cut.

Candau:

"Bernabeu wanted to emulate Franco in many things

In
postwar
...
Spain, from the stadium of the six European Cups, t, e, gd as much
to impose Francois'fI1the
and tried
power as any minister,
world
of sport. " 51
Francisco
Franco

Cercedo likened

in the following

Bernabeu's

of leadership

style

to that

of

way:

"Bernabeu has managed to make his leadership

and
unquestionable,
that every discomformity
with his management be identified
as an
attack on the most profound essences of the club. " 52
debate has far

This particular

as have done both Garcia

be argued,

was as sensitive
Bernabeu,

with

the interest

leadership
for

debate

50.
51.

example, he reacted
coach Miguel
have the best

turns

Murcia
Garcia

of the club,

leadership

its

attention

interest

attack

angrily

oz,
Mu

identified

itself.

of his

at heart".

however,

52. Cerecedo, op. cits.,

Posible,
No. 3,15
53. Quoted in Marca, 17 March 1974.

July

December 1974.

on his

of
people

When the

the arguments of

1986.

and

In March

dismissal

53

can

Bernabeu

then "badly-intentioned

(Murcia)
Deportiva,
No. 416,27
Candau, op. cit.,
p. 92.

It

intimately

himself

on the club

of the club

to the deeds,

that

to make every attack

to critics

calling

47

than deeds.

as was the dictator,

and attempted

appear as a malevolent

long-serving
who don't

on his

to attacks

style

Candau and Cerecedo,

in the same way as Franco,

that

1974,

more to do with

Candau and Cerecedo lose

Garcia

which Bernabeu can be said

to have taken in order

rule

of Social

Discipline".

or who jeered

who threw missiles

supporters

Bernabeu himself

losing.

measure

to safeguard

his

for

example,
vjkQ s
own team they were

at their

was not a member of this

"Commission

to discipline

Commission was established

This

members, to suspend from membership,

misbehaving

concrete

in 1954, of the Real Madrid

was the creation,

continued

The only

strength.

Commission,

and a

is
It
club.
other
every
practically
sub-committee existed at
similar
discp
',ne
the
that this Commissio; i some of Bernabeu's opponents within
possible
but to suggest

club,

designed

to stifle

main reasons:

secondly,

Raimundo Saporta
succeed their

masters,

Carrero

Blanco,

but who, for

Bernabeu certainly

methods of Franco in order

three

ages and years of power roughly

because they both had loyal

completely

different

to

reasons,

seen, Bernabeu had fought

war, and was clearly

did not need, however,

to maintain

men in

right-hand

both of whom were expected

as already

in the civil

the Nationalists

Franco.

because their

and Luis

for

suggestion

Bernabeu and Franco were compared for

did not do so; thirdly,

eventually
for

is to make an exaggerated

opposition

firstly,

instrument

the Commission was a represive

is no evidence.

which there

coincided;

that

a supporter

to resort

power at Real Madrid

of

to the
for

so many

years.

With regard
supporters

to the claim

were also

Francoists,

that

the great

54 it

majority

is extremely

Real
of

difficult

to offer

54. This claim has been made to the author in interviews

with, for
Juliian Garcia
example, Manuel Vzquez Montalban, Alex J. Botines,
Candau, the former FC Barcelona player Carlos Rexach, the former
de Bilbao players and coaches Irraki Sez, Jose Angel Iribar
Athletic
and Javier Clemente.
48

evidence

any concrete

War Real

Civil
football

was generally
in

club

the

club. 55

followers

appear

socialist

and republicans
towards

the

towards
the

cannot be supported

on his

out that

of

Franco,

which

San Sebastian.

Another

Bernabeu,

cheaper than for

impossible

for

a visitor

support
political

in itself

Real on this

matter

President

support

for+he

for

does not signify

of the Real followers.

is predictably

i
Ramon

but the same

any other

that

to the Bernabeu during

obviously

sympathies

is

or Barcaa home matches.

the immense lower class

notice

current

Atl

factor

with

stadium,

and Real Sociedad de

de Bilbao

Athletic

complicating

tico

lend

Franco was always received

very cheap tickets

of providing

a policy

the

by any statistical

to the Estadio

visits

those of FC Barcelona,

Real

majority

would perhaps have happened had he chosen to visit

except

and slightly

War seemed to

Civil

the

monarchist

republican

the

before

5'

Atletico.

could be pointed

cheers and applause

right-wing

period,

who survived

however,

This claim,
It

as the

to have been favourable

support

evidence.

Franco

Since

support.

and Atletico

the

During

in

or

regarded

capital,

socialist

football

against

either

Real have always had

working
It

would have been

the Franco years

the club,

although

not to

this

about the

anything
The official

non-committal.

far

classes,

response

As pointed

from

out by

Mendoza:

directors
"Amongst our supporters,
and members, there have been
persuasion.
and are individuals
of the most varied political

55. Garcia Candau, op. cit.,

p. 50.
56. This view is shared by many Mad id sports journalists,
as well as
Madrid Vice-President,
Javier Castedo, the former Atl4ico
and the
former Atletico
players Enrique Collar and Luis Aragongs.
49

The third
proud

the

of

Neither

side

support

for

claim

in

Franco

of

support

revealed

Jose Solis

Goni and Juan Jose Roson. 59

attended

matches at the Bernabeu,

Ciudad Deportiva sports

Cacrere

facilities.

leaders.

Camilo

Luis1Blanco,
Real

the

above,

not

Real

it

would

Ruiz,

the
that

Gregorio

All

of these
ve
and made of the

Alonso

to

list

Fraga,

Tomas

regime men regularly

impressive

club's

the military

frequently

the

following

the

Astray

Millan

regime

were
the

seen alongside

in the VIP box at the Bernabeu.

be easier

regime

Lopez Bravo,

Vega and Jose

and were

of

of

Manuel

members:

58

ministers.
level

all

In additiony

supporters,

ministers

above-mentioned

Real

paid-up

Garicano

committed

high

archives

Fernando Mari Castiella,

all

deny

The club

fully

his

of

to

were

encouraged and was

and most

attempts

Franco

it

that

debate

this

Real.

is

the club

against

personal

of

ministers

you have to be

Real Madrid does not mean that

left,
right or centre. "57

Supporting
politically

Given all

of

who were

personalities

supporters.

W4
With
also

regard

a Real

matches

the

supporter.

and the

Bernabeu.

to

It

is

annual

dictator
He only
final

popularly

of

held,

himself,
attended
his

the

important

own cup,

however,

popular

always

that

that

vie

he was

international
held

in

the

he always followed

Estadio

the

57. Quoted in As, 27 November 1985.

58.

for
This claim has been made to the author, in interviews
with,
Garcia Candau, Manuel Vazquez Montapn,
Alex J.
example Julian
Clemente,
Agusti
Botines,
Jose Angel Iribar,
Javier
Montal,
and the
.
Casaus.
FC Barcelona
Nicolau
Vice-President
current

59. Revealed by an examination

of the archives

50

of Real Madrid.

fortunes
that

Real

of

and his

Franco

question,

60

on television.

if

the

club

doubt,

can be little

was proud

of

therefore,

The important

followers.

were Real

ministers
is

however,

There

regime

and encouragejthis

support.

The answer to this

sir

= -- -

question

appears to be affirmative

in both aspects.

The club
letters,

this

encouraged

personally

signed

and then informally

inviting

With regard

of Real Madrid

then to return

the following

from Foreign

produced

the club

the official
at the club

and quotations

hospitality

in response

received.

Minister

to some fulsome

It
have

could
Boletin

by the many

from the

in November 1959, when the Boletin

reflected
editorial

in question,

whenever they wanted. 61

of pride,

photographs

about the splendid

invitation

official

to the ministers

the satisfaction

offering

visitors

was most clearly

club

by Bernabeu,

to the question

reveals

visits,

ministerial
contented

by sending

to imagine how much more encouragement

is difficult
offered.

support

This

pride

included

remarks about

the

Fernando Maria Castiella:

"Now, when the works of a minister

of Spain point
out quite
importance
the
national
of the sporting
mission
of Real
clearly
it as a great
judging
life
Madrid,
event in the everyday
and hopes
that we are able to feel
proud of
we believe
of the Spanish people,
that we have achieved
up to the present. "62
everything

Real Madrid
presented
list

also

felt

the club

very proud when the various

with

all

regime ministries

manner of awards and decorations.

of these honours was always prominently

placed

The full

in any of the

60. See, for example, Garcia Candau, op. cit.,

p. 50.
61. Revealed by examination of the archives of Real Madrid, Cop. citJ
del Real Madrid CF, No. 112, November 1959.
62. Boletin

51

official

In spite

could do about this

the club
unpleasant

incidents

Jose Millan

Astray,

is

regime

possible

still

the there

argument to the effect

convincing

it

however,

this,

of all

examples 75 Afios del Real Madrid. 63

for

club histories,

War hero reacted

The Civil

Bernabeu's

former

Astray

and ordered

Council

of Ministers,

refused

to offer

him not
years

to return

later,

for

Bernabeu should only

give

These two incidents,

however,

regime who visited

could be interpreted

the, Real Madrid

as evidence

Within

the regime.

63.75

Aos del Real Madrid,

only

52

in the

Bernabeu had

that

the stadium
and that

to prove that

stadium.

Indeed,

these

privileged

1977, p. 14.

Bernabeu did

of the Franco

representatives

of Bernabeu's

Madrid,

was also

of honour to Franco himself.

serve

important

It

in the VIPS box. Munoz Grandes

Agriculture

up the seat

not have to bow down to less

that

rank on

Cavestany

than to the Spanish State,

to Real Madrid rather

diplomat.

by

who pulled

Rafael

complained

for

challenging

to the stadium.

upbraided

him the seat of honour

Minister

Astray

resolved

Munoz Grandes,

when the latter

reminded the Falangist

Millar

of a prominent

was finally

The matter

were

Agriculture

to the expulsion,

angrily

there

for

the Minister

of the wife

commander General

Munoz Grandes, who, four

belonged

kissing

duel.

Bernabeu to a pistol

Milln

his

with

a scandal

creating

that

War hero General

Cavestany. - In March 1955, Bernabeu expelled

Rafael

nothing

Furthermore,

between Bernabeu and the Civil

with

was absolutely

support.

and afterwards

to present

incidents
position

to the fourth

With regard
dominated

first-be

should
no less

pointed

than

twelve

the

with

from

1979,

1949, to

Gregorio

1963 to

1977,

club

Paunero

on the

superiority

and the

is

not

influential.

Basque

several

have

campaigns

hard

been

launched

evidence

Nevertheless,

none of

unfair

The biggest
REEF during

of

the

club

in

by the

these

Given

lack

most

newspapers.

domination

organized
campaigns

club
'4

by Dicen
has turned

member,

besides

this

numerical

in

the

the

within

magazine

highly
in

the

Barra

and

several
an

RFEF, the

in

from

President

Indeed,

the

RFEF

unequivocally

newspapers
of

years

Real

as being

was regarded

Catalan

the

democracy

of

FC Barcelona

regional

Real's
that

the

Franco

addition,

RFEF.

and the
the

the

representative

has been expressed

and other

one being

of

of

it

Introduction,

this

as RFEF Vice

had another

it

that

preference,

was a paid-up

served

representatives

controversial

proof

Paunero

newspapers,

sports

Ramirez,

committee

opinion

in

In

come extent.

Andres

that

partisan

during

RFEF Presidents

always

surprising

This

Barcelona

uncover

Real

of

RFEF, it

in

executive

from

as seen earlier

to

club

Vice-President

Real

that,

out

of, the

six

were connected
secretary

benefited

RFEF and therefore

the

Madrid,

against"Real

allegation

attempt
most

autumn

of

1977.65

up any substantial

practices.

source

of controversy

the Franco years

concerning

was, without

doubt,

Real Madrid
the referees.

64. See, for example Barca No. 760,9 June 1970, El

14 November 1973; Bar a No. 1006,24
Deportivo,
330
April 1979;
1977;
Sport,,
Dicen, 21 February
4 October 1979; La-Gaceta del Norte, 10 January
April 1981; El Heraldo de Aragon (Zaragoza),
2 December 1982.
65. See Dicen, from 27 September-24 October 1977.

53

to

and the
It

has

Mundo
February 1975;
El Mundo Deportivo,
1981; Dicen, 23

in Catalonia,

always been alleged

their

the club

allegations,

claiming

Examination
football

big

example,
final

clubs,
the

provoked
protest

strong

It

that

6B

Madrid.

others,

howevers,

occasionally

at

a shower
from

appears that

the

of

Antonio

of

missiles

Real Madrid and

certain

RFEF, the

indeed

DND, and the

for

to have

appear

to have

appear
expense
Rigo
from

to

no evidence

Some referees,

ambitious

towards
the

Real

in

another

In June 1968,

FC Barcelona

Real

these

Emilio

example

favoured

major

support

favoured

Real.

of

referees

in particular,

one of the big clubs

placed

on the UEFA and FIFA lists,

supporters

with

decided

in

the

of
for
cup

and a

deliberately

the objectives

and thus handling

lucrative

to

of being
European

October
1977, El Mundo
Dicen 27 September-24
See for example:
10 January 1981.
4 October
1979; La Gaceta del Norte,
Deportivo,
in interviews
for
This claim has also been made to the author
with,
Casaus, Jose Angel Iribar,
Nicolau
Alex J. Botines
and
example,
Clemente.
Javier

October
67. See, for example; Marca, 15 June 1977,23
1981; As, 11 September 1978 and 24 October 1978.
shared by Raimundo Saporta.
68.

these

ridiculed

Bernabeu.

favour

66.

is

there

de Mendivil,

partiality

contributed

and cups. 66

the

of

Ortiz

and Juan
matches,

crucial

archives

Real

against

allegations

of

evidence. 67

the

reveals

clubs

Gureceta

of

refereeing

they were based on envy and frustration

that

than on concrete

rather

substantially

have consistently

of the capital

press

and the other

from partisan

partisanship

so many leagues

winning

the sporting

the

this

and that

matches,

towards

benefited

Real systematically

that

regions,

the Basque Country

Revealed by examination
of
de Madrid,
Madrid,
Atletico

the archives
FC Barcelona,

54

of

1978 and 17 May

This view is also

the DND, the RFEF, Real

de Bilbao.
and Athletic

and international

on these lists

be placed

referee

however,

to upset-another,

operated

a bizarre

per season whom it

the smaller
Valladolid

themselves

they-believed

were largely

clubs

irrefutable

The only

have been generally

referees

to be the case.

continues
up high

on the

Another
from their

for

vociferously

complained

poor

by European

This explains

is alleged

area in which it

influence

whenever

is that

standards,

Spanish
and this

why so few of them have risen

these finals

even on the six

thus converting

Nevertheless,

Real Madrid benefited

were always played

occasions

the occasion

it

that

the RFEF was the venue of the cup finals.

within

into

at the Estadio

when Real was one of the finalists,

an effective

can be argued that

55

or

the modest

of partiality,

about the whole issue

very

by Murcia

example,

UEFA and FIFA list.

From 1947 onwards,

Bernabeu,

done at the expense of

in silence.

to suffer

fact

but

in the path of an ambitious

obstacle

to be the victim

forced

its

many

in particular,

This was obviously

the "Big Four"

Thus whilst

can

always meant

and therefore

ambitions,

because to be blacklisted,

was not a serious

referee.

whereby every club

one of the big clubs

the others.

clubs,

The RFEF has always

clubs.

system,

referee,

by one of the "Big Four" clubs

appeared to favour
offending

without

Four"

was often

does not want to have handling

international

the end of a-referee's

referees

of an ambitious

of the "Big

To be blacklisted

matches.

a certain

from one of the big clubs

and unique recusacion

name one referee

that

recommendation

was not in the interests

It

sufficient.

A strong

matches.

home match.

these cup finals

were played

in

Bernabeu

the

because

not

the

RFEF was dominated

the

shape

1941,

that
70

Madrid.
the

in

teams

the

in

defeated

Furthermore,

final

in

the

general

the

benefited

being

domination

club's

this

that,

69.

of

does not

many domestic

the

pointed

of

Real

Franco

therefore,
of

were

Furthermore,
out

in

this

This view is shared by Raimundo

Perez Pays, and Pablo Porta.

it

did

Saporta,

with

71

the

Madrid
Six

of

the

club,

in

factor

be taken

Benito

by

and from

the

real.

connected

cup

Madrid

referees

than

Introduction,

the

win

Real

Indeed,

should

and so

and unjust.

the

to have been an important

opposing

stripped

that

cup finals.

years

in

four

than

was partially

RFEF was more apparent

the

was

surprisingly

when Real

partiality

the

of

were

was inevitable

conclude,

the

injustice

of

on no less

victory

triumph

alleged

venue

appeared

successes.

as already

the

the

during

RFEF Presidents
but

to

from

greatly

that

two occasions

merit

their

difficult

very

Bernabeu

the

it

because

because

on by a sense

result

in

be held

even be argued

could

Real,

against

own supporters
on the

that

opinion

is

It

Bernabeu,

the

it

Indeed,

worked

with

their

of

Paris.

venue

March

same as Wembley Stadium

the

city,

in

should

as the

was chosen

in

regime,

The DND ruled,

competition

were spurred

hard,

front

occasions.

the

finals

six

especially

played

in

actually

centralism

sporting

capital

des Princes

Parc

or

the

69

because

Franco

centralist

Movimiento.

every

RFEF, but

the

completely

Bernabeu

in

stadium

this

that

of

The Estadio

largest

London

final

the

by the

DND and the

the

of

dominated

Real

into

influence

Castejon,

the

Real's
account
the

of

Jose

Luis

70. Revealed by examination of the archives of the DND.

71. This opinion was cautiously
expressed, for example, by El Mundo
25 June 1962, and by Dicen, 19 June 1975.
Deportivo,

56

clubs

as a whole
that

and also
of

Santiago

the RFEF that

executive

coaittee

occurred
Benito

Bernabeu

Real

ieetings.

Rico

Martinez,

was directed

against

President

The fifth
deliberately

and final
allowed

the Foreign

its

been suited

such unprecedented

from

Jose

against

Luis

diplomatic

Pay,

from

successes

another

position

of

RFEF

1970 to 1974.

it

to be exploited

the poor

Francois

Real director

The second boycott

Real Madrid is that

both

actions

boycott

former

the

Perez

and ran

to improve

order

of

years,

and

assemblies

annual

1963 to 1966.

connections,

general

Spain. 72

by

overseas

The way in

of the club helped the Franco regime has

which the overseas victories

best

The first

many international

in

ministry,

image and concrete

its

unpopular

claim

by the

boycotted

and lasted
the

Franco

the

so exasperated

the presidency

against

Real Madrid

with

was twice

actually

as a protest

during

RFEF was minimal

the

within

up by Alex

J.

Botines:

"Real Madrid has been, for years,

the club that has best served
the regime.
Real Madrid has paraded across the whole continent
the importance
with
of a country which has a forced evaluation
found in Real
Our sub-development
European.
regard to everything
Madrid an exception
to go abroad "with
Spaniards
which allowed
bead held high" 73

Neither

supporters

validity

of this

nor critics
assertion.

of the club have attempted

The questions

Real Madrid served as an aabassador for

be dealt

with in detail

debate here,

in this

of how and to what extent

the Franco regime,

in Chapter Seven rather

brief

discussion

to deny the

than here.

of the general

however, will
what is in

political

72. This claim has been made to the author in interviews

pr
with,
Garcia Candau, Manuel Vazquez
example, Miguel Vidal
of As, Julin
Montalbin,
Clemente.
Nicolau
Casaus, Jose Angel Iribar,
and Javier
73. Botines,
op. cit.,
p. 71.

57

the regime in this

of helping

proud,

in this

The key figure

President

who,

Fernando
about

Maria

how the

travelling
these

instructions

club

could

abroad. '4

instructions,

from his

but

has not

does not

Candau,

the

from

image of

that

the

1957 to 1969,

club

when

country

to deny the
the

to

and Real member

Minister

attempted

accept

the Real Vice-

used regularly

friend

close

Foreign

improve

help

Saporta

by the Franco

manipulated

Garcia

Franco's

Castiella,

even

way.

debate is Raimundo Saporta,

to Julin

according

detailed

receive

is whether the club was conscious,

of Real Madrid,

significance

of

existence

was systematically

regime.

is true that Castiella

"It
trips
used to advise me before certain
but only about strict
for example how
abroad,
matters
of protocol,
It is ridiculous
to suggest
to address particular
Heads of State.
As
that Real Madrid was the ambassador of the Franco regime.
himself
Castiella
we were the ambassadors for Spain as a
said,
But no strict
political
whole, and obviously
proud of being so.
interpretation
Real Madrid improved the
can be placed on this.
image of Spain by winning
the European Cup six times with
overseas
football,
wherever
attractive
causing
queues for tickets
attacking
If Spain at the time had a government of the Centre or
we played.
the Left,
then they would have basked in the reflected
glory of our
in the same way as the Franco government did.
triumphs
This is
what every government of whatever kind does when its sportsmen are
Whatever the case, I can certainly
successful.
assure you that
Real Madrid would have behaved exactly
the same abroad whatever
Spain had in the 1950s and 1960s. "74
government

Saporta's

resolve.

arguments

Even if

aabassador for
particular,

74. Author's

in

it

can be said

were true

Spain in general
itself

interview

that

to raise

claim

than for
as shall

with RaimundoSaporta,

58

than

they

Real was proud of being an

rather

a debateable

more questions

the Franco regime in

shortly

be seen,

for

the

Europe

the

case

of
of

benefit

the

Madrid

from

most

letters

received

from

for

regime,

in

a laudatory
his

the

from

of

the

Ministry
Real

however,

on its

Delegado
at his

Nacional
El

many
of

ambassadorial
the

about

subject,

following

the

Elola

Pardo

the

the

institutions

spoke
in

both

for

reproduced

splendid

often

that

suggest

an ambassador

when he responded

1960,

that

of
to

and other

obviously

government

proudly

Bernabeu

will

In

image of

overseas

which

being

Foreign

the

the

evidence,

Boletin

see Franco

to

is

Franco.

signified

improve

The club

Santiago

December

speech

many visits

enough

congratulating

Furthermore,

example

improvement
is

largely

institution

the

and proud

was conscious
regime.

work.?

to

There

and the

Franco

team helping

this

country

the

Spain

country,

country.

particular
Real

a sporting

ostracized

generally

and 1960s,

1950s

the

way to

during

01aso,

one of

residence:

" Your Excellency:

the pleasing words of our Delegado Nacional de
because, although humble, our
Deportes fill
us with satisfaction,
love and duty for
club has, as indeed we all have, a deep-rooted
for and findings,
our country,
and the idea of looking
with
whatever pretext,
something that is useful for the glory and
of Spain, is profoundly
prestige
etched into our awareness. "76
Bernabeu
with
the

Pedro
praise

was for

Rodriguez
heaped

more explicit
of

Arriba,,

upon Real

eight
expressing

Madrid

years
the

by Franco's

later,
pride
Foreign

in

an interview

caused

in

him by

Minister.

"Do you know, Rodriguez,

Minister?...
Yes,
who is the Foreign
Castiella.
Have you read what he has said about Real Madrid?
Here
is the cutting.
"Real Madrid is a complete
Senor Castiella
says:
Its players
are authentic
ambassadors
style.
of
sporting
" These are the things
that give us strength.
"77
sportsmanship.

n
del Real Madrid CF, No. 28, October
75. See, for example, Bolet
and No. 132, May 1961.
del Real Madrid CF, No. 128, January 1961.
76. Boletin
26 December 1968.
77. Quoted in Arriba,

59

1953,

It

be argued that

could

Real was proud of serving

It

the Franco regime.

"the

Castiella,

It'is

arrived

conclusions

Introduction

this
the

at

Franco

but

to

retain

order

obviously
of his

does not exist;

the

although

that-Real

of the referees;

ambassador for

club's
Real.

This

is

Bernabeu
methods

Real

of

Real

of

during

Madrid

was an obvious

of

proof

the

in

dictator
were

of

this

of Franco and of most

that

the club

did not benefit

did not

from the systematic

Real was a conscious

and proud

significance,
the opinion

this

brief

opinions,
following

of Francisco

introductory
a radical

by the official

debate

critique

about

of the

response

Cerecedo about the club

from

during

the Franco years:

it is necessary to do justice
"Even at the risk of flattery,
by
institution
that Real Madrid has been the non-official
affirming

in

presented

supporters

definitive

was the club

to terminate

two contrasting

with

political

that

Minister

both Spain and the Franco regime.

is possible

Real Madrid

the

majority

the RFEF, and consequently

partiality

It

the

that

are:

and was proud of being so;

ministers,

dominate

that

Seven how

the different

evidence

significance

imitate

to

limited

the

of

conclusions

Francoists,

also

probably

power;

Spain and

in Chapter

to draw together

point

political

he had no need

that

we have sent abroad. ""

light

the

the

These

years.

Francoist,

in

about

ambassador both for

as, in the words of Foreign

served

at. this

of the fact

proof

to be seen in detail

remains

best embassy that

appropriate

sufficient

as an effective

the club

and to what extent

is

this

78. Quoted by Julian Garcia Candau, "Cuarenta aflos del nationalfutbolismo,

El Pais Semanal, 27 February 1977.
60

itself
identified
has
with, and the most brilliant
most
which
Not even its most convinced
services has lent to, the regime.
Everybody can see the innumerable
enemies could dispute this.
and congratulations
awards, decorations
which have been
official
bestowed upon the club over the years. "79

of the club,

The Vice-President
now, however,

holds

not surprisingly

both during

the Franco period

a different

view:

and

"Real Madrid is and has been apolitical.

It has always been so
powerful because of being at the service of the vertebral
column
When it was founded in 1902, it respected Alfonso
of the State.
in 1931 the Republic,
it
XIII,
in 1939 the Generalisimo,
now
and
respects his majesty Don Juan Carlos.
This is because it is a
disciplined
club, which obeys the institutions
that leads the
"80
nation with loyalty.

is

It

Barcelona,

necessary

not

the bitter

examined in detail
a brief

considered

domestic

trophies,

or much financial
Catalan

on, to some extent

six

million

79. From Cerecedo,

80.
81.

Eight.

sketch
supported

in the world. "ei

club

region's

in Chapter

to be the best

such

an exhaustive

club during

introductory

football

effective

offer

of Real Madrid,

rival

of the Catalan

significance

offer

to

In

national
or other,

It

is only

of the general

spite

of all

nature

op. cit.

61

of Bam a,

1978.

powerful

the European cups and

as many supporters
has served

team, and as such is

inhabitants.

here to

appropriate

and most economically

the support

3 December
Quoted in El Pals,
March 1984.
World Soccer,

be

the Franco years will

because the latter

football

FC

of

because the political

Real Madrid has never had either

power as Bam,

study

of practically

able
all

as the

to count

of that

between

The struggle
one of

the

fought

at

the

levels:
two giant

country's

between

struggle
as political
seen in
wing

features

central
three

the

as a purely

football

clubs;

between

struggle

a club

sporting

as a regionalist

the

years,

Franco

and

summed up by Alex

was astutely

be

to be rightliberal

being

of

thirdly,

as shall

considered

image

the

between

struggle

and Catalonia;

generally

has been

struggle

Castille

during

with

This

secondly,

representing

and another
This

anti-Francoist.

football.

been

has always

and FC Barcelona

Spanish

especially

Eight,

and Francoist,

of

Madrid

firstly,

clubs

struggle,

Chapter

Real

J.

Botines:
in Spanish football
is that
in
"What is very clear
the game is,
Real Madrid represents
confrontation.
a weekly political
reality,
knows it;
Barca represents
supporter
and the Barcelona
something,
also knows it. "82
and the Real Madrid supporter
else,
something

The enormous support

has never been translated
club

that

claims

to the persecution
Nevertheless,

this

the 1960s,

Until
Catalan

Catalonia

players,

this

lack

into

consistent

success

on the field.

of success was due, during

and unfavorable

treatment

is not the only

of all

reason that

supplemented

by three

In the early

or four

The

the Franco period,

things

Catalan. 83

can be put forward.

the Barca team was formed by a majority

or from abroad.

however,

and economic power of FC Barcelona,

stars

of Local

from outside

1960s, however,

this

policy

changed.

82.
83.

From Botines,
op. cit.,
This claim was made to
Rexach.
and Caries

p.
the

71.
author

62

by Agusti

Montal,

Nicolau

Casaus

but

controversy,
Catalan

stars.

1984.

FC Barcelona
of

their

failure

to

final

in Seville.

achiever

Catalan

Steaua

that

although

and socially

during

especially

however,

conflict;

acquired

in their

officially

songs

such

frustration
wards,

for

Catalan

in

Espina

a loathing

wave the illegal

Cup

lost

FC Barcelona

the Civil

War,
"85

After

the

Catalan,

the

significance.

Camp Nou stadia

and Els

Sepadors,

sing

outlawed

channel

and,

flag

offered

to congregate

of Catalans

national

things

and social

political

tongue,

63

by

1986 European

the

of all

Mother

84. World Soccer, March 1984.

85. Artells,
op. cit.

under-

was confirmed

the Autonomy Statute.

of Real Madrid,

Catalan

"great

institutions.

and afterwards

thousands

1961

from

become one of the most

before

sentiment

crucial

forbidden,

as La Santa

into

period

reputation

because of the repression

The matches in the Les Corts

opportunity

23-years

old

the Barca team has gradually

for

the agitation

an absolutely

regular

league

Bucharest

sigificant

of Catalan

the

Spanish

the club has gradually,

was a dynamic centre

club

modest

character,

politically

84 and this

football",
beat

the

and

than

became known as the

gradually

is paradoxical

It
its

one occasion

on only

world

during

on

who demonstrated

effect

won the

RAqa

massively

them scandal

with

to better

few performed

consequence,

to-spend

player

brought

names often

very
In

championship
to

big

These

potential.

any, Spanish

and buying

foreigners

importing

began

Barra

had seen,

team Spain

cosmopolitan

the most

to emulate the success of Real Madrid with

In an attempt

and speak
traditional

their

political

from the late

the sen era.

1960s on

This

social

and political
Bam

significance

the

Vazquez

Manuel

supporter

of

summed up by the

has been best

club

Montalbn:

institution
that unites the man in the
"Barga is the only legalized
that could have been and never was... This
street with the Catalonia
is as important
as the Monasteryof Montserrat , the
an institution
d' Estudis Catalans or L'Orfeo
Omnium Cultural,
the Institut
Gracienc

"86

The directors,

players

and supporters

frequent

visitors

centre.

The abbot of the monastery,

lock-in

by leading

Catalan

November 1974, Just's

included
a football
club

in assimilating

from southern

into

for

support

religious

was a

the famous December 1970

at Montserrat.

speech to the visiting

about FC Barcelona

both the common place

club",

Just,

and intellectuals

artists

welcoming

and also

Catalan

Dom Cassia

because of his

figure

controversial

the celebrated

to Montserrat,

a reference
Catalan

In

Bar; a party

being

to the crucial

society

have been

of FC Barcelona

"more than just

importance

the thousands

of

the

of immigrants

Spain:

is much more than a football

"Barra
the
club,
although,
naturally,
importance,
have a basic
and Montserrat
results
represents
sporting
One of the most positive
values
and is much more than a monastery.
is that
it helps
in FC Barcelona
the people
from afar,
that I find
to integrate
themselves
the immigrants
parts,
who come from other
is one of the most friendly
into
Bam
Catalonia.
and efficient
with open arms the thousands
and thousands
ways of welcoming
of
for the same
immigrants,
are cheering
a short
while,
who, after
"07
supporters.
as the native
colours

It

was indeed

Bargas

local

rivals,

South began to support

86.
87.

of frustration

a permanent source
that

the great

FC Barcelona

From Vazquez Montalbn,

op.
Quoted in Barga, No. 922,19

majority
instead

to the Espaol
of immigrants

club,

from

the

of themselves. 00

p. 120.
cit.,
November 1974.

88. This frustration

has been expressed to the author by Antonio Baro,
the Espafiol President
since 1971, and several Espafiol supporters.
64

in El Pais Semanal was that

should

years

the character

be best understood

towards

phobia

Perez de Rosas and Alfredo

of Emilio

The conclusion

of the club

as the expression

Relano writing

during

the Franco

of the Catalan's

centralism:

"There has been a phobia

towards
the great phantom to
centralism,
the Catalan
people,
and which makes them look upon Espaol as a
in their
It is a phobia which identified
Real
spectra
own house.
Madrid as another
to
arm of the represion,
as an instrument
image of the state.
the centralist
And it is a phobia
reinforce
(the
from 1939 until
the arrival
that
which forgets
of Di Stefano
Argentine
star whose transfer
provided
a row with political
between FC Barcelona
in 1953, that is
undertones
and Real Madrid)
to
the years of the fiercest
doctrinaire
Francoism,
say during
but Barcelona
Real Madrid did not win the league,
"89
often'did.

is frequently

It
Spain's

In spite

of this

different

clubs.

its

Whilst

Spanish regions,

of a rich

the great

schemes.

success,

but rather
themselves

Whilst

has had a strict

another

to find

Barra

policy

proceeding

90

two more
with

ambitious

patient
formidable

club,

to wait

for

of only

from their

has wanted to present

as, a homely and friendly

into

as Barga was in Catalonia.

from abroad and from the other

majority

sufficiently

of

symbol in

has always been profligate

and internationally

cosmopolitan

always been regarded

convert

1919 Bilbao

Basque players,

youth training

players

the third

a political

would be difficult

it

FC Barcelona

expensive
since

was as potent

the Franco years

however,

claim,;

de Billbao,

Athletic

clubs,

during

money, buying

local

football

"Big Four"

the Basque Country

that

claimed

club,

using

famous

the image
Bilbao

not desperate
the youngsters

has
for
to

team.

89. El Pais Semanal, 12 October 1982.

.0
90. This claim has been made to the author by: InPo
Saez,
Jose Angel
aki
Iribar,
Javier Clemente, many Athletic
de Bilbao supporters,
and
in World Soccer, April
also by Howell Llwellyn
1982.

65

is remarkable

It

that

known, completely

as they are popularly

at the beginning

football

days returned

again,

were frequent

winners

Bilbao

followed

of the success

direct

reason for

of play,

style

style

"Spanish

but with

only

fraction

a tiny

with

of long,

a profusion

high

influence

and

rapid

centres,

a style

at the club

and

be seen in Chapter Two, this

shortly

the mythical,

significant

politically

Fury".

With regard

for

team have already

the club

the conflict,
centralist,

reprressive

Barcelona

in Catalonia.

Beyond their

respective

than Bar a, as evidence

supporters
Barcelona's

clubs

importance

to the political

War support

pre-Civil
Euzkadi

Basque

The other

success has been Bilbao's

this

personified

allegedly

the Civil

and Osasuna de Pamplona, have also

only,

players

As shall

conditions.

Spanish

in the league and

high

were always placed

adopted both because of the huge British

climatic

dominated

of the

by Bilbao.

enjoyed

The major

The "Lions

of the Copa del Generalisimo.

of local

a policy

should

Between then and the 1980s, when the glory

Real Sociedad de San Sebastian

clubs,

talent

in the 1930s until

of the century,

in the 1940s.

War, and again

uses local

de Bilbao.

as has Athletic

have won as many trophies

North",

which only

a club

outside

43 outside

of Athletic

served

as a centre

in this
for

the

and the fund-raising

the Autonomy Statute

been discussed

de Bilbao,

Introduction.

After

Basque dissent

against

the

Franco regime in much the same way as did FC

one big difference.

There was, nonetheless,

regions,

Bilbao

has always

by the Basque club having,

the Basque provinces,
Catalonia.

91

66

It

been far

more popular

in 1968,293

local

compared to FC

has been alleged

that

the

of so many Bilbao

existence

symbol by disaffected

Francoist

between the two clubs

comparison to local
of having a large

majority

socialist

severed in 1922.

of Atletico
during

encouraged their

their

who survived

footballing

children

In
reputation

the great

the Popular Front coalition

the Second Republic. 94

and Republicans

purges maintained

voted for

The

element among its

and Republican

supporters

link

has always had the

Real, Atletico

founded

This original

There is indeed evidence to suggest that

93

the elections
socialists

rivals

de Madrid,

in name and colours.

the similarity

explains

however, was definitely

connection,

supporters.

is Atletico

de Bilbao.

club of Athletic

in 1903'as a nursery

Bilbao

workers across the whole of Spain. '2

of the "Big Four" clubs

The fourth

the Franco years had

because the club was seen as anti-

motive,

political

a partially

clubs during

supporters

It

also seems that

the Civil

allegiance

to do the same, rather

in

the

War and the subsequent

to the club,

and

than being seduced by

the glamour and success of Real.

91. Revealed by examination

of the archives

of Marca.

Javier
This claim was made to the author by Jose Angel Iribar,
For an interesting
Clemente,
op. cit.
account
and Howell Llewellyn,
de Bilbao
Athletic
of one particular
celebrations
of the frenetic
in
Pulpi
the
Almeria province,
that
village
of
of
club,
supporters
in Evaristo
1969,
Acevedo, Carta a los celtiberos
Madrid,
esposados,
pp. 117-118.
This view has been
93. See, for example, Garcia Candau, op. cit.
Javier
Castedo, Luis
to the author by Miguel Vidal,
expressed
de Madrid supporters.
Aragon'es, Enrique Collar,
and by many Atletico
breakdown of Madrid election
94. By means of the detailed
results
by Javier
Tusell
Gmez in La seaunda republica
en Madrid;
offered
Madrid,
1971, pp. 204-220, it
politicos,
y partidos
elecciones
in which the great majority
be seen that the barrios
of
can clearly
lived,
Inclusa
Atletico
namely Latina,
supporters
and Hospital,
were
ground for the Popular Front coalition.
very fertile
92.

67

Franco

former

was the

decorated

many times

for

personalities
but

is

in

sufficient

the

amongst

connected

to

1939,

club

Franco

regime

was taken

over

the

has preferred

Atletico

Aviacion.

from

Minister

Air

Force,

first

two leagues

returning

95

This

list

of

regime

imitation

of

that

of

Real

there

have

directors
the

Madrid,

leadership

the

the

of

tendency

was an oppositional

to

its

the

Spanish

the

Juan
from

option

over

those

account,

it-is

not

club

former

the

after
did

not

win

independent

95. Revealed by examination

all
of

Force,

club

the

the

any further
in

players

April

and use of

trophies

in

perhaps

won the
more

before

1946.

of Atletico

the

Taking

Atletico
is

It

subsidy

serving

Army.

that

Real

becoming

petrol

Spanish

War.

Civil

state

thus

unlimited
of

after

were generous

surprising

of the archives

68

Air

Yage,

In October

way.

independence,

for

choose

contested

was temporarily

Atletico

an institutional

their

General
to

right

into

benefits

that

Air

first

these

surprising

supporter.

Suevos,

by the

to maintain

of

with

in

The advantages

and the

vehicles,

regime

Jesus

that

His

Vicente'Calderon,

Falangist

links,

to these personal

Madrid

the

War.

of

to demonstrate
even if

builder

of

supporters.

In addition

the

itself

Minister

board

Security.
a pale

Francoist;

was clearly

club

is

the

of

to the

Atletico

former

the

Atletico

at

1963 was Javier

1956 to

and a declared

on the

served

and Social

Health

from

hotel

himself

by Franco

been Armando Munoz Calero,

Minister

linked

millionaire

self-made

men who have

the

were closely

and brother

RFEF President

successor

Amongst

President

The Atletico

regime.

Barroso,

however,

directors,

Many Atletico

de Madrid.

The plans

chairmanship

forcing

the

club

Bernabeu

during

Aviacion

and the

provided

the

The lack
Franco

future

to

play

the

With regard
during

the "club
military

early

to the political

instead

the

delighted

but a winning
the vast

consequences

Madrid's
having

stadium

1971,

rivals,

been Atletico
problems
officially

regime

as Real. 96

by the

fact

Real

that

Madrid
to build

plans

might

city.

of-Atletico
that

then it
with

far

and supporters.

of supporters,

that

invitation

Atletico's

their

with

Estadio

de Madrid

had the club

would have become,

more ministers
Without

and

doubt,

tico
element amongst the Atl

team to put Real in the shade would surely

majority

of this

thus

Franco

be concluded

would have annoyed the anti-Francoist

followers,

Navarro,

and also

of Real,

directors

Arias

was being

significance

local

under

of

the

1970s,
of

should

Council,

was demonstrated

September

suburbs

among its

to

the

City

these

Calderon,

the

than its

spite

in

stadium.

Real

Atletico

claim

Vicente

of the regime"
figures

that

in

accept,

it

in

leadership,

this

the Franco period,

enjoyed

In

been as useful

northern

more success

Carlos

home matches

club

in

Madrid

the

1966-1967.

for

to

a new Atletico

Minister

suggestion

had trouble,
in

of

their

new Estadio

new stadium

reticence
Prime

having

not

was pleased

themselves

for

Francoist

foundation

the

Calderon

season

unfounded

of

open

this

of

the

for

obstructed

to

by the

were delayed

1960s
the

Vicente

of

whatever

have

the political

have been.

96. This suggestion was made to the author by several socialist

Atletico
but not by any former player or official
de Madrid supporters,
of
by any journalist.
the club, neither

69

The objective
illustration
Franco

the

of

during

Spanish

single

disappeared.

It

big

daily

Falangist
in

by the

brother

of

almost

thirty

the

in

detail
concepts

Minister
years,

Chapter

of
Marca

Marca's

in

was the

Marca was instrumental

subsequent

because of the creation

97. Edouard de Blaye,

pp. 487-488.

sales

sport

in

the

case.

was the
chain

of

War still

Civil
Cuesta,

Spanish

in

be the

provincial

Justice,

97

however,

Press

Fernandez

best-selling
daily.

to

the

with

in

paper

have since

period

and unpopular
1938,

this

cities,

extensive

and later

purchased

big

about

very

of

continues

the

Manuel

Agriculture

on Spanish

excellent

of

in

Falangist'

copies

Two,

and symbols

was moderated

was founded

leading

400,000

approximately

money-maker

feature

these

the'Franco

the

general

sporting

of
the

of

and this

during

the

was both

one weekly

papers

many dogmatic

Marca

papers.

progress,

big

the

financing

Movimiento,

the

paper

sports

Marca,

sports
figures,

sales

The best-selling
Madrid

daily

during

it

a handful

and only

football

a fraction

only

least

was at

province,

was the
the

obtained

There

has lost

a brief

striking

that

period

offer

examine

The most

Press.

and indeed

to

stage

Franco

the

Spanish

of
this

at

sporting

1975.

since

popularity

which

Spanish

and popular,

extensive

every

necessary

Press

sporting

institutions

major

is

It

years.

character
this

the

of

has been to

Introduction

this

of

the

Raimundo.
newspaper,

For
with

As shall

be seen in

imposing

Falangist

1940s,

an approach

which

years.

figure

of the rival

entered

independent'As

Franco and the Politics

70

a decline

from 1967 onwards,

in Madrid.

of Spain,

It

was

London, 1976,

only

in

Marca

the

the biggest-seller

outsold

Two major

in

In

to

general

of

persistent

The first

a quarter

of
being

Dicen only

and the

second

the
Press,

This
in

sports

two main

to buy one of

the

caused

specialist

triumphalism

the

rigidly

censored
caused

however,

the

rather

tedium

bored

the

of

the

sports

dailies,
of

by the

as possible

many moderate

and triviality

and

most

foreign

information

sports

massive

tedious

areas:

the

of

extremely

censorship

coverage,

to have

is

reason

and as much sporting

appears

political

and staid

immense popularity

the

Spain.

ground

extensive

newspapers

enthusiasts

for

with

capital

non-sporting

safe

problems,
this

for

and Tourism.

seek out

domestic

spite

the

of

Information

of

newspapers
than

itself,

nature

unimaginative
Ministry

Francoist

sport

of

popularity

can be given

reasons

Press

by the old-established

Espanola. 99

by La Vanguardia

sporting

followed

in the Catalan

newspaper sales

papers was the

amongst the sports

Between them, the two accounted

El Mundo Deportivo.

overtake

9e

Dicen closely

sensationalist

ABC and Ya managed to

that

sales

list.

popularity

In Barcelona,

the total

in

decline

this

after

likes

with
of

the

ABC, Ya

and Arriba.

half

Approximately
non-sporting
football
take

the

Press
break,
subject

it

of

the

sports

centered

on football.

was only

very

rarely

the

headlines

matter

of

wr

98. Edouard de Blaye,

99. Edouard de Blaye,

.I

ibid.
ibid.

71

in

coverage
Except
that

both
during

another

the
the

sport

sporting

and

summer
managed to

temporarily
of league

football.

off

and cup battles,

The normal

state

transfers,

injuries,

was a daily

of affairs

controversies

saga

and

scandals.

has been alleged

It
writers

whose work

censors.

100

censorship

was not

Although,
of

the

a strict

Propaganda

Commission

in

the

to

of

Information

of

practice
DND.

the

of

de la

Oficial

journalist

sporting
the

journalism

sports

code

Boletin

the

subjected

Ministry

nonetheless,

rule

that

scrutiny

was not

of

imposed

This

by the

Commission

DND in

Franco's
to

subjected
there

and Tourism,

few

the

was one of

direct

the
was,

Press

and

published

its

golden

1943:

April

forbidden
"It remains absolutely
to publish or print any kind of
criticism
of the Federations,
of national
or regional
character,
and of the actual behavior of its members. "101
Thus it
Francoist

football

authorities,

but

DND ruling

The application
Civil
sports

100.

In

correspondent

suspended
the

the

of

War years.

referees

by the
of

no matter

was slightly

rule

of

the

DND from
the

in

modified

Teruel

his

Aragonese

1943,

work

for

the

whole
in

example,

six

Federation.

101. Boletin
Oficial
de la DND, No. 1, April
102. Revealed by examination of the archives

of

months
In

the

Alfonso

for

in

1969,102

Franco

immediate

the

newspaper

to the author
This opinion
was expressed
"Belarmo",
Rodolfa
Belarmino
and Enrique

72

they made or

1958 and again

rigid

Falangist
for

the

in.

was extremely

November

Press to criticize

what mistakes

same during

the

remained

essentially

the sporting

they became involved

even what corruption

This

for

prohibited

was strictly

period.
post

Bea Martin,
Lucha,

having

March 1952,

the

was
criticized
RFEF

by Jose Maria Lorente,

Gil de la Vega "Gilera".

1943.
of the DND.

the

President

Sancho Davila

Press in general,

In a note to the sporting

ruling.
journalists

from printing

to refrain
and directors

trainers

punishments

about

referees,

as well

the sporting

the 1943 DND

he asked

the declarations

and even rumours of possible

by requesting

concluded

to the full

to exploit

attempted

of players,
about RFEF

as complaints

The note

corruption.

Press to steer

clear

of:

"...

information,
everything
which cannot be considered
correct
avoiding
unfounded
sensationalism
and the diffusion
of news that
the supreme
could serve to upset footballing
unity
and to slight
authority
of the RFEF. "103

The application
This

of

by Manuel

undertaken
1962 to

1969,

the

from

Spanish

Group of

Sporting

Journalists.

by the

Falangist

journalists

to

served

journalism,

in

had done.
obvious

conformity

a far

dependency

of

this

upon the

by Alex

the
This
of

Group,

Marca,
in

by many young

1959,

also

world

of

the
was

predictably,
of

the

which

journalists.

sporting

and

predictably,

way than

Marca

the

Information

and,
the

rigid.

of

in

was obligatory,

DND and the

J.

of

creation,

and effective

Group

has been denounced

particularly

to

Minister

and obedience

more subtle

Membership

dependency
1960s,

maintain

and also

less

loosening

general

Fraga,

Tourism

dominated

became gradually

DND ruling
due to

was partly

relaxation

censorship

the

sporting
DND ruling

created

an

This

journalists

of

the

Botines:

"During
the Franco dictatorship,
journalists
had
we sporting
liberty
neither
of expression
We were
nor professional
autonomy.
to the restrictive
subjected
norms of both the DND and the Group
Journalists,
of Sporting
which meant that any article
criticle
of
the authorities
journalism
or any piece of investigative
was out
journalism
I entered
of the question.
sports
with lots
of hope
but quickly
learn
initiative
that
and illusions,
and imagination

103. Quoted in Viaie

Madrid, 1985.

al centro

de la censura

73

franauista,

Cambio 16,

in this profession.
disadvantages
All that you were
were actually
from all
supposed to do was to report the goals, take quotations
"104
and sundry, and praise the authorities.

has also

It
Franco

years

favourable

book

105

journalist

other
Marco,

the

1966 to
Madrid

cover

17

intermediary

Other

deporte

he alleged

the

European

the

extensive
whilst

Cup semi-final,

journalists

104. Author's

his

he apparently

have privately

recounting
to

is

radio
in

hotel

his

meagre

""

The

Vicente
SER.

chain
in

Milan

In

April

by a Real

bills

surprised

It

claimed

that

has been alleged

brown envelope was occasionally

with

chapter

FC Barcelona.
writing

two

and
the

offer.

than the clubs. 108

interview

issue,

he was approached

to pay all

who offered

the

of

writing

a whole

supplement

in

that,

the

team were paid by the RFEF, and, furthermore,

substantial

105.

for

The same as Botines,

sports

monthly

allegation

del

even more generous

national

this

sport

by refusing

to

espafiol

player"

head of

representative

expenses.

ftbol

the

by only

print

who dedicates

Botines,

during

RFEF for

in

has been put

a generous

put

and the

clubs

ex-international

to have

former

Historias

is
del

estafa

a "great

from

football

these

journalists

many sports

allegation

he refused

as a novice,

salary

This
of

La gran

that

by the

paid

The first

on his

his

were
prose.

writers.

how,

been alleged

the

RFEF,

that

all

the

that a

handed over at the end of

Alex J. Botines.

This allegation
by Julin
was made to the author
Juan Jose Castillo,
Alex J. Botines,
Jose Maria
Herniez,
SER, and Antonio
editor
of Sport.

Garcia
Candau,
Garcia
of radio

106. Botines,
op. cit.,
p. 32.
107. Marco, op. cit.,
p. 98.
108. This claim has been made to the author by Julien Garcia
Jose Maria Garcia. Antonio Hernez, and Miguel Vidal.
74

was

Candau,

the trip.

In order

to receive

these favours,

the sports

were supposed to use every known superlative

hand, use every excuse possible

on the other

or,

or the pitch

violent,

opposition

involved.

President

sufficiently
methods,
ethical

of this

inn their

of

purchasing

or RFEF

President

the Valencia

President

de

Julio

de la Fuente Chaos, Jose Luis

Alfonso

Perez Pay. 109

secure

the

the most generous men were the

that

Bernabeu,

and the RFEF Presidents

Costa and Jose Luis

Other Presidents

were apparently
to these

to not have to resort

positions

or were opposed to the purchasing

of sports

journalists

on

grounds.

In conclusion,
during

it

must be said

the Franco years was a dull

the demands of his

and the Group,

in

Candau,

Jose

the

1960 s,

Maria

the

This claim
Jose` Maria

favours

of radical,
by Francisco

and Alex

J.

Spanish

Barcelona

sports

papers

writer,

obedient

critical

Presidents.

sports

Cerecedo,
Not

national
as a whole

writers

Julian

Garcia

surprisingly,
television
began to

has been made to the author

by Julin
Garcia
Garcia,
Antonio
Hernez,
Vidal.
and Miguel
75

to

of the DND

guidelines

from insecure

Botines.

Marca,

journalist

the average sports

and unimaginative

to

was connected

Furthermore,

headed

Garcia

that

and to the restrictive

a new generation

emerged

these

editor

and eager to accept

Nevertheless,

109.

Santiago

away the

the Spaniards,

against

or the extent

is alleged

It

Real Madrid President

Miguel,

to explain

depended very much upon the club

journalists

sports

the victory,

unfavourable.

the existence

seems that

It

of

being biased

such as the referee

defeat,

to describe

journalists

none
or

radio.

adopt

a new

Candau,

critical

and challenging
from

authorities
in

detail
of

Chapter

the

mid-1960s

Eight,

with

onwards,
regard

to

the

Francoist

especially,
the

allegedly

sporting

as shall

be seen

unjust

treatment

in

FC Barcelona.

By way of concluding
sporting

four

this

brief

illustration

and indeed the Introduction

Press,

to offer

appropriate
into

towards

attitude

Botines's

precise

to this

classification

of the Spanish
thesis,

it

seems

of his colleagues

group:

"There are sports journalists

by
their obligations
who fulfill
the situations;
sensationalizing
others who believe themselves to
it by simply expounding the official
be fulfilling
there
version;
are those who are considered enemies by this footballing
regime
merely by showing themselves to be difficult
on occasions;
and
those, the worst, who wait for a telephone call
there are finally
but rather what those in
in order to write not what they think,
power want to be written. "110

110. Botines,

op. cit.,

p. 33.

76

CHAPTER TWO: FOOTBALL AND FASCISM

of the seven aspects

Francoist

Spain to be discussed
Fascist

application'of
detailed
first

founders

being

with

defending

workers

and eventually

imperialist

plans

expansion

In October

to football,

1930s, with

Primo de Rivera.

more that

traditional

Marxism,

commencing upon

of Spanish Fascism,

Although

differences

united

a
is

it

and an

Hispanic
for

the

a classless
expense

1931, the small,

of

weaker

Valladolid-based

They shared

an obsession

from the peril

that

society,
the

them.

values

State

were

between the three,

and Hitler,

Christian

a totalitarian

create
at

the three

there

than divided

the movements of Mussolini

godless

the regime's

the young demagogues Onesimo Redondo, Ramiro

and tactical

was, ultimately,
for

history

in Spain in the early

ideological

an admiration

Before

in

to sport.

Ledesma and Jose Antonio

considerable

concerns

of these concepts

a brief

attitude

Fascism arrived
principal

thesis

to the game.

concepts

to offer

of its

outline

there

in this

study of the application

necessary

of football

of the politicization

The first

would protect

of
the

and a dream of
nations.

bands of aggressive

young militants

under the leadership

of Redondo and Ledesma combined to

form the Juntas

de Ofensiva

Sindicalista(JONS).

Nacional

77

Exactly

two `

years

later,

the

the

former

defend
lose

his

charismatic

image,

between

February

1934,

Espanola

de las

dominated

polarization

caused
to

by the

by the

a sharp

experienced

by the

significant

contribution

The rise

to

Falange

by merging

Carlists,

the small

uprising

Falange was deprived

conceivably

in the event of the Nationalist

78

body

of the
the

with

Espafiola

and

but ambiguous movement that

July.
leader,

was the execution

of being

With his

death,

a party
the

one of the few men who

Franco's

War victory.

y de las

in November 1936

prison
authorities

challenged
Civil

conflict.

Firstly,

Decree,

of the Falange

popular

have seriously

the

Espanola Tradicionalista

of the previous
only

made a

group Renovacion

by the Republican

of its

in

War,

that

the heady ambitions

in Alicante

Primo de Rivera

to

frustration.

political

The large

the name of Falange

Civil

militias

victory

monarchist

CEDA.

the

was to be checked by three

controlled

Alfonsine

been found guilty

to the military

might

eternal

The political

similar

The Falangist

The second blow to the ambitions

of Jose Antonio
having

membership,

however,

1936,

until

of

by means of a Unification

authoritarian

emerged was given

JONS.

in

Falange

de Rivera.

outbreak

Nationalist

the

of the Falange,

1937 Franco adeptly

in

Party.

Communist

it,

and the

coming

increase

in April

the Catholic

of

occurred

titled

party

Primo

energetic

were to ensure its

blows that

being

party

to

anxious

marriage

groups

and insignificant

was a small

increasingly

led

Fascist

nascent

but

father,

to

eager

DONS.

The Falange

however,

his

Falange.

the

alliance

resultant

de Rivera,

Primo
of

founded

tiny

these

the

Antonio

dictatorship

military

aristocratic

convenience

i
Jose

claim

to sole

The third

power

body blow

impossibility

War, and the consequent

imperial

A large

ambitions.

Fascism was lost

of the Axis

Franco needed the resources

to help

both

win

Under

afterwards.
the

power. and influence

War with

Civil

defeat

Italy

Franco

of

As a kind

lip

to

service

"the

however,
would

state

to

from

the
there

without

as had occurred

such

the

as hard

equally

but

allow

compromise

emerged

administration,

earlier

workers'
such

the

as the

yoke

to function

the

Falange

the
of

and insisted
and arrows

and defence

cooperation
use of

emblem,

the

Cara

Spain long after

to

to pay

continued

the

In the words

structures

access

syndicates"

upon

salute.

79

was allowed

dictator

class

The only

sport.

example

"vertical

extensive

and lifeless

in Francoist

for

ideology

anthem and the right-arm

bureaucratized

power,

compensation,

Falangist

interests,

of

to which

was the
of

of the Falange by giving

the ambitions

areas

power

years

structure.

battle

Spain

rule

personal

had fought

Thus,

the

of

deflected

source

the

symbols,

Fascist

unimportant

considerable

of

his

and Germany.

them relatively

the

of the Falange in order

which

that

Republic.

the

conquest

Franco skilfully

during

state

groups

other

an ostensibly

been a fascist.

having
in

to

Falange

as the

the

of

power.

safeguard

Fascist

a one-party

of Spanish

was he prepared,

no circumstances

of

construction

d'etre

and enthusiasm

War and to

Civil

the

of Spanish

of the realization
of the raison

part

the defeat

with

and Nazi Germany in the Second World

Italy

of the Fascist

was the defeat

many Falangist

al

sol

of Juan J. Linz,

of the Falange"
the Falangist

continued

rhetoric

had

become rather

empty and meaningless

Even this

and these symbols came into

rhetoric

The post-war

onwards.

Nations

dictator

the need to improve

the Falangist

gestures.

process

gradual

embargo on Francoist

concession
withdrawal

from Tangier,

gradually

phased out,

the outside

that

world

in motion a very
The first

regime.

was the September 1945

opinion

which Franco had opportunistically

and a dubious

State

was

salute

was launched

exercise

in

occupied

Fascist

obligatory

the Falange had in fact

the Francoist

movement and that

image by removing

overseas

of his

1940s, the formerly

In the late

caused the

Spain,

Franco set

of "de-fascistification"

to Western democratic

1940.

his

In consequence,

from 1945

question

in the West, which led to

climate

anti-Fascist

the lukewarm United

to realize

the Franco regime. '

for

to prove to

never been a Fascist

had never been a totalitarian

state.

to this

In addition

the

and rhetorics,
gradually,

but

influence

within

consequence,
the

"Blue

alongside
manipulated

1.

Alfonsine

Franco

many veterans
Division",
Hitler's
by the

and the

monarchists

by no means completely
the

regime
of

at

the

the

force

troops

on the

Russian

The clearest

of

expense

Falangist

Falangist

Opus Dei

front,

technocrats
power

Falange.

the

War militias

Civil
sent

symbols

their

to

added

smoothly,

the

dictator.

of the Falangist

phasing-out

gradual

by Franco
felt

example

to

cheated
of

this

and

In

and of
fight
and
Falangist

the Spanish
Juan J. Linz, "From Falangeto
Movimiento-Organizaci6n,
Single
Party
and the Franco Regime, 1936-1968",
p. 159, in
in Modern Society.
Huntingdon
Politics
The
and. Moore, Authoritarian
1970.
New York,
Dynamics of Established
One-Party
Systems,

80

frustration

was demonstrated

Falangist

militia,

in order,

1969,

by Francisco

who publicly

committed

in his

as he said

The reasons for

the Falange

fully

in

discussed
plan

sporting
for

a society

in

some sport

of

the

in

which

would

outside

by the

competitions,

never

giant

be inspired
leading

especially

to

the

fascist-State

for

sport

Franco

stadia

or

by the

patriotic

sports

Spanish

sportsmen

Olympic

Games. 3

were never

did not become reality.

regime was neither

of money, unlike

Mussolini

the Spanish people

unhealthy

and too busy working

2.
3.
4.

It

is safe

any kind

of

display
in

the

detail,

This

long,

to

the

international

for

the Falangist

in sport

plan

the
vast

sums

in the post-Civil

too under-nourished,

poorly-paid

to assume that,

popular

offered

of the Falange

to invest

was

be participating

centres.

In addition,

were generally

sport

The vague

As seen in the Introduction,

and Hitler.

"the

against

thesis.

to be realized,

able nor disposed

War years

much sport. 4

in

in November

of Spanish

member would

In very much the same way as the plans

totalitarian

this

published

able-bodied

every
in

or other

participation
world

Falange,

control

given

of the

victim".

Introduction

the

to protest

words,

being

leader

in Madrid

suicide

to which the Falange has fallen

treachery

were

final

former

Herranz,

even if

hours to participate

in

adequate public

Quoted in Edouard de Blaye, op. cit.,

p. 469.
in the Boletin Oficial
This vague plan was published
de la DND, No.
2, May 1943.
This has been alleged in many publications,
for example: Vicente
Marco, op. cit.,
p. 19; Manuel Vazquez Montalban, p. 32; Luis Maria
Cazorla Prieto,
This claim has also been made to
op. cit.,
p. 113.
the author by many veteran football
frustrated
supporters,
sportsmen in the 1940s.
potential

81

sporting

facilities

remained

largely

in

detail,

the

of

be seen

football

like

from

Alfredo
it

addition,
the football
participation
passive

5.
6.

7.

the

DND, 6 in

Di Stefano,

Franco

the

painted

sympathisers

bottom

the

at

and the

regime

Three,

Chapter

but

were

filling

great

a
the

of

majority

of

order

to

the

capacity

more than half

in the immensely popular

in sport
for

was far

the

partly
football

a tiny

imported

In

Kubala.

followed

of the population
because of their
pools.?

huge

This

DND was that

sports

centres,

model,

the football

led by Real Madrid in 1958,

own all-embracing

amount

players

removed from the Fascist

the Falangist
that,

Falangist

country's

with'only

Ferenc Puskas and Ladislao

on the radio,

to

according

see spectacular

commentaries

their

not

had become an

1950s Spain

them newly-constructed,

that

consolation

by the

to

is estimated

became so prosperous

constructed

and its

have

would

be illustrated

presently

was practically

country,

public

participation

and the only

clubs

in

many of

stadia,

help

both

sports-conscious
The Spanish

model.

of

of

they

people.

As shall
extremely

sport

1940s,

the

as shall

Falange

picture,

priorities

Spanish

the

in

Spain

Although,

of

rhetoric

different

completely
list

unused. 5

the

in

had existed

in this

they
way partly

This allegation
and Cazorla
was made in Vazquez Montalbn, ibid,
ibid.
Prieto,
According to the archives
of the Real Madrid club, the total
cost
of the Estadio Bernabeu during the years 1944of the construction
1947 was 37,244,000 pesetas, of which one million
pesetas, less
than 4%, was provided by the DND's"Support Fund forthe Construction
In October 1951, the DND ruled
of Private Sporting Facilities".
just 2.5% to the cost of all future
that it would contribute
football
revealed
or improvements information
stadia constructions
investigation
by the author's
of the archives of the DND.
This estimate was made in Marco, op. cit.,
p. 26, and in Vazquez
Montalban, op. cit.,
p. 34.
82

the

relieving
It

ironic

is

that

practise

sport

the

success

of

pressure
the

best

The contrast

football

as a passive

the examples of Italy

years,

demonstrate
classless
rhetoric

that
society

sport

hardly

the Falange desired.

by the pseudonym of "Gilera",

In the post-Civil

feature

Falangist

militia

during

Gil

who became the sports

Madrid newspaper El Alczar,

the Civil

War

used to
of the new

A good example of this

of Enrique

Francoist

to

as a result

privately,

and Germany were constantly

can be found in the articles

Spaniard

above and the Falangist

be starker.

was to be an essential

that

average

spectacle.

described

between the reality

of the 1940s could

rhetoric

DND, but

by the

not

the

facilities.

sports

public

for

opportunities

were provided
of

DND to provide

on the

after

having

de la Vega, known
correspondent
fought

of the

in the

War:

"Today, sport is no longer a privilege

Sport is
of the rich.
by increasingly
practised
greater numbers of citizens
of both sexes
It is
this.
and of all social classes,
and the State is supporting
in its favour,
that the State should intervene
natural
especially
by contributing
to the construction
necessary to
of new facilities
face up to the demands of the increased number of participants
...
The system is still
the machine will not really
not perfect;
function
the present economic difficulties
effectively
whilst
but, for the first
time ever, we know that if today we are
persist;
because we have found an
little,
then tomorrow we will be a lot,
ideal and the means to arrive at it, just as the youth of Italy
and Germany arrived
at it before. "e

Similar
sports

Fascist

correspondent

On the occasion

8.

El Alczar,

rhetoric

was offered

of the Falangist

of the football

daily

by Dr. Antonio

23 November 1941.

83

the

from 1939 to 1944.

Arriba

team of Hitler's

Fereiras,

air

force

to play an

exhibition

match against

that

be presently

will

Aviacin

discussed

in detail,

between the sporting

connection

in November 1941, a visit

Atletico

Fereiras

made the Fascist

and its

prowess of a nation

military

potential:
dynamic,
"The most cultured,
to
robust
nations
and healthy
strive
in the Olympic
the recognition
achieve
of their
global-potential
the accompanying
competitions,
with all
propaganda,
respect
and
knowledge
It is now a matter of public
that nations
admiration.
for war in an atmosphere of work, discipline
prepare
and sport.

The gigantic
war machinery of the Third Reich has, in its different
full
of youth,
successful
campaigns, no doubt, that spirit
dynamism, energy, opportunity
that we find so
and gentlemanliness
many times in the Olympic stadium or on the sports
grounds. "9

"Gilera"

Whilst
their

Fascist

sporting

staffed

carried

the

thesis,

Marca

was the

Movimiento

("Press

state

in

the

On the

newspapers.
1942,

November
The articles

victory

its
that

money-earner

Chain
of

followed

the

of

daily

of

of

Introduction

the

extensive

"Arms

offered

War:

20 November 1941.
25 November 1942.

84

this

1970s
to

explanation

Falangist

a daily
the

this

the

assisting

to

which

Cadena de prensa

loss-making

raised

of

newspaper

early

the

of Marca becoming

read

sports

the

Movimiento"),

host

a whole

occasion

headline

in the Civil

9. Arriba,
10. Marca,

big

the quality

with

until

As seen in

quantity.

financing

was the

by Falangists

exclusively
largest

it

rhetoric,

Marca,

del

led the field

and Fereiras

paper

Spanish
of

the

Spanish
local
in

sportsmen!
Nationalist

" so

"The triumph was a tribute

to the potential
of a race that had
sketched out for us a path and a style of physical
conduct: that
by means of the gymnasium and the
the national
vigorization
cultivation
of sport. "'

Before
influence

football

approximation

in other

countries

to instrumentalize

were threefold:

popular

in Fascist

areas where the organization

Before all

young men were required

the Party's

sports

Their

participation

of international

influence

particular

over both

in Francoist

Spain.

system-

in doing

objectives

to

this

young men,
allegedly

in sport;

to "improve

to demonstrate

matches and tournaments,

the

and German races. 12

Italy

many local

football

leagues

and Nazi Germany, especially

in rural

of the game had previously

of these

league

the Fascist

to give

stage

were the first

of the Party;

As a consequence of these objectives,

non-existent.

at this

of Fascist

and Mussolini

of the Italian

superiority

were established

of the Fascist

appropriate

and over other

football.

at the level

to the world,

is

of the extent

to the activities

by increasing

the race"

examination

to use the game as a hook to attract

youths,

especially

alleged

it

led by Hitler

The regimes
atically

a detailed

over Spanish football,

a brief

offer

into

entering

of

been practically

matches commenced, the boys or

salute

and frequently

sing

anthem. 13

11. Ibid.
12. These Fascist and Nazi plans for sport are outlined
and discussed
in Cazorla Prieto,
op. cit.,
pp. 227-229, and in Carl Diem, Historia
de los Deportes, Barcelona,
1966, p. 86-89.
13. For further
details,
see Diem, op. cit.,
p. 90.

85

These
professional
consequence

were

this

of

upon

This

for

was compelled

example,

Club

Asociazione

most

significant

policy

di

enforced

Der Offenbacher

where

Calcio.

Verein

semi-

the

a foreign
engineers

Internazionale

in

or
Milan,

of

and Florence

Football

Germany,

the

Kickers

Offenbach

Essen into

Rot-Weiss

converted

and Red White

Another

game were

with

Afterwards

name changes

Fussball

the

by British

become Ambrosiana,

to

Fiorentina

of

founded

Italy,

the

and Germany.

had titles

that

been
in

began

railwaymen.

Italy

of

clubs

having

due to

usually

all

in

obligatory

instrumentalization

Fascist

enforced

also

leagues

and professional

name changes
influence,

and anthems

salutes

two
into

Essen.

It

was at

ization

of

teams

always

the

football
led

matches,

nationalism.
this

Fascist

the

Labour

the

right-arm

international

Cup finals
manager

the

capacity

would

The

visiting

gesturing,
Party

tournament,

in

crowds
in

and there

the

Pozzo with

14. See, for further

details,
London, 1978, pp. 63-64.

Berlin

Italy

gave

1932,

Italian

86

the

in

the

comply

with

British

England

TUC,

team gave

1938.14

hosting

a 20-man

Stanley

to

immense satisfaction

federation

selecting

Sir

when the

in

in

granted,

aggressive

from

protests

groups

a match

Fascist

of

before

and singing

team was expected

were

politic-

and German national

saluting

an ambience

socialist

before

the

Fascist

the

that

The Italian

peak.

national

team of

Upon being

however,

proceed

and other

salute

Vittorio

its

reached

which

The national
Mussolini.

level

of

the

to

1934 World

charged

the

leading

squad,

took

the

Rous, Football

Worlds,

players

away from

their
two full

camp for

lift

Italy

to

Spain,

the

to

to

resorted

on their

that

Mussolini,

took

place

present

team's

at
in

violence

interpretation

Zamora,

Italy's

in

accurately

exporting

to
0-1
the

elimination,
Spanish

goalkeeper
and in

tournament,
the

exempted

the

won 1-0.15

narrowly

the

itself

quarter-final

equalized,

hosts

the

matches

a way which

international

of

Italy

in

enough
the

The famous

injured,

without
all

was not

way to a surprise

tactics.

violent

however,

preparation,

were losing

When they

Zamora was deliberately

Ricardo
replay

home crowds,

trophy.

and seemingly

Italians

the

impassioned

the

with

coupled

intensive

Even this

years.

training

them to a military-style

and confined

clubs

excused
Fascist

contests:

is a physical
in which the
"Football
and psychological
struggle
For this reason,
team from the stronger
race will always win.
Italy
will,
without doubt, soon be champion of the world. "16
hopes were fulfilled.

Mussolini's
beating

in the semi finals

Austria

Mussolini's
however,

team could

the World Cup until

1950.

1934, known as the "Battle

stretchered

off

Cup holders

3-2.

After

two-year

up the World Cup after

to be the real

England,

In a violent

who refused

in the final.

three

in

England

players

were

beat

the World

camp, a rejuvenated`Italian

15. For further

details,
see Brian Glanville,
London, 1978, p. 68.
16. Quoted in Diem, op. cit.,
p. 92

87

champions,

to participate

as the hosts

sent off,

long training

world

match in London in November

of Highbury",

and two Italians

another

picked

and Czechoslovakia

not claim

they had beaten

until

Italy

History

of the World Cup,

the World Cup in the 1938 tournament,

team retained

On the day before

demonstration

intervention

in the Spanish Civil

or international

the Nazi party

Berlin,

to-;

from

Norway.

Austria,

annexed

1938 World

was also

regime in Portugal.

influenced

there

posturing

Football

Lisbon

to Fascist

becoming

in

the pre-match

saluting

investment

in the sporting

op. cit.,

Club

his
players

round

of

the

by the Salazar

that

of Franco,

Clubs with

foreign-

titles,

for

de Futbol,

and

and singing,
infrastracture

details.

was

but which also

The same as in

p. 81, for

88

first

the

crowd in

but

including

influence

than Fascist,

Benfica

de Lisboa.

17. See Glanville,

dismissed,

to change their

Desportivo

Club

was also

the State

Club

of the-

Switzerland.

and rhetoric.

names were compelled

Coached by

the semi finals

Despite

eliminated

rather

to earn much

and a capacity

This was a regime which like

in Fascist

indulged

no better.

failed

crashed out of the 1936

of Hitler

by unfancied

subjected

team. 17

regime.

was immediately

were

and authoritarian

reactionary

Club

fared

-Germany

Cup tournament

Football

Benfica

Nerz

Sepp Herberger,

successor,

the Hitler

the team reached

in front

tournament,

modest

for

against

War, which provoked a

but then surprisingly

1934 World Cup tournament,

footb'all

protesting

guards of the Italian

prestige

member Otto Nerz,

Olympic

was a vociferous

team of Nazi Germany, in contrast

The national
domestic

there

by French socialists

from the Fascist

response

violent

theX hotel

outside

the Italian

in Paris,

the final

staged in France.

example
Sporting

Francoist

without
that

Spain,

a fraction
occured in

of

Italy

or Nazi

Fascist

influence

Fascist

Germany,

Italy,

Portugal

in

being

South

1970s.

There

is

Fascist

and agressively
the

In

practically

no rhetoric

these

over
of

defending

national

Spain,

influence

was the
this

Fascist

posturing

every

the

level,

players.

about

how the

DND up to
the

be rather

even though
thin

there
teams

their

racial

players

hand,

other

there

was an

be conscious

should

was

or club

demonstrate

On the

on

of'

19

influence
just

was exercised
football.

over
of

in

before

between

football,

team,

national
should

foreign

control

Falangists

appointing

how the

1960s and

the

dictatorships,

military

opposition,

influence

imposed

of

not

to

'

example

however,

over

may appear

American

about

pride.

Fascist

Francoist

rule

the

rhetoric

abundance

A strong

two concepts

clearest

of

difference,
influence

nationalist

overseas

against

superiority

dictatorships

qualitative

South

occasions.

playing

military

a definite

between

line

nationalism,

American

the

the

agressive

to

been

The game has frequently

and Spain.
for

limited

has been effectively

over football

as a catalyst

utilized

the

Germany. 1e

The

by'the

sport

two major

over all
main

Falangist
firstly,

ways:

in

sports

instrument
DND.

The DND

by insisting

upon

sporting

contest;

secondly;

by

to many important

sporting

positions.

It

every

1948 that,

competitors

prior

had to

line

to

every
up,

give

sporting
the

this

of

was the

contest
Fascist

at

salute

and

details,
18. For further
p. 174, and World Soccer,
see Diem, op. cit.,
November 1966.
details,
19. For further
about the subject
see the text and footnotes
at the beginning of Chapter Seven of this thesis.
89

chant

the Falangist
the final

Before

to

compelled

sports

was the

case,

Cara al
for

these

hockey

22

Escriv.

In November

match
being

disciplinary

for

methods"

Sort,

who had omitted

their

match.

points

the

the

DND to

"apply

to

teams

to give

of

the

handball

for

the

the

of

Catalan
its

rules

Catalan
the
of

with

about

appropriate

the

Joaquin

federation,

Falangist

small

deduction
Martinez
held

federation

the

every
President

Juan Ramon

Fascist

posturing.
federation

football
rigorous

mountain

salutes

the

Juan Antonio

sung before

regional

the

during

song of

due to

This

contest.

volleyball

same period,

necessary

In November 1944,
the

match

was also

prominent
upheld

the

volleyball

anthem

They were punished

each. 23

as President

the

domestic

enthusiasm

in

compulsory,

every

President

example,

by the

was instructed

the

during

The DND strictly

1941,

every

The Falangist

Federation

that

of

Falangist

the

21

years.

before

SQl and, the same before

al

was not

was sung before

sol

because

it

though

were

and spectators

Cara

anthem

or-

regional

of national,

officials

-Even

example,

Lozano,

roller-skate
of

contest.

1939-1944,

Fernandez

be it

players,

Falangist

the

sing

certain

in

the

along with, Viva Franco! 20

Espana!,

of any tournament,

any international

period

war-cry

character,

provincial

of, Arriba

towns

and chants
of-five
Peralta

responsible

Tremp and
before

league
was dismissed
by the

20. This rule, issued by the predecessor of the DND, the Consejo
in Marca, and
Nacional de Deportes, in August 1939, was published
27 August 1939.
El Mundo Deportivo,
21. Information
revealed by an examination of the archives of El Mundo
19 March 1943.
Deportivo,
19 March 1943.
details,
22. For further
see El Mundo Deportivo,
dated 21
23. In the archives of the DND, the author uncovered a letter,
November 1941, from Moscardo to Raimundo Rivas, the President of
demanding strict
the Catalan federation,
punishment.

90

de Deportes

Delegado Nacional
al Sol before
fate

befell

a friendly

Ramiro Villanova,

federation,

This Fascist

been

frequently
the

of

part

in

regime

in

the

1940s. 26

by Falangists,

before

the

of

presidency

The same occured

federation

President

Falangists

26.

Sol

and, 'Viva
the

sung up until
whilst

these

of

1960s

Falangist

in

Franco

continued

the

sports
dropped

were simply

The singing
match,

DND as

by the

Franco!

practices

hockey
the

by the

undertaken

Espana:

has

It

taken

were

"de-Falangization"
1Arriba

was abandoned, and

arm salute

measures

by

and chanting

for

during

example,

Escriv,

which

lasted

until

the death of the Falangist

until

Jose Maria Aragones in 1964.

and directors

in the 1940s.

24. For further

25. See Marca,

a match with

terminated

was abruptly

made discretionary.

in handball,

Because of the direct

the Presidents

these

roller-skate

every

the

sport

by non-Falangists.

governed

sports

continued

1962.

of

and Cara al

over

whole

that

policy_

late

the

to be shouted
presided

in Spanish

1948, when the Fascist

alleged

tacit

The same

of the basketball

anthem was not sung before

and Cara al sol singing

the chanting

24

in March 1945.25

posturing

the DND in august

in Sevilla.

Portugal

the President

when the Falangist

in Valencia

Portugal

match with

the absence of 'Cara

Moscardo for

General

nominations

of the Spanish
This proportion

half

of the DND, approximately

sports

gradually

federations
declined

were
to

details,
see Marca, 7-9 November 1944.
4 March 1945 for details.

has been made in the following

This allegation
publications:
Cazorla /rieto,
op. cit.,
p. 130; Marco, op. cit.,
p. 27;
Montalban,
Cerecedo in Posible,
op. cit.,
p. 38; Francisco
No. 2,1
December 1974.

91

Vazquez
Madrid,

of

by the end of the Franco period27.

a third

approximately

de Deportes,

the Consejo Nacional

also led by General

years

1939-1941,

there

must be at least

This

club.

sporting

the presence

of these Falangists

2e

at both the sports

extremely

high

example,

there

influence

the above, Falangist

and the various

on the eight-man

Soriano,

Juan Antonio

to conclude
apart

Jose Luis

clubs remained

itself

and by its

As early

the sports

brief

executive

of the

that

many sympathisers
more affected

as 1940, Marca pointed

in
of

Sanchez Gil. 29

examination

in Francoist

rhetoric

This estimate
was made by the author,
information
by the archives
revealed
and the DND.

In 1970, for

Sanz and Jesus Garcia

Solano and Benito

this

personal

of the champion club

from football

of the kind of Fascist

from football,

basketball.

27.

became recommmended but not

federations

Antonio

of

1959, when

until

Falangists

over sports

the Falange

amongst the directors

were three

appropriate

illustration

in August 1939 that

the whole of the Franco period.

of Madrid,

is

It

ruled

throughout

federation,

Estudiantes

of the DND in the

was maintained

and two amongst the ten directors

Pereda,

Apart

rule

As a consequence of all

influence

volleyball

Moscard,

Falangists

two active

each private

obligatory.

the predecessor

In addition,

of the Fascist

Spain with

both by

was applied
in the sporting

were athletics
out that

athletes

an

Press.

and
had to be

the light
of the
Marca, El Mundo Deportivo

28. Information
revealed by an examination
of the archives of the DND.
The choice of these two Falangist
directors
to the club
was left
Presidents,
who frequently
needed to consult with the local Party
organization
about the matter.
29. This information
was uncovered by the author in the archives of
Marca.

92

the

of

priority

Falangist

plans:

sporting

"The premier
of our "New Spain" simply has to be athletics.
sport
do more than any other
to
Because it is the sport
which will
be
improve the minds and bodies of our young people,
those who will
And
the Spanish race into future
glory.
charged with leading
in its manifold
do
because it is this
sport,
which will
activities,
to demonstrate
to the other nations
of the
more than any other
"War of
world the progress
made by us Spaniards
since our glorious
Liberation"
the forces
After
against
of liberalism
and decadence.
in the world are finished,
the present
the other
raging
conflicts
bear witness,
by means of the Olympic Games and other
will
nations
international
that we Spaniards
are a race
competitions,
sporting
its
a race that has rediscovered
reborn
and rejuvenated,
"30
traditional
virility
and impetousness.

the almost

Despite
infrastructure

in athletics,

of participation
Falangist

optimism

London.

The Boletin

there

chosen for

an abundance of

in the 1948 Olympic

de la DND carried

Oficial

low level

the extremely

was nonetheless

about the participation

the Spanish athletes

"Above

of improvement of the sporting

War, and despite

the Civil

since

lack

complete

the following

Games in

advice

to

the Games:

leaders
that your
remember, you sporting
of "New Spain",
in glorious
they result
disappointing
trium+or
whether
exploits,
defeat,
to the whole world that
a demonstration
must constitutein the course of bloody
has been reborn
our Patria
struggle
and is
Show to the other
on the point
of being great
once more.
nations
that
Spain is potent,
Spain is
that
virile
and powerful
again,
ready to resume her rightful
place amongst the handful
of leading
free nations
of the world. "31
The Spanish
won being
Introduction
silver

all

performance
in

a silver
to

this

and two bronze

30. Marca, 10 April

31. Boletin
Official

in

London,

during

was abysmal,

As was pointed

equestrian.
thesis,

however,

Spain
the

won only
whole

of

one Olympic
the

Franco

1940.
de la DND, No. 68, June 1948.

93

out

in

the

only

medal

the
gold

period,

medal,

two

and none

of these were for

similar

and field

events. 32

lack of success in the various

Games tournaments. 33

Mediterranean
of

track

the

success,

Fascist

quantity.

As late

imagery

was employed

to make the

trip

rhetoric

as 1968,

to

in
the

atheletics

surrounding
the

DND's message

Games in

achieved

European Championship

Because of this-almost

however,

the

Spanish athletes

following
to

the

kind

and

complete

Olympic

lack

in

declined

language

of

and

team preparing

Mexico:

"You are charged with the weighty responsibility

of both
demonstrating
to the watching world that we Spaniards are
becoming a more virile
consistently
and potent race, and of setting

by your courageous
an example to the young people of the Patria,
the generations
to come will
performances,
so that
vigorously
to emulate your achievements,
strive
and in so doing continue
Spanish power and potency. "34
to exhibit
As can be easily
from

different
years

earlier.

to

athletics

or

content.

the

appreciated,
that

given

to

The conclusion
must be that

it

the

content
Spanish

about

this

declined

in

of

this

Olympians
Fascist
quantity

message
by the

is

so

DND twenty

rhetoric
more than

32.

not

with
in

regard
quality

The complete
Spanish Olympics
during
the Franco years reads
record
as follows:
silver
team in London, 1948; in
medal for the equestrian
in 1952, Angel Lean Gonzalo won the silver
Helsinki
in the 50 metres
the Spanish team boycotted
the Melbourne
shoot;
pistol
games in 1956
in Rome in 1960, the
invasion
because of the Soviet
of Hungary;
Spanish team won the bronze medal at hockey;
no medals were won in
in the 1972 Winter
in 1968 in Mexico;
Tokyo in 1964, neither
in Sapporo,
Olympics
the gold medal in the skiing
special
slalom was
in Munich in the summer
Fernandez Ochoa, whilst
won by Francisco
Enrique
Rodriquez
boxing.
Cal won the bronze at flyweight
by the archives
33. As revealed
of the DND, only seven medals were
Games
won in the nine European Championship
and Mediterranean
in which Spanish teams participated.
tournaments

34. Boletin

Official

de la DND, No. 300, August 1968.

94

The other

sport,

an abundance of Fascist
because basketball

it

contact

was a physical

This was partly

the second most popular

was clearly

level,

and participation

in the following

explained

which provoked

and athletics,

was basketball.

rhetoric

both at spectator

football,
as

from football

apart

way by the Boletin

after

sport

because,

and partly
de la

Oficial

DND

sport:

"The two sports which best embody our rediscovered

Spanish
and basketball.
masculine values are, without doubt, football
in which the values of comradeship and
These are team sports,
for others come to the fore.
And they are also physical
sacrifice
impetousness and
fury,
contact sports which permit the natural
"35
of the Spanish sportsmen to fully
virility
manifest itself.
As was the*case
Fascist
club

with

concerning

rhetoric

there

athletics,

basketball

teams had been more successful

On the few occasions

to basketball,

this

when the Spanish

Championship,
crucial

when there
rhetoric

would undoubtedly
if

the Spanish national

in the international

was something

was employed.

team reached the semi finals

held

in Athens,

match against

have been more

Marca offered

to celebrate

team and

competitions.
with

In June 1965, for

regard

example,

of the European
the following

preview

of the

Yugoslavia:

"It is to be hoped, and indeed expected, that la furia espafiola

("the Spanish Fury") will once again be on display
both
tonight,
for us Spaniards either present here in Athens or watching at home
Our team will again
and for the watching Continent.
on television,
have to employ their considerable
physical
power, swift
intelligence
Spanish courage and impetousness.
and traditional
Tonight they will have to prove to Europe that they are real men.
We should all be optimistic
and confident,
we Spaniards have
demonstrated on countless occasions throughout
history
that we are
at our best, most virile
and furious,
when we have to react against
adverse circumstances. "36

35. Boletin
36. Harca,

de la DND, No. 78, April

Official
11 June 1965.

95

1949.

team lost

The Spanish

international

little

the

in

rhetoric
in

team,

national

players

Real

similar

to

in

won the

the

heavily,

because
This

ranks.
the

European

of

the

of

abundance

success

ones given

form

the

the

clearest

DND's congratulations

Champions

the

leading

than
foreign

many flights

provoked

above,

football,

internationally

more successful
of

extremely

and achieved

The same as in

afterwards.

team was far

partly

the

May 1969,

having

success

basketball

Madrid

Real

semi final

this

of
occurring

example
to

Real

Madrid

for

Cup:

inspiring
Spanish
has been one of the most heartening,
in history.
feeling
to see
It was marvellous
performances
sporting
(sic)
in command, dominating
Spaniards
event of such
a sporting
importance
displaying
the determination,
passionately
and prestige,
impetousness
for which we are renowned
and fury
virility,
throughout
the world. "37
"This

Similar

rhetoric

international

was produced as a result

basketball

can be clearly

It

theme in all
Nationalist

of this
victory

other

successes. 38

seen from the examples given

rhetoric

was the "rebirth"

in the Civil

employed in the general

pocket

of Real Madrid's

War.

publications

This

a common

of Spain because of the

theme was frequently

of the Falange,

book of Jose Maria Garcia Cernuda,

above that

distributed

for

example in the

amongst Falangists

in 1943:
in the fire
"Spain has, in effect,
been reborn
and passion
of the
has risen
"War of Liberation".
Out of the ashes of the conflict
a
Spain, with
transformed,
and magnificent
rejuvenated,
revitalized
the Falange at its head. "39

37. Marca, 14 May 1969.

38. See, for example: El Alcazar,
22 October 1966, and 2 November 1971;
10 October 1968; Marca, 29 March 1969.
Arriba,
39. Maria
Jo es
Garcia Cernuda, Sobre la Revolucion de la Falange,
1943, pp. 29-30.
Bilbao,
96

theme to be found in practically

Another
sporting
values,
for

is the "rediscovery"

rhetoric

a theme frequently

example in their

use by history

of the Fascist

of traditional

Spanish masculine

to in many Falangist

referred

publications,

of Spanish history,

version

official

all

designed

teachers:

"As a result of the heroic struggle

in the "War of Liberation",
many of the traditional
racial
virtues
of the Spaniards were
determination
recovered,
such as courage, passion, sacrifice,
dedication
to the cause. "40

A third

theme common to this

demonstrate

this

pointed

by Sigfredo

out

for

is

rhetoric

and "rediscovery"

"rebirth"

Hillers

to

the necessity
to the world

and

in general,

as

de Luque:

"In the company of foreign

to Spain, or whilst
visitors
ourselves
to
overseas, it is our duty, both individually
and collectively
demonstrate to what extent we Spaniards have improved as a
clearly
day when the Patria was
years since the historic
race in the thirty
reborn... "41

All

three

of these themes were usually

present

in the celebration

of every

Spanish international

sporting

period.

This was the reaction

of the DND in May 1953, for

the Conde de Teba won the world

clay

success during

pigeon-shooting

the Franco
example,

title:

"This
is one of the clearest
demonstrations
to Spain
offered
the outside
"War of Liberation",
world that,
since our glorious
having
are a nation
reborn,
rediscovered
our
and recuperated
traditional
Hispanic
determination
virtues
of courage,
and
impetuousness.
"42

_40.

FET y de las JONS, Seccion

Femenina,
Espafia, Bilbao,
1944, p. 79. /

41. Sigfredo Hillers

pp. 320-321.
42.

Boletin

Official

de Luque, Etica
de la

DND, No.

97

Lecciones

y estilo
123,

June

de Historia

falangistas,
1953.

when

and
we

de

Madrid,

1974,

A fourth
is

rhetoric

hints

of all

can be extracted

theme that

of Spanish national

the affirmation

completely

championship

of Catalans,

Fascist

sporting

and the negation

unity

A good example of this

or separatism.

of regionalism

appeared in Marca when, in October

almost

from this

1957, the Spanish team, made up

won the world

hockey

roller-skate

in Lisbon:

inspiring
has once again demonstrated
"This
that
we
victory
The team that has
together.
Spaniards
are at our best when fight
is
in
beloved
flag
high
Lisbon
lifted
a team made
national
so
our
from
Spaniards
up of fiercely
patriotic
and proud Spaniards.
from the Basque
from Castill'e,
Catalonia,
Spaniards
Spaniards
but first
fighting
for
Spaniards,
together
provinces,
and foremost
days when the
The terrible
the glory
of the race and the Patria.
fought
to history,
Spaniard
Spaniard
and
against
are now consigned
"43
together.
Now we are all fighting
will
never return.

Another

example

occurred

in

April

composed

of

a majority

friendly

match

in

of

1965,

this

when the
of

Spanish

Catalans,

Barcelona.

in

theme appearing

This

beat

a sporting

national
the

was the

context
team,

rugby

West Germany

reaction

of

the

similarly

team in

Marca

correspondent:
it is to see Spanish sportsmen
from all
different
"How heartening
in a common
fighting
of the country
side by side,
united
regions
has
Today the city
of the Patria.
of Barcelona
cause: the glory
is more Spanish than ever,
through
the exemplary
shown that it
through
the dedication
to the
patriotism
of its
spectators,

colours of the players

national
Spanish team. .. "'4

43. Marca,
44. Marca,

12 October 1957.
4 April 1965.

98

that

it

has provided

for

the

This lteie
Antonio
writings

a large

He dedicated

Primo de Rivera.

proportion

in-November

1934.

influence

This examination

will

influence

overland

football.

Before

in this

examination

the France years.

Fascist

of the concrete

surrounding1professional,

a brief

chapter,

in rural

the objective

These leagues

insight

into

junior

idea,

for

financial

and amateur

necessitated
remote villages

greatly

were-completely

the locals

Italy

Firstly,

because,

it

45. Reproduced in Jose Antonio

1949, p. 359.

themselves.

Primo de Rivera,

99

did not have the

of football

had never been sufficient

pitch

by

which would have

the construction

to constructa

of the

activities

The Falange did not copy

these leagues,

subsidizing

and Nazi

from those organized

separate

federations.

to establish

where there

and amateur football

areas in Fascist

two main reasons.

capacity

junior

of drawing young men into

and German football

the Italian

game for

during

of a study

rhetoric

however,

were established

Germany, with

this

consist

Every conspiracy
is a crime which

commence a detailed

over Spanish football

mainly

this,

to

stage

the Fascist

As seen earlier

Party.

of this

is necessary.

football

leagues

this

at

appropriate

of the Fascist

de la

The second clause

"Spain is a unit of destiny in universal

terms.
All separatism
against this unity is repulsive.
we will not pardon. "45
is

and Galician

that:

programme stated

It

of"his

example in the Norma Programtica

which he drafted

of Jose

preoccupations

and speeches to condemning the Basque, Catalan

autonomy movements, for

Falange,

was one of the major

unity

of national

pitches

interest
Secondly,

Obras completas,

in

in the
because

Madrid,

the

believed

Falange

federations,

through

and perhaps

even

rival,

1948 throughout

shall

shortly

the right

influence

influence

over

the immediate

all

that

establishing

Spanish sport

War years,

influence

have become known as the "Blue

the national

upon the clubs

by the Fascist
fourthly,

surrounded

federations

gestures

to the game by the media.

46. This point

assistant,
Deportivo,
"extremely
"absolutely
47.

reached a peak in
declined

very

only

1939-1948 that

of Spanish

influence

over

main ways: firstly,

as Presidents

by the

and directors
secondly,

foreign-influenced

titles;

were obligatory

by the neo-fascist
All

Espa'a! 46

and Arriba

the period

by the immense amount of Fascist

the game; fifthly,

as

had to commence with

and of the clubs;

with

that

much later,

until

Period"

Fascist

in five

was exerted

and regional

name changes forced

thirdly,

Period",

of an abundance of Falangists

nomination

match;

the "Blue

football

professional

leagues meant that,

the same as Fascist

was so high during

these years

During

leagues

and thereafter

This

47

Falangist

in general,

and society

a parallel,
There

level

football,

of

was necessary.

of Viva Franco!

over professional

sports

creation

regions

match at every

and chanting

the

separate

gradually.

football.

the

Spain and in certain

post-Civil

of

over the traditional

be seen, every

arm salute

Fascist

in

influence

until

over

organization

sporting

point

when the Falange's

control

DND, was such

the

be little

seemed to

its

that

before

rhetoric

by the

every
that

mystification

of these manifestations

of

applied

of Fascist

expressed by General Moscard's

of view was implicitly
in an interview
General Jose Villalba,
with El Mundo
8 February 1946. Villalba
commented that he was
with the local leagues, and that he saw
satisfied"
no need to change their organizational
structure".

This phrase was first

coined in Manuel
cit.,
p. 31, and has since been copied
example Marco, op. cit.,
p. 19.

100

Vazquez Montalbn,
in many publications,

op.
for

influence

the

over

irresistible

control

Falangist

game were

professional

of August 1939 that

there

amongst the directors

a third

federations

of each sporting

of the directors

active

were presided

and Joaquin

Herrero

most notable
Period"
by Fellow
f1

48.

Cuesta,

Falangist

were Antonio
Falangist

time,

federation

federation

at the Murcian

during

in power in Navarre

Presidents
Rodriguez

Jose Maria

Falangists

football

and regional

"Blue Period"

this

Luis

that

were

RFEF

Saura del Pan, from

from 1946 to 1947; Dr. Armando Mufioz

at this

of the Castilian

the DND's ruling

Three of the five

Many of the fifteen

over by Falangists

Sanchez, President
Valverde

48

Meneses,

from 1947 to 1950.

during

clubs

by

appointed

can be estimated

It

were Falangists:

these years

1940 to 1941; Jesus Rivero

club.

of the national

or former Falangists.

during

two active

post-Civil

of the

directly

to comply with

must be at least

and of the professional

Presidents

Luis

by the

in

positions

of the strength

in order

the DND, or chosen by the clubs

Calero,

executive

They were either

over the game.

Fascist'influence

at least

in

Falangists

number of

is both a cause and an effect

War football

the

DND.

The large

either

of

in general

Spanish sport

over

exercised

consequences

at club

level

federations

regional
for

example Juan Curto

from 1939 to 1944, Jose

the period

1939 to 1950,

from 1943 to 1951.

during

this

The

"Blue

at Zaragoza from 1939 to 1947, succeeded

Herrera,

Juan Carlos

Delgado

at

Cadiz

in the light
This estimate
of the information
was made by the author
in his examination
those of the
of the following
revealed
archives:
Athletic
de Bilbao
RFEF, of Real Madrid,
of FC Barcelona,
and Real
de Madrid,
Sociedad de San Sebastian,
of Atletico
and of El Mundo
Deportivo.

101

Garc

Perez

fa,

these
of

years

in Spanish football

that

"Blue

Division"

a Falangist
sent

it
whom

of

national

team in'1941
50 Angel
Luis

and Jose

It

that

Rovira

clubs

with

in

alongside

February

1943;

owed a considerable

amount

both
foreign

and the
Real

of

national

the enforced

that

team;

until

on the

troops
of
for

the

political
Miguel

Moleiro

name changes of the

1941.

these club names were allowed

During

to continue
Italy

of the DND. and

the two post-Civil
unchanged,

despite

and Nazi Germany.

by the veteran
This estimate
was made to the author
journalists
Juan Jose Castillo
of El Mundo Deportivo,
1984, and Enrique
Gil de la Vega "Gilera"
of ABC.

50. This allegation,

and his friends,
ftbol
espafiol,

Falangist

the

selection

was not an initiative

titles

player

Campanal

to his

notable

Madrid.

the examples of name changes from Fascist

49.

Jorge

in

players

Valencia
joined

has

It

The most

Hitler's

surprising

both

49

War,

his

Espanol

"Blue

this

professional

the

Civil

the

that

alleged

these changes did not occur

War years,

Molina,

fight

to
in

the

Falangists.

Enrique

militia

of

Clemente,

is surprising

football

is

former

or

by Franco

of

during

and directors.

Presidents

a fifth

were:

players

Sevilla,

views;

active

where he died

front,

Russian

to

approximately

were either

in

who fought

however,

confined,

Falangist

these

from 1946 to 1959.

in command at Valladolid

was not

been estimated

from 1945 to 1951, and Juan Antonio

of Seville

The abundance of Falangists

Period"

from 1942 to 1951,

at Murcia

from 1940 to 1954, Juan Andres Armendariz

Eduardo Ramirez at Betis

at Racing de Santander

Vilches

from 1939 to 1942, Raimundo Rodriguez

It

sports
3 September

which provoked an angry response from the player

was made by Alex J. Botines in La gran estafa del
1975, p. 22.
Barcelona,
102

Text cut off in original

was that

Diaz Pastor

the players

Moscard after

loudspeaker

replaced

by

through

to be played
the international

system before

match i

55

rhetoric

Period"

was immense

in

already

isolated

this

in

An example

rhetoric.

and the

nation

In May 1945, the

was actually

Cara al Sol had failed

The Fascist

Texeira

Miguel

of the La Coruna club

Portugal.

snow. 54

because of the driving

as possible,

stadium's

wanted to commence the game

both

the

"rediscovery"

appeared

in

Valencia

and Espanol:

1941,

June

in

themes
of

the

of

the

"rebirth"

traditional

Marca

of

the

mascu

cup final

the

of

of

Hispanisc

report

the

basis

the

constituting

durin

with

and quality,

quantity

chapter

of

football

Spanish

surrounding

"It was an inspiring

sporting
of men against
struggle
kind that has been occuring
since the
with frequency
in the "War of Liberation"...
The Madrid crow
Patria
fur
to a moving demonstration
passion,
of commitment,
to Spain
that are returning
and impetousness,
virtues
strength
with every day that passes. "56

The theme

usually
Falangist
Basque

of

national

featured

prominently

Marca

when one of

or Catalan

opponents.

unity,

one of

in this
the

54, Ibid.
55. See Marca, 7-11 May 1945 for
56. Marca, 10 June 1941.

Fascist

Madrid

For

details.

Falange's

pr:

rhetoric-pro

teams

example,

104

the

played

this

again

was apart

Aviacion

of the paper when Atletico

in February

host

played

to Athletic

de Bilbao

1942:

"This match was a classic

confrontation
of virile
and courageous
locked in an absorbing and inspiring
Spaniards,
sporting
struggle.
they may hail from, the
Regardless of which region of our Patria
twenty-two men down on the field
Spaniards,
were all authentic
and
it certainly
showed in the way in which they played. "57
Marca was not

only

theme.

particular
in

match

the

This

November

two or

three

period:

59

was the

1942 which

Falangists

however,

newspaper,

sports

preview

appeared

worked

at

of
in

El

the

which

evoked

FC Barcelona-Real

Mundo Deportivo

any one time

this

during

the

Madrid

where
whole

only

Franco

"Let us fervently
hope that tomorrow's
be an inspiring
match will
demonstration
Spanish passion,
fury,
of typical
virility,
and,
that has
above all,
a demonstration
of the harmony and togetherness
between the different
Spain since
existed
regions
of our beloved
the "War of Liberation"
put an end to the fratricidal
conflicts
and
by a tiny
tensions,
provoked
self-interested
minority
of
to tear the country
malevolents,
which once threatened
apart. ""9

The fourth

theme of this

of demonstrating
world,

outside

international
club,

"Blue

could

only

for
thesis,

rhetoric,

the necessity

and "rediscovery"

appear in the context

of either

to the

an

game between a Spanish and a foreign

match or a friendly

Seven of this

sporting

"rebirth"

the much-vaunted

of both of which,

Chapter

Fascist

reasons
there

which shall

be fully

were extremely

discussed

few during

in

this

Period".

57. Marca, 24 February 1942.

58. This information
was revealed to the author by Juan Jose Castillo,
journalist
from 1946, appointed editor
in
at El Mundo Deportivo
1968.
8 November 1942.
59. El Mundo Deportivo,

105

This was the message of the DND to the Spanish national

in

January

1941 was preparing

War, having

changed its

appropriate

blue

to play

traditional

its

first

similar

players

before

for

red shirts

the

Civil

more politically

ones:

"Remember above all also that you are

team of the
as the football
strating,
former glory we have recovered in the
"War of Liberation
since our glorious
your
show to the world your virility,
courage, so that they should know all
A very

game since

team which,

message

their

by the

was given

DND to

match in Madrid,

friendly

the team of the German air

for demonresponsible
Patria,. just how much of our
two years that have passed
Footballers
Spain,
of
...
fury, your impetuosity,
your
about the "New Spain". eO
the

Atletico

Aviacin

in November 1941, against

force:

"This
to demonstrate
to a nation
that has
opportunity
a perfect
down the road that we are on how much progress
travelled
already
in terms of recuperating
the characteristics
are making,
which
us up to be one of the leading
nations
raised
originally
of the
us up to that elevated
world and which must serve to raise
position
again. "61

In its

report

to this

match,

Marca claimed

above by the DND had been fully

that

the objective

we

expressed

achieved:

"There can be absolutely

German
no doubt that our distinguished
leave Madrid convinced
that we Spaniards
have made
visitors
will
Strides
towards
since our "War of Liberation".
giants
strides
a
improved
discipline,
towards more
power, towards
greater
physical
impetuosity
fully
and fury,
virtues
which were all
effective
by both teams...
displayed
"62
on Wednesday afternoon

In April
for

the first

Berlin

against

1942, the Spanish national

time since

the Civil

Germany and in Milan

team left

War, to play
against

exhibition

Italy,

60 This message was published in Marca, 11 January

61. Published in Marca, 15 November 1941.
62. Marca, 22 November 1941.
which the natural

courage,

passion,
106

the Iberian

commitment,

Peninsula

matches in

in the presence

of

1941.

physical

power and

and Mussolini

Hitler
players

who made this

Fascist

rhetoric

Franco

The DND message to the Spanish

respectively.
trip

constitutes

the most virulent

team during

the national

surrounding

piece

of

the whole of the

period:

"An immense responsibility

is resting
It
on your strong shoulders.
is your responsibility
to demonstrate to these two mighty nations,
"National
Syndicalist
rejuvenated
since their
magnificently
Revolutions"
to
and brilliant
examples which we are attempting
follow in so many ways, that Spain is, in effect,
a nation
by playing like real men, like
reborn... This task you must fulfill
real Spaniards, which is to say in an aggressive but sporting
way,
impetuosity,
determination
the
with courage, passion,
and virility,
leading virtues
of the "New Spain" which you are charge
with
"63
representing.

football

exerted

itself

the mystification
closely

way in which Fascist

and final

The fifth

during

the Fascist

with

appeared in the same newspapers,

of this

The centre
espafiola,

created,

Press during

Period"

teams and players.

of certain

connected

the "Blue

mystification

national

Olympic Games in Antwerp.

myth was resurrected
those who sympathized

with

of the new, neo-Fascist

above,

team's

interpretation

and mostly

and El Alczar.

to this

successful

journalists

the ideals

was

was the myth of the furia

In the immediate

by Falangist

This mystification

namely Marca, Arriba

tendency

over Spanish

of 1939-1945 concerns

discussed

rhetoric

as seen in the Introduction

the Spanish

influence

post-Civil

thesis,

campaign in the 1920

War years,

and commentators,

of the Falange.
of the furia

by the

this
and

A good definition
was offered

in

Arriba:
"The furia espafiola is present in all aspects of Spanish life,
to a
In a
greater extent than ever since the "War of Liberation"...
best manifests itself
in football,
the furia
sporting,
a game in

63. Published

in Marca,

6 April

1942.

107

of the Spanish race can find full

usually
expression,
itself,
in international
contests,
over the more
but less aggressive foreign
teams. "64

virility
imposing
technical

"schools"
School",
Bilbao,
high

On the one hand,

have existed.

always headed by the heavily

a football

practising
for

centres

the "Sevilla
dribbling

a tall

School"

its

Despite

obvious

because of the claims

Chapter
Luria

Eight

of this

myth reached

team completely
identification
Athletic

to this

de Bilbao

Athletic

Falangist

with

playing

thesis.

its

appeared

director,

it

the furia

claims

The identification

Spanish football.
in Marca's

no foreign

influence,

peak in the period

dominated

tight

was the former

espafiola,

by Eduardo Lastaragay,

effect

preview

has been

there
with

practically

foreign

de

long passes and

In opposition,

best to represent

which was alleged

Athletic

aggression,

individual,

a style

passes,

has been the "Bilbao

British-influenced

centre-forward.

tactical

two rival

there

of physical

of'talented

and short

influence.
style

of Spanish football,

the history

Throughout

which will

partly
the

be examined in

of Athletic

1943-1945,

with

the

when the Basque

An example of this
of the 1945 cup final

between

and Valencia:

today once again be the scene for

"Our splendid capital
city will
furia
espaola by the remarkable
of the authentic
an exhibition
bravely attempting
de Bilbao,
to take away the prestigious
Atletico
Copa del General simo for the third
successive year... The Caudillo
himself and 35,000 other fortunate
spectators
will
surely witness a
Spanish passion, courage, determination
display of typical
and
is
(natives
both
It
the vizcainos
from
teams.
of Vizcaya
virility
the furia
however, who will best represent
espafola,
province),
agression and combative
with their physical
power, controlled
approach, virtues
which are again making us Spaniards highly
respected and even feared in the world. "65

30 January 1940.
64. Arriba,
65. Marca, 9 June 1945.

108

All

Period"

Spanish

teams playing

of the furia

in

was the

advice

given

by "Gilera"

players

before

their

November 1941 match with

is your responsibility
"It
to
foreign
the sporting
visitors
will
past two years,
and this
furia
the traditional
employing
and
power, dynamism, virility

The Spanish Press held

or personification

forward.

-According

to Ariba,

For example,

this

Aviacion

the Atletico

the German air

demonstrate

force

team:

respected
our highly
that we have made in the
progress
by
be best achieved
obviously
espnola,
aggression,
with courage,
impetousity.
"66
to

footballers

espafiola

Telmo Zarra,

to

Alczar

up certain

of the furia

and aggressive

powerful

El

"Blue

this

example and offer

to the visitors.

espafiola

in

opposition

be Bilbao's

to copy Athletic

were expected

demonstration

foreign

against

myth,

to be the embodiment
especially

the Athletic

de Bilbao

the tall,
centre-

Zarra was:

impassioned,
determined,
"... the epitom, of the furia
espanola,
impetuous,
an inspiring
example of the kind of virile
courageous,
leading
into
the Patria
a new "Golden
young men who are chargebwith
Age"
.67

This
attack

of Zarra

mystification

of the national

the goals

in Spain's

Marca correspondent

team.
defeat

its

reached

For example,
of Portugal

peak when he lead

after

he had scored

the
three

of

in La Coruna in May 1945, the

was moved to comment:

that he is the
"Telmo Zarra proved beyond all doubt this afternoon
He was magnificent,
a real
espafiola.
of the"furia
personification
the enemy
the crowd and destroying
man, a real Spaniard, thrilling
Zarra is a
with his dynamism, passion, power and aggression...
brilliant
of our race... "69
example of so many of the virtues

18 November 1941.
66. El Alczar,
8 September-: ' 1943.
67. Arriba,
68. Marca, 17, May 1945.
109

The only

player

other

position

as the embodiment of the furia

national

team and Espafiol

that

of'Rovira

eulogy

to victory

its

clear

Another

myth.

this

occured

cup final,

was not limited

was to give

teams during

of the leading

is

of the

part

he had captained

Espanol

this

when "Gilera"

title

a military
"Blue

forwards

to the furia

in his

preview

with

espafiola

to the forward
The first

Period".

of El Alczar,

dubbed the Sevilla

of the Press,

on the part

mystification

significance,

trend

This

Angel Rovira.

the furia
espaola,
came close to epitomizing
impassioned and
aggressive,
responsible,
He is an inspiring
example of Spanish

towards

political

myth was the powerful

in the 1940 cup final:

over Real Madrid

tendency

esparlola

appeared in Marca after

"The Espafiol captain

with his courageous,
manful performance...
"69
masculinity.

This

centre-half

Zarra's

to challenging

who came close

lines

example of
of

the 1939

Los Stukas:

impassioned Andalucian forwards are

"These furious,
aggressive,
best described as Los Stukas because... they are clearly
capable of
swooping down on the opposing goalmouth and wreaking considerable
1170
damage and destruction...
The forwards

Los Cinco Mosaueteros("The

Bilbao

forward

line

One of the principal

69.
70.
71.
72.

practically

all

Five Musketeers"),

lead by Telmo Zarra

("The Five Artillerymen").

that

team which won the cup in 1940'were

of the Espaol

71 and the Athletic

Los Cinco

was titled

named
de

Artilleros

72

objectives

of the political

of this

tendencies

Marca, 3 June 1940.

25 June 1939.
El Alczar,
See, for example, Marca 3 June 1940.
See, for example, El Mundo Deportivo,
110

thesis

is

to demonstrate

in Francoist

21 February

1945.

Spain were

in professional

reflected
that

in the late

occured

the historian

of "de-Falangization"

The process

1940s and 1950s was no exception.

Southworth

Herbert

from 1948 onwards:

"The Fascist salute was no longer obligatory...

faded from the Blue Shirts.
' The visible
Falange
embarrassment. "73

The "Blue

Period"

football

of Spanish

the football

Valladolid,

gestures

Presidents.
completely

Barcelona
written

one further

of Seville,

month. 74

No. 4 of that

three

season at only

chapter,

and

under Falangist

this

saluting

and chanting

disappeared.

team did

red shirts
in January
about this

not continue

reappeared

for

1949, without

to wear blue shirts.

the friendly

' The

match with

Belpim

any DND or RFEF document being

change. 75

73. Herbert R. Southworth,

in Paul Preston
"The Falange",
in Crisis,
Sussex, 1976, p. 21.
74. Information
revealed by the archives of the RFEF.
75.

end in

was passed on to

Racing de Santander

in this

as seen earlier

gradually

and chanting

information

From the summer of 1949 onwards,

The national
traditional

for

continued

Betis

clubs:
all,

This

saluting

by means of the RFEF's Circular

clubs

These Fascist
professional

than obligatory.

rather

The blue
was an

came to an abrupt

August 1948, when the DND made the pre-match

discretionary

The words of

but nonetheless

unintentionally

what happened in football

illustrate

accurately

football.

No written
order or commentary
about the return
by the author
in the archives
was discovered
of
the DND.

111

to the
either

(ed. ),

red
the

Spain

shirts
RFEF or

in

Fascist

Even though the overt

of

abundance

the

of

Falangist
"Blue

former
from

1960;

Jose

1984.

It

years

all

active

1950;

of

Manuel

presidency

Perez

Pays,

from

the

RFEF and of
of

the

Falange.

of these

regional

The proportion

There

federations:

in

presidency

Fuente

Chaos,

from

Pablo

by the

of

1956 to

DND up to 1961,

the
the

had

Falangists

Ramiro Valdez

1975 to

during

federations

several

Sancho

from

Porta,

a quarter

regional

were

the

the

1952;

1975;

by

nominated

in

the

Sanchez at the

Valdemoro at the

from 1955 to 1958; Juan Jose Ruiz Vzquez at the

federation

Federation

77

In

1950 to

approximately
various

76

from

from 1953 to 1964; Isidro

federation

Extremeduran

the

1970 to

them appointed

all

with

that

de la

the

Falangists:

Calero,

Larrafiaga,

Alfonso

Aragonese federation

Murcian

Valdes

The

game. Approximately

Falangists.

former

or

ArmandaMuoz

1954;

1948-1975,

Asturian

either

1952 to

Luis

connections

%.;

DND, were

very

period.

RFEF, directly

the

of

only

concerns

the

of

be

to

Presidents

doctor,

influence

power

RFEF continued

the

has been estimated

directors

of

positions

Franco

the

of

Fascist

following

from

Dvilla,

in

Division"

1947 to

lingering

this

of

staff

the

addition,

remaining

Falangists

decades

three

declined

football

Spanish

over

general

for

reason

principal

the

the

over

gradually

half

in

influence

Fascist

dropped,

was swiftly

symbolism

from 1966 to 1973; Jorge

Martinez

Fuentes

at the

from 1969 to 1977.

of Falangists

as President

of the professional

clubs

76. This approximation

of
was made by the author after an examination
Jose Luis Perez Paya, the
the RFEF archives,
and after interviewing
from 1970 to 1975.
from 1968 and President
RFEF director
Falangist
77. This estimation
was made using the same sources as in the above
footnote.

112

reduced after

was substantially
able

to elect

to have them appointed

continue
N

to include

compelled

Falangists

to be elected

from 1964 to 1968; Antonio

has been estimated

federations

and the clubs,

throughout

players

that

there

Pay of

President;
Antonio

Atletico

Lorenzo
Reija

of

a small

clubs

minority

during

later

Madrid,

Benitez

of these players

to become RFEF

and the national

of

of Falangist

team; Jose Luis

and the national

and Real

Mariano

football

The most notable

Purchades of Valencia

Zaragoza;

of Falangists

10%.78

existed

the Franco years.

both

from

at the RFEF, the regional

were: Manuel Sanchis of Real Madrid

Perez

at Espanol

Castaneiras

the proportion

of the professional

to these Falangists

Sosa at Elche

Diaz Camacho at Villadolid

1948-1975 was approximately

In addition

Luis

from 1957 to 1965; Jose

of Barcelona

the period

-1

Alvarez

at Oviedo from 1962 to 1969; Carlos

and directors

President:

de Huelva from 1950 to 1963; Juan Carlos

Maria Arroyo

as Presidents

was

very occasionally

who only

from 1955 to 1963; Angel Dominguez at Sevilla

It

than

1959, each club

Until

at Burgos from 1954 to 1959; Roberto

1970 to 1978.

being

rather

year onwards.

by the DND.

and respected

at Recreativo

Villa

Santamari

two active

popular

were sufficiently
Martinez

from that

own Presidents

their

because of the clubs

1948, mainly

team; Jose

Sevilla.

78. This approximation

revealed in the
was made using the information
archives of the DND, the RFEF and the major football
clubs, and also
in in terviews
during that period,
for example
with club officials
Agusti Montal,
former President
Julio de Miguel,
of FC Barcelona,
former President
of Valencia,
and the former and current Real Madrid
Vice-President
Raimundo Saporta.

113

influence

Fascist
through

Bilbao

de Bilbao

Atletico

two clubs

1974, the other

The Fascist

de

Athletic

de Gijon,

Deportivo

in April

title

original

immediately

the same permission

obtaining

that

rhetoric

decreased more in quantity

Such rhetoric

Period".

Marca, Arriba

lesser

In addition,

only

many private

radio

in the utilization
the catalyst
superiority

for

of the Spanish race.

fifteen

between this

million

rather

In July
national

radio

He never crossed

type of aggressively

For

details
of these name changes,
May 1974.

state

was instrumental

of the national

team as

than as a symbol of the

excitedly

listeners

that

the continued

the thin

nationalism

114

Prats,

the

1940s and early

rhetoric.

1950, Prats

over England was revenge for

of Gibraltar.

79. For further

No. 84,18

victories

nationalism,

of

commentators

commentator of both

from 1949 to 1978, Matias

aggressive

World Cup victory

in this

football

nationalist

of the occasional

to approximately

occupation

indulged

writers,

War years.

post-Civil

commenced in the late

that

television

the virulently

of Falangist

of the football

minority

stations

by the newspaper

a majority

than in the immediate

extent
a small

and television

each with

gradually

the end of the "Blue

after

to be reproduced

continued

1950s and of national

Spanish football

surrounded

than in quality

and El Alczar,

but to a far

radio

to its

to revert

FC

names.

79

afterwards.

example,

de Gijon

and Sporting

Baia

the DND allowed

club

de Barcelona,

to be Club de Futbol

continued

to be reflected

continued

foreign-influenced

the compulsorily-changed

Barcelona

until

over Spanish football

line,

and Fascist

claimed
Spain's
British

however,
rhetoric

see Barrabs,

(Barcelona)

based on claims

of racial

80

superiority.

in

The success of the Spanish team in the 1950 World Cup tournament
Brazil,

however,

did provoke

some pieces

to the defeat

how Marca reacted

of Fascist

This was

rhetoric.

of England:

"This is the greatest

sporting
achievement
since our "War of
demonstration
Liberation",
to the whole world
and... a splendid
fury,
the traditional
Hispanic
virtues
of passion,
aggression,
in the
have been completely
virility
and impetousity
recovered
Spain" born out of that bloody
"81
conflict.

also based its

Arriba
against

hosts

preview

Brazil

of the Spanish team's

on these allegedly

"New

match

crucial

"traditional

that

Hispanic

virtues":

"Tomorrow, playing against the host team and 150,000 Brazilian

in the Maracana Stadium, our team will
have again to
supporters
display all the Spanish masculine characteristics
that have so far
destroyed the United States, Chile and England: courage, passion,
discipline,
determination,
aggression,
virility
and fury. "es

From 1950 onwards,

team declined

mainly

gradually,

success enjoyed

by this

team.

team served as a'bigger

the occasional

would produce

diluted

by the adoption

of Real Madrid.

80.

kind

this

of foreign

tactics

South American players

For example,

this

3 July 1950.
8 July 1950.

115

lack

complete

Arriba

espafiola

than did
and

having

and by the inclusion

such as Alfredo

was the reaction

supported
and Enrique

of

of the national

of rhetoric

Marca,

about the furia

This was the defence of Prats himself,

journalists
Juan Jose Castillo
sports
"Gilera".

81. Marca,
82. Arriba,

the defeats

Ironically,
for

the national

surrounding

With every defeat,

invective

Alcazar

rhetoric

because of the almost

opportunity

victories.

team of nationalized

the Fascist

El
been
in the

Di Stefano

of El Alczar

to the

by the veteran
Gil de la Vega

elimination

team in the qualifying

of the national

1954 World Cup finals

tournament

by unfancied

competition

for

the

Turkey:

into our traditionally

the consequence
of the introduction
impassioned
football
foreign
tactics
of alien
manful,
aggressive,
We Spaniards
play best when we play in our own
and methods...
from overseas...
"s3
not one borrowed
style,
"This

is

This was the judgement

of General Jose Villalba,

and Jose

General*Moscardo

Antonio

had been beaten 3-0 by Portugal

Elola

Olaso

at

the

assistant

the

DND, after

to both
Spain

in June 1956:

The
"Today's match has been an authentic
example of lost courage.
We have
effeminate.
surfeit
of technique has made Spanish football
loss has brought today's
It's
always won on the basis of courage.
1184
reverse...

The Spanish team for

four

contained
versial

the 1962 World Cup finals

overseas-born

Argentine

Helenic

players,

Herrera.

eliminated

from the tournament,

vehemently

criticized.

this

tournament

in Chile

and was coached by the controWhen the team lost

high

level

to Brazil

of foreign

Marca led the way in this

and, was

influence

was

criticism:

from the World Cup because our team was

"Spain has been eliminated
Spanish...
For more than ten years now, we have
not sufficiently
into
been applauding
the introduction
Spanish
rightly
quite
foreign
football
players
such as
of outstanding,
spectacular
Kubala,
Di Stefano,
Ferenc Puskas and Ladislao
Alfredo
and talented
foreign
Helenio
Herrera
Fernando Daucick,
and Ruben
coaches like
They have added colour
to our domestic
Fleitas.
and excitement
football,
and helped our clubs to win the European competitions.
influence
foreign
has now extended
too far.
But this
Our leading
that
Spanish
players
with imported
club teams are so full
impress.
to
the
Even worse, the
not
given
chance
are
youngsters
is
foreigners
full
by
team
of
and so conditioned
now
so
national
that it no longer
foreign
tactics
a team of real
plays like
Spaniards,
with courage,
with aggression,
with
with passion,
intending
fury...
Without
any
above
and
all,
with
virility,
disrespect
towards
these distinguished
players,
we are compelled

83. El Alcgzar,
84.

Quoted

in

18 March 1954.
ABC,

(Madrid)

6 June

116

1956.

how can Di Stefano and Puskas feel

to ask ourselves:
repeatedly
pride when they pull on the famous red shirt
sufficient
patriotic
It is time to construct
anthems?..
and line up for the national
football
team, with eleven wholly Spanish
completely new national
and the sadly almost
players,
playing with Spanish tactics
"85
forgotten
furia espanola
.
which had warned against

Arriba,

team before

national
afterwards

the journey

a prohibition

foreign

excessive

on the further

importation

in the

presence

to Chile, 86 actually

suggested
of foreign

players:

"What happened in Chile did not surprise

Even if the
us at all...
"Spain"
had won the trophy,
team called
always an unlikely
then it would still
for
prospect,
not have been occasion
because this
Spanish at
team was hardly
unconditional
satisfaction,
What is needed is a truly
Spanish national
team, an
all...
impassioned,
team.
the
It seems to us that
manful and courageous
is to stop the flood
best way to achieve
into our
this
of imports
domestic
the traditional
Spanish style
game, in order to recover
of
team of powerful
play and build
a national
and aggressive
young
Spaniards. "87

The DND did impose a ban on the further

players

in August 1962, which pleased

and caused the allegation

Fascist
true.

influence
As explained

that

this

in Spanish football.

Marca,

importation
Arriba

ban signified
89

This

at the time by Jose Antonio

of foreign

and El Alczar,
a resurgence

accusation
Elola

of

is only

Olaso,

85

partly

the

Marca, 17 July 1962.

23 June 1965.
See, for example, Arriba,
20 July 1962.
Arriba,
7 August 1962, and El Alcazar and Marca,
See, for example, Arriba,
8 August 1962.
89. This allegation
was made in Carzola Prieto,
op. cit.,
p. 239, and in
Marco, op. cit.,
p. 88.

85.
86.
87.
88.

117

Delegado

Nacional

criticisms

about

for

reason

FIFA had,
Italy

the

was that

imported

about

it

being

the 1966 World Cup finals

without

is

It
based
it

in

logical

the

strictest

into

entry

players
fully

of

with

domestic
dubious

discussed

Before

ban in

this

in

1973,

documents
Chapter

import

being obviously

of

the result

for

import
then

into
pointed

national

out

the

Spanish

this

1960s

of

such a ban

have

until

a blind

DND turned

an abundance

team

had been

DND would

late

that,

reason. 93

this

the

South

parentage,

upheld
the
eye to

American
as shall

be

thesis.

Fascist

successes
rhetoric,

of the expensive

of Real Madrid

because of these
purchases

of the

90. This was implicitly

revealed by Elola Olaso in an interview
with
18 August 1962.
Mundo Deportivo,
91. For details
of these protests,
see World Soccer, August and
September 1962.
18 August 1962.
92. See El Mundo Deportivo,
93. Ibid.
118

and

up its
the

prohibition

From the

ban, the international

little

Spain

ban, and that

claiming

Eight

were accompanied by extremely

successes

of

body

an import

however,

football

major

to form a decent

the

manner.

the

difficult

principles,

possible

the

if

assume that
Fascist

on essentially

termination
the

to

team

about

91 tightened

Nacional

the

governing

incorporated

in Italy,

had been adopted two weeks earlier

that

countries

Chile,

The Delecado

would be extremely

football

several
in

in

however,

world

players

92

new country.

in consequence,

the

players

influence

admitted,

from

protests

foreign-born

with

their

Olaso

by the

had been affected

foreign

excessive

Elola

of

as a result

regulations

for

90

Chile.

decision

the

allegedly

prohibition

playing

team of

the

in

failed

which

de Deportes,

El

Argentine

Alfredo

Hungarian

Ferenc

Nacional

after

such rhetoric
four

Uruguayan

the

and the

Puskas

Frenchman

Jod

Santamaria,

Raymond Kopa.

the

The Delegado

many eyebrows when he attempted

Olaso raised

Elola

containing

Stefano,

Di

in December 1958, an Atletico

seeing,

beat

foreigners

Bulgarians

the

CDNA of

to apply
de Madrid team
in

Sofia

the

Cup:

European

"Apart
from the result,
me
which fully
satisfies
me, what impressed
that the racial
the most was appreciating
virtues
of the Spaniards
in...
when placed
under examination
continue,
undertakings
of major
historical
"94
transcendency.

were far

Madrid,
therefore

little

Spanish

Ambassador

ministers

Jose

and diplomats,

sixth

de Erice

Sebastian
in

the

Brussels,

along

and was moved to

and
A rare

rhetoric.

and wholly

when a rejuvenated

Cup for

European

Bonn,

Fascist

May 1966,

Belgrade

Partizan

against

in

won the
in

for

Real

especially

in the European competitions,

opportunity

itself

Madrid

Real

the Spanish clubs,

stars,

successful

presented

Spanish

Franco's

less

provided

opportunity

final

foreign

of their

Short

The

time.

O'Shea,
with

watched

several

the

other

of

comment:

(Real Madrid)
"I wear the badge that
from the club
I received
with
because,
I
and joy,
as a representative
pride
of my country,
is an
that
the presence
the world
of Real Madrid across
realize
authentic
expression
of our virile,
young enthusiastic
reborn
Spain. "98
The only

occasion

that

the

provided

for

kind

of

Nations

Cup,

Union,

the

this
staged

in

new,

young,

rhetoric

Spain.

was the

Before

man who had constructed

wholly

this

the

Spanish
in

victory
final

the

against

new team,

team

national

Colonel

1964 European

the

Soviet

Jose

94. Quoted in Marca, 19 December 1958.

del Real Madrid CF, No. 193, June 1966.
95. Quoted in the Boletin

119

Villalonga,

in Franco's

a young officer

head of the "Military

afterwards

army in the Civil

School of Physical

War and
in

Education"

commented to the Press:

Toledo,

hard
be the culmination
"Tommorow's match will
of two years'
impassioned,
building
team based
a young,
aggressive,
virile
typical
Hispanic
Two years ago, in Chile,
racial
virtues...
to foreign
tactics.
and Spaniards
a team of foreigners
playing

work,
on
we had

Today, we have a team of real

That situation
could not last.
Spaniards once more, a team we can all be proud of. "96

Like

the Fascist
enjoyed

espafiola

applied

a brief

of foreign

prohibition

to the five

the direct

resurgence

in 1962.

players

the immense foreign

tactics

short-passing
and aggressive

of the ban on further

style

players

the myth of the furia

in the period

European Cup triumphs

1960, because of both

sophisticated,

in general,

rhetoric

that

of Athletic

following

the

This myth had hardly

from 1956 to

of Real Madrid
presence
it

in the team and the

employed,
de Bilbao.

was enthusiastically

been

in contrast

to

The announcement

greeted

in this

way

by Marca:
hope that this reduction
in the foreign
influence
"Let us fervently
in our national
game quickly leads to a complete recuperation
of
the furia espanola, out of fashion for far too many years... "97
Practically
final

every newspaper report

contained

several

references

of the 1964 European Nations

Cup

to the furia,

the way:

Arriba

leading

"The furia espanola has returned at last,

triumphed in
and...
yesterday,
against the most difficult
of opponents...
adversity
demonstrated to the world that the furia
Yesterday's
victory
espanola is invincible,
when employed with passion,
aggression,
"98
courage and virility.

96. Quoted in Marca, 21 JUne 1964.

97. Marca, 8 August 1962.
23 June 1962.
98. Arriba,

120

of the furia,

The resurgence

myth was completed

European Cup win in 1966.

Marca regarded

this

by Real Madrid's

sixth

event as the dawning of a

the furia:

new are for

by foreigners,
"Just
four years ago, our football
and
was dominated
furia
danger of extinction...
our beloved
espafiola
was in serious
in the form of a virile,
Two years ago, the furia
returned
impassioned
Union.
team which defeated
the Soviet
young Spanish
Now, after
Spanish Real Madrid has
a rejuvenated
and wholly
is evident.
the European Cup, the return
recaptured
of the furia
Instead,
But this
we
process should not be regarded
as completed.
because the furia
to the future,
espaola
should look with optimism
is on the verge of a new Golden Age, when young, impassioned
Spanish players
to the world the
will
once again demonstrate
"99
Hispanic
racial
virtues.

from the national

Apart

Cup and Real

other

and therefore
furia

in

Moscow for
mentioned
grandiose,
departure
Cara

al

that

the

in

successes

for

little

very

espanola

occurred

victory

Madrid's

international

team's

June 1971,

the

when the

a-European Nations

fulsome
after
Sol. b00
chanting

correspondents,

articles

defeat
It

these
for

and singing
and carried

99. Marca, 13 May 1966.

100. See Marca, and Arriba,

the

examples

Soviets,
alleged

by several

by the

this

of

rhetoric
to

was not
carried

Arriba
of

by the

the

Espanal
players,

upon

and sang
however,

Marca and Arriba

RFEF and DND officials

2 June 1971.

121

kind

the whole Spanish party,

chanted

was initiated

and the

team travelled

Although

that

teams,

rhetoric

this

of

be-no

to

were

all-Spanish

both Marca and Arriba

claiming

out

there

Fascist

national

Cup match.

by the

has been

last

Cup,

rejuvenated,

Spanish

in any other-newspaper,

in the 1964 European Nations

1966 European

opportunity
One of

myth.

triumph

without

is appropriate

It

coming from the players.

contribution

any substantial

at this

during

football

professional

to be made between the "Blue

followed.

decades that

sport

and society

the "Blue

in general.

every bit

The Falangist

and of the clubs,

federations

three

names, whilst

saluting

and chanting,

and was largely

language

riddled

with

Fascist

national
very

Thereafter,

Fascist

restricted

democracy to the football

in the election,

reflected
gestures

high

level

and secondly

influence

of Spain

in football

by the

over football

in positions

The Fascist

of

the

declined

of power was
degree of

by the clubs

of the majority

federations.

of foreign

Fascist

and the blue shirts

influence

of the game was made difficult

mystification

to change

in the Press in a

in 1948, of a limited

from 1961 onwards,

the RFEF and the regional

extremely

clubs,

an abundance

The "de-Falangization"

of Falangists

by the return,

firstly

over Spanish

DND appointed

reported

the Fascist

The proportion

gradually.

as strong

influence

Fascist

every match began with

from the late, 1940s onwards was clearly

team.

this

of the RFEF, of the regional

rhetoric.

abandonment of the pre-match

has

distinction

of whom were compelled

foreign-influenced

their

Period",

and directors

as Presidents

of Falangists

A clear

from 1939 to 1948, and the three

Period"

During

at a

over Spanish

the Franco years.

was immense, indeed,

over football

to arrive

influence

of Fascist

about the extent

conclusion

to attempt

stage

''

taking

of the directors
rhetoric

part
of

and

in the 1950s by the

in the internationally

101. This was alleged to the author by the following

former players,
(bar
in
Moscow: Caries Rexach of FC Barcelona
Jose Angel Ir
present
de Bilabao,
1 July 1986; Manuel Velizquez of Real
of Athletic
Madrid.

122

This rhetoric

and mystification

because of the prohibition

and the brief

successes of the national

was limited

football
Luis

Perez

of the Fascist

to Falangist

Paya and Pablo

professional

football

professional

game.
in
to

secondly,

with
foreign

harmoniously

coexisting

A veritable
was illustrated

gulf

Bernabeu,

only half

"revitalize"
This

when the

concepts

of every 1 May during

"Sindicalist

with

and imported
in

model.

worlds.

This

the 1940s and 1950s,

Sporting

Games", in which

to offer

a multi-

in Real Madrid's

Estadio

would attempt

non-participating

123

was
football,

professional

difficulties

sporting

mass

and,

however,

model,

the

required

race,

between these two sporting

Syndicates"

model for

general

the

of

to

and German

players

severe

This would take place

filled

in

sport

Fascist

the annual

members of the "Vertical

for

to have

this

by the events

spectacular.

example

reappearance

of a precise

millionaire

going

existed

to Italian

The world

sport.

with

when the DND organized

sports

occasional

of Fascist

world.

support,

was always

stars,

to

watching

amateur

immense passive

its

model

firstly,
the

to

over professional

such as occurred

was the lack

The Fascist

order,

confined

strictly

and the

and indeed

earlier,

impress

team and Real Madrid.

of the RFEF, for

to the application

football,

Spanish professional

foreign

to Moscow, in June 1971.

The major obstacle

participation

Porta,

and rhetoric,

gesturing

team travelled

national

Presidents

in

resurgence

on further

influence

the Fascist

By the end of the Franco period,

Jose

a temporary

enjoyed

1962-1966,

the period
players

Real Madrid.

teams, especially

successful

members of the

"Vertical
the

to see the

capacity

in

triumph

the

a circle.

There

by the

leadership

of

to remain
this

close
Daranas

exhibition
celebrate
This

is

of

wqs

the

Radio

Nacional

match

against

a part

of

of

lead

interest

Real

in

to

packed

same stadium

of

Daranas's

two distinct

these
absolutely

DND or

completely

opening

The lack

stars

or members of

attending,

Madrid

this

125,000

to another

Cup.

the

103

Falange.

by the

sporting

no official

Falangist

broadcaster

when,

June

a side

of

veteran

national

section

of

the

final
appraisal

of

the

serious

Real

the

Madrid

this

was
to

attempt
Mariano
staged

team players
Estadio

was to

to do

The ambiguity

in

1954,

worlds

attempt

The only

unresolved.

gap was undertaken

the

the

foreign

gap between

square

102

charge.
with

expensive

European

the

To bridge

allowed

of

can be contrasted

event

annual

free

who entered

public

into

who had been coerced

Syndicates"

a free
to

Bernabeu.

event:

"Perhaps we talk too loudly and too well against Communism. But are
that we really
comport ourselves like anti-Communists?
we certain
Are we sure that we apply all all the necessary,
or, at least,
meat do
of working-class
possible means so that the horse-breakers
not manage to play the role of anxious sheperds? In order to
it is necessary to place
affirmative,
respond with a categorical
the
the more frequently
with the reach of the lower classes,
biological
demands, such as
better,
not only certain
essential
but also those-other
social
work, food, sleep, house and leisure,
imperatives
that are the almost exclusive
monopoly of certain
Bear in mind that, thanks to Real Madrid,
economic classes.
thousands and thousands of poor children
time on
saw for the first
Saturday a real football
match; that Zarra and Di Stefano changed
into men of flesh and
in front of their
eyes from legendary figures
delighted.
bone; that the parents enjoyed seeing their children

details
102. For further
Cazorla Prieto,
op.
103. No such attempt was
the archives of the
his interviewees.

Sporting
Games", see
of these "Si dicalist
pp. 218-221.
cit.,
discovered by the author in his examination of
DND, op. cit., rnor was referred
to by any of

124

the evening
Bear in mind that throughout
the gigantic
and
harmonious
the property
speaking
stadium was not, strictly
of Real
but that of thousands
Madrid,
who cannot afford
of humble families
for every Sunday league match, to such an extent
to buy tickets
by
holders,
that
the actual
season ticket
and persuaded
powerless,
the immense wave of new spectators,
gave up their
seats in the
"104
covered
stand to the masses from the poor districts.
Apart

from

Falange

this

rhetoric,

to diminish

and Spanish

there

the gulf

professional

was no other

which separated

attempt

by the

the Fascist

DND of

sporting

the

model

football.

104. This radio script

was reproduced
No. 48, July 1954.

125

in the Boletin

del Real Madrid CF,

CHAPTER THREE: FOOTBALL AND POLITICAL

PASSIVITY

"For years,
Spanish sport
was effectively
reduced to football,
forget
his
always employed as a drug to make the man in the street
the most
everyday
problems,
and used systematically
on the eve'of
holidays.
Manuel Fraga,
conflictive
public
combined
specifically,
the fiestas
for all
of football
and bulls
of the May Day public
holidays,
in a
culminating
a few years ago, one 30 April,
television
transmission
of all of the goals ever scored by the
Spanish national
team, narrated
by the epic voice of Francoism,
that
Matias Prats. "1
of the commentator

This

is

Culture

the opinion
with

of Javier

responsibility
of football

politicization

Solana,
for

the present

sport, 2 about

in Francoist

Spain:

of the game by the Franco regime to serve

"social

drug"

of a high

level

and regional
Chapters

of political

significance

Sevenand

most discussed

1.
2.

or "escape valve"

Eight

aspect

that

of football,
of this

the second aspect

the alleged

as a political

contributed

passivity.

thesis

Spanish Minister

which will
respectively,

with

of the

manipulation
soporific,

towards

Together

of

the maintenance

the diplomatic

be examined in
this

has been the

of politicization.

Quoted in Antonio
Alcoba,
op. cit.,
pp. 254-255.
In August 1977, the DND became the Consejo
Superior
de Deportes,
of the Ministry
under the auspices
of Culture.
This arrangement
for
intact
the political
control
of Spanish sport
remains
at the time of
writing.

126

The general
this

particular

foreign
in

allegation

do not

regime

genuine

a high
by force

demand for

demand was cynically

the

media

Marca,

popularity

radio

and television.

alleged

to have

been utilized

1960s

attendance
the

and early
at

independent

the

a member of

national

late

the

1970s

illegal

trade

in

of football

popularity
the regime.
similar

3.

They point

to the one that

the

out

of

the

of

sections

sports
Press

chain,

and
is

institution

latter

holidays
to

opposition

reduce

the

of
the

parties

and

regime,

Spanish
during

daily

regime

this

on the

May Day public

by the

demonstrations

that

centre

the

the

and

extensive

particular,

was

an immense

allege

the

and

that
of

a repressed

State:

an attempt

unions.

conservative

the

during

football

game made by the

the

Movimiento's
In

In defence of the Franco

of veteran,

to

manipulated

existed

arguments

of

Spanish

of

passivity

They simply

Their

connected

closely

most

newspaper

the

there
from

public.

both

political

that

to

regard

These many critics

football

exploited.

towards

of

arms.

deny

professional

entertainment-starved-Spanish

contribution

degree

with

regime

systematically

of

to

attempt

Franco

by an abundance

it

that

maintain

established

originally
Franco

is

writers,

to help

order

made largely

aspect,

sports

the

against

sports

it

is argued,

largely

journalists,

that

the Franco years had nothing

that

occurred

an explosion

of interest

in Franco Spain also

by a group
the enormous
to do with
in the game

took place

in

has been made in the following

This allegation
Alcoba,
publications:
Luis*Maria
Cazorla
Preito,
op. cit.,
pp. 253-255;
op. cit.,
p. 163;
del deporte,
Vicente
Marco, istorias
Madrid,
1982, p. 144; Julian
Garcia Candau, op. cit.,
Alex J. Botines,
pp. 51-52;
op. cit.,
pp.
17-18.

127

European

every

and that

this

this

context,

group

game by both

the

media

was the

effect

rather

than

product

consequence,

this

or

investigation.

This chapter

Francoist

one part
with

football

writers

to

the

coverage

to the popular

should

is

as a political

systematically

that

to demonstrate
soporific

that

be subjected

the

of
the

and that,
to

suspicion

that

in

not only

and at many times,

dictatorships

prevailed

of the 1960s and

football

that

in Francoist

the critic's

as the game itself

employed
Spain. 5

perception

in intensity
increased

the view that

was simply

the concept

of evasion",

that

of

is to demonstrate

soporific

increased

supports

sections

Franco

The first

"culture

the same rate

utilized

not

to demonstrate

culture

coverage

of

regime,

in many countries

of the all-pervasive

Spanish

by the

as a political

is

level

high

War,
as a

a specific

demand for

objectives.

The second objective

objective

the

acting

immense public

any manipulation

has five

In

and independent

than

media

To examine the evidence

5.

that

claims

Second World

football

of

countries.

in the South American military

approximately

4.

these

of

the

after

allegations

State-controlled

but also

Spain,

regard

The third

of

has been utilized

especially
1970s.

most

rather

in

football

in

the

country

produced

explosion

soporific

political

American

and South

at
in popularity.

football

by the Franco regime as a political

of

was
diversion

is

in which these views have been expounded in

The only publication
manner has been Marca, 17 February 1970.
any kind of systematic
These views have been expressed to the author in interviews
with the
Jose Maria Lorente
Marca journalists
Belarmino
"Belarmo,
and Rodolfo
3 May 1986, and by the former RFEF Presidents
Jose Luis Perez Pay',
and Pablo Porta.
by Sir Raymond Carr and Juan Pablo Fusi,
This concept
was created

op. cit.

128

and most important

the fourth
final

is

objective

the high level

No systematic

however,

America,

this

that

alleged

not sufficient

it

arms and also that

is

this

to obtain

level

soporifics,
military

mind.

"circus"

source of entertainment

period

established

junta

for

events,

is

the hiiti

by force

of

the economic and social

in its

is compelled

In order

wake.

to search for

be promoted to be political
and circuses"
no viable

in the view of the

and impassioned

when a

occurs

an extended

passivity

the

There is practically

has been

of repression,

of attaining

the Roman idea of "bread

as the principal
of dramatic

for

political

which could

it

or the fear

originally

of passivity,

entertainments

Mario Benedetti.

phenomenon in the whole of South

repression,

incapable

brings

which usually

progress

about the

In these articles,

to maintain

Spain.

the most

soporific,

of the game normally

demobilization

of political

popular

that

and
to

contributed

in Francoist

existed

Uruguayan novelist

study of this

manipulation

in itself

football

as a political

has been published.

'uffnta realizes

military

level

of football

monographic

The fifth

chapter.

newspaper and magazine articles

by the celebrated

written

notable

that

passivity

of political

There have been several

alleged

to what extent

to evaluate

utilization

of this

objective

appealing

alternative

'uffnta,

being

and indeed traditionally

the majority

of middle

to the
to football

a daily

saga

the major

and working

class

America.?
in
south
males

6.
7.

See, for example, El Pais, 6 January 1981 and 29 June 1986.

See, for example, the articles
of Benedetti mentioned in the above
Cazorla Prieto,
footnote,
op. cit.,
pp. 274-275, and Janet Lever,
Soccer Madness, New York, 1983.
129

In the course
alleged

definitive

most

the

modest

Santos

club

of

in

their

Pele

player

for

offer

he was still

only

"businessman"
gave

from

Pere

rejected.
Santos

It

whenever

West German or
football

in

immensely
of

remained

is
it

appeared

1975.10
popular

and also

financially-troubled

that

up until

to

Diego
Argentine

when

Coehlo

half

of

a million
for

offers

alleged

Fernando
Maradona,
football,

would

from

loans

similar

be sold

to

to

top-flight
to

have

Morena

of

occured
the

first

with

or

with

Pearol

who surprisingly

1959.
22-28
June
details,
Marca,
further
For
see
8.
details,
Lever, op. cit.,
pp. 113-114,
9. See, for further
World Soccer, August 1968.
10. See Lever, ibid.
"P. c'. ", .
130

1959,

Antonio

give

player

he retired

striker

with

the

is

The first

and SV Hamburg were

continued

same thing

way

world-

June

lucrative

the

Munich

that

the

this

a mysterious

loan

Bayern

Uruguayan

1960,

June

in

that

in

Madrid

an interest-free

Coehlo

Much the

of

for

Europe

career.

Eduardo

possible

club,

his

called

condition

that

alleged

Italian

Montevideo,
in

on the

West German clubs

the

Real
In

from

to maintain

whole

profile

Santos

dollars,

States

United

claimed

the

old. e

years

a low public

financially-troubled

is

It

near-

permanently
offers

came from

Pele

almost

was able

team for

of these allegations.

lucrative

players.

little

sums of money from

the

the

Sao Paulo

nineteen

with

in support

permitted
to resist

to distract'

Extremely

situation.

substantial

and popular

attractive

headline-making

club

be able

to

clubs

the

the

frequently

sources

bankrupt

is that

allegation

mysterious

is offered

however,

proof,

The principal

famous

away from the political

attention

adopted several

had the potential

football

to ensure that

measures in order
popular

dictators

the South American military

that

is

it

of these newspaper and magazine articles,

the

Argentinos

Juniors

1982.11

until

It

many lesser-known

is claimed

that

Argentine,

Brazilian,

the fall

after

for

offers

1983-1985,

have been unable

countries

leading

their

way, it

In a similar

South America materially

soporific

a political
other
special

to resist

players.

is

frequency

realized

causes whole towns or suburbs

that

bankrupt
It

is

clubs
claimed

of General
that

of these

clubs

being

that

this

of professional

the two articles

September 1980.

source

league. 14

of

as

with
with

Benedetti

clubs

of
because of

the country

throughout

of these teams from the national

occured

of

where the military

principgl

the withdrawal

to serve

able

from disappearance

Pinochet,

their

dictators

the military

the collapse

to lose

matches cancelled

details,
Soccer,

Uruguay and

Spanish and French

to football

with

See, for further

above, and World

that

13

entertainment,

11.

is significant

the Italian,

contributed
by saving

and

in Argentina,

also alleged

in the Chile

regime has apparently

It

Chilean

even the most popular

sums of money.

mysterious

Uruguayan,

dictatorships

of the military

in the period

Brazil

sums of money have allowed

mysterious

to remain at home. 12

Paraguayan footballers

both of Buenos Aires

Boca Juniors,

club and then with

It

has been

mentioned

12. In addition
to the two sources mentioned in the above footnote,
see
World Soccer, April 1977 and March 1982, and Don Baln,
No. 282,10
January 1981.
March 1987, that there are 95
13. It was stated in World Soccer,
from these three South American countries
in the
footballers
playing
Indeed, the South American
leagues of Western Europe.
professional
teams, which took place in
championship tournament for national
in July 1987, was severely weakened by the great majority
Argentina
of these 95 players having to remain with their European clubs.
14. For further
details
of these allegations,
see either Don Baln, No.
282,10
January 1981 and No. 494,7
April
1985, and World Soccer,
March 1982 and September 1984
131

of Talca

three

that

regime realized

in 1979, and the Rangers

league.

professional

appointed

in Spanish

It

is claimed
for

responsible
Porteno
military

that

saving

from extinction,
junta

the Stroessner
the Ascuncin

popular

club

echoing

the

actually
the

members. 16

regime
clubs

in Paraguay was

Sol de America and Cerro

in 1983 and 1985 respectively,

Peflarol

have

disregarding

completely

then in power in Uruguay is alleged

the highly

that,

in the 1940s, it

football

35,000 club

of the approximately

could

of the whole Chilean

President,

own nominee as club

The

club.

famous club

about the Colo Colo situation

interference

its

Chilean

in 1981 and 1984, the Pinochet

On two occasions,

regime was so concerned

governmental

wake the collapse

the financial

with

the most popular

of this

however,

significance,

preoccupation

the disappearance

in its

brought

actualily

stepped in to save the

Of greater

constant

of Colo Colo Santiago,

problems

with

later-15

years

to be the regime's

appears

wishes

regime

club of Vina del Mar from extinction

Everton
club

the Pinochet

that

alleged

specifically

of Montevideo

'7 whilst

the

to have done the same

in both

1978 and

1981.18

The various
considerable
not only

15.
16.
17.
18.

regimes

of South America have spent

amounts of money in preparing

in order

nationalism,

military

but,

to have an obvious
in addition,

catalyst

a political

a successful
for
soporific

1985.
April
See Don Baln, No. 494,7
Ibid.
details,
World Soccer, April
See, for further
For details,
see the two articles
of Benedetti
132

national

team,

aggressive
that

could

1986
mentioned

assist

above.

in

keeping

the

the

streets

World

their

dictators
were

invested

for

Stroessner

regime

Paraguayan

national

All

of

Paraguayan

the

US dollars

million

invested

played

on home soil.

Menotti

1982 World

invested

more than

reflected

home team would

in

in

in

Cup finals

preparation

1970,

the

in

tournament.
US dollars

a million

Cup finals,

of

but
military
1980-1982,

period

but

on

of

Brazilian

The Uruguayan

1981,

1986 World

the

the

team in

victory

the
20

same year
The
the

preparing
in

which

they

21

however,
that

Videla

19

tournaments.

Mundialito

money allegedly

regimes,

in

success

national

instead

sets

The various

dollars

on their

team for

television

regime.

of

the

creditably.

performed

the

spectacular

subsequent

the

with

to qualify

for

with

heavily

spent

rewarded

failed

in

less

their

of

thousands

Cup teams,

considerably

front

problems

causing
juntas

military

in

populace

a team for

The young
general

contribute

by the

the

Argentine

feeling

towards

that
the

Brazilian,

comparison
junta

Argentine

preparing

the

in

pales

the

22

spent

with

headed

Jorge

Cup finals,
Cesar

Luis

by the

performance
of

and

two and a half

manager

national

maintenance

the

by General

1978'World

a good

Uruguayan

political

passivity:

"If
from organizing
Argentina,
the championship,
apart
then many of the problems
good classification,
of the
be resolved.
"23
people will

manages
Argentine

details,
Lever, op. Cit.,
See, for further
pp. 32-55 and pp. 93-112.
for details.
El Pais articles
See the two Benedetti
This allegation
1986.
was made in World Soccer, April
details,
For further
see World Soccer, October 1978, Don Baln, No.
282,10
January 1981, and The Sunday Times, 21 June 1986.
16 November 1877.
23. Quoted in Interviu,

19.
20.
21.
22.

133

team did win the tournament,

Menotti's
football,

the same method as in Francoist

matches broadcast

on State

dangerous May Day public

dictatorships

the lack

the

South

in

the

are

of paying

not
rural

under the

of

dictatorships

the

states

wildly

as a political

of

Unlike

Black
South

enthusiastic

of
Africa,

America,
about

Furthermore,

societies.

It
the
in

is

claimed

World,

in

however,
the

game,

there

is

by the

25

soporific

South

matches

recompensated

in the stadia.

spectators

dictatorships.

military

Europe. 26

developed

24.

most

one-party

Eastern
above

American
in

occurred

of the

in Argentina

being generously

the clubs

was

the potentially

This was the case in all

has been manipulated

Football

during

especially

above, and especially

a week were transmitted,

24

high number of

an extremely

television,

soporific

Ongania from 1966 to 1969, when as many as six

'uffnta of General

regime for

to be a political
n

Spain:

holiday.

mentioned

glory.

in which the South American military

football

to promote

attempted

open and attacking

to bask in the reflected

way, however,

The most obvious

dictators

junta

the Videla

allowing

playing

East
the

that

Central
Asia,
areas

being

in

not only
this

has

America,
and even

in

mentioned

largely

under-

no pluralist

For details
of how the Videla
regime took advantage
of the 1978
Prieto,
World Cup triumph,
op. cit.,
see: Cazorla
pp. 308-310;
1978; Don Baln,
October
World Soccer,
Benedetti,
No. 282,
op. cit.;

10 January 1981; The Sunday Times, (London) 21 June 1986.

25. See Cazorla Prieto,
Verdi,
pp. 297-298, and Vicente
op. cit.,
El Futbol:
mitos, ritos y simbolos, Madrid, 1980, p. 205, and
La Nacin,
coverage.

(Buenos

Aires),

6, May 1969 for

details

of

this

television

details
26. For brief
of all of these allegations,
see the special
report in Don Balon, No. 131,8 April 1978, and Cazorla Prieto,
pp. 161-187.
cit.,

134

op.

democratic

in these areas,

tradition

football

promote professional
their

has even been

by several

claimed

that

alleged

football

Professor

EW Hunt,

the Stretford

in the following

capitalist

End, " published

For details,
Ibid.

in order

to

problems. 27

It

Scherer,

furniture

factories.

directing

the

towards

28

the local
passivity

is

of the champion French club

of professional

the Western pluralist

who wound up his

and

Bayern Munich and employer of

allegedly

in

Giovanni

is financer

partially

of contributing

soporific

has been

that

car empire,

One of the theoreticians

controversial

by The Guardian

article

democracies
"Karl

in February

Marx

1981,

way:

football
"Professional
"the opium of
religion
He was
Lenin's tomb.
drugged the
believed,

27.
28.

in various

magnate Claude Bez, President

as a political

it

particular,

are held by Fritz

West German club

Bavarians

de Bordeaux. 29

Girondins

as an instrument

away from labour

workers

the intention

club with

the shipping

versus

of his

example of a local

Another

has served

of Turin

club

the same objectives

40,000

approximately

is

Juventus

of the leading

President

mainly

and sociologists

of the Fiat

shareholder

the attention

distract

because

soporific;

In

Europe.

journalists

of the powerful

President

football

Western

Italian

the largest

Agnelli,

is

in

football

that

asserted

diversion

political

as a political

to

have been more immediate.

problems

It
of

the economic means nor the inclination

possessed neither

usually

in power have

and the regimes

is also a powerful drug.

Karl Marx called
the masses"; words to be inscribed
later on
to Christianity
referring
which, so he
that they were not
so effectively
proletariat

see Cazorla

29. See World Soccer,

October

Prieto,

op.

1981 for

135

cit.,

details.

pp.

164-165.

Were he alive today, he would still

conscious of their miseries.
say the same. But he would hardly leave it there; he would no
doubt add the names of the other narcotics
that are corrupting
Western society,
among which he would not fail to include
football.
professional
It reminds you of the most pungent words of one of the most
of the ancient world:
satirists
celebrated
"The Roman people crave only
games".
it any different
today? "30

Is

A strong
this

applying
in

dictatorships

argued
the

that

dictatorships,

in

fanaticism
than

the

cause

or

enthusiasm

for

This

general

establishment

activities.

other

football.

drabness

of

life

31

fanaticism

can lead

there

far

1970s,

Italian
domination

to

football,
of

Juventus

to

evidence
political

in

repression,

but

the

the

increases

in

partially

because

pluralist

democracies,

to

and industrial

team of

at

Agnelli

relatively

has been successfully

suggest

that

Turin

completely

peaceful

1980s,

challenged

popularity
of
in
there

Fiat

the
many
is

football
For

passivity.
the

by

than

rather

to participate

whatsoever

military

and subsequently

liberty

of

and conflicts

Juventus

than

lack

In

established

game frequently

regard

more strikes

when the

of

to be

more likely

passivity.

is

fear

the

and the

With

no conclusive

the

political

a dictatorship,

of

absolutely

were

of

is

both

can be

It

alike.

societies

demobilization

political
by repression,

the

all

football,

in

soporific

democracies

circus

against

to

consciousness"

game as a political

maintained

after

"false

of

and pluralist

football
rather

effect

the

regarding

consequence

military

theory

neo-Marxist

and the

be presented

can nevertheless

counter-argument

bread

two things:

example,

factory

in

dominated
when the
by

30. The Guardian, (London), 13 February 1981.

increased in popularity
details
31. For further
in
of how football
Brazil
Argentina,
takeovers of the
and Uruguay after the military
late 1960s and early 1970s, see Cazorla Prieto,
op. cit.,
pp. 161163, or Lever, op. cit.
136

Roma, Verona

of Milan,

Internazionale

Janet

sociologist

that,

conclusion

in

football

when put

of

as an agent

into

who researched

Brazilian

of

significance

Lever,

and Napoli.

political

to

the

the

The American

the

social
1970s,

early

arrived

the

at

was incapable

football

test,

and political

of

serving

passivity:

"We can condemn a regime's

tactics
cruel
control
and
of social
liberties
Few are
restrictions
on civil
without
condemning soccer.
by the government's
fooled
for its nationmanipulation
of sport
it is not "false
that makes people
alist
goals;
consciousness"
their
teams... Nor is soccer
that would stop the
support
an opiate
that dramatizes
revolution;
a contest
real social
conflict
could
in a time of extreme unrest
not continue
and might even prompt
disorder.
"32
civil

The second objective

football

be regarded

should

important

part,

Francoist

Spain.

describe
"an

in

Spanish

This

was the

concept

popular
immediate

This

"culture

of

that

and the

conflict

desire

to

cinema"

of

films

the

evasion"

subsequent

1940s,

about

the

heavily
Nationalist

that

by Sir

created

the

a large

albeit

evasion"

and
in

existed

Raymond Carr
in

to Democracy
Franco

that

and
to

order

and was defined

years,

as

33

reality".

was largely

forget

in

War Spain

post-Civil

of

From Dictatorship
culture

to demonstrate

one part,

"culture

from

in

as simply

immense

Spain:

is

chapter

the

escape

desire

epic

of

Fusi

Juan Pablo

of this

was mainly

the

to

to

attempt
hunger,

responsible
subsidised
struggle

32. Lever, op. cit.,

p. 159.
33. Sir Raymond Carr and Juan Pablo Fusi,

137

forget

misery
for

the

general

both

the

traumas

failure
State,

the

op. cit.,

Civil

of
which

the

"heroic

offered

War and

p. 118.

of

This

and repression.

the

by the
in

of

product

front.

The other

1950s, a largely

gap between

by the

the
Spain

Francoist

Falangist
in

opposition
influence

(nchez
S
Ferlosio

limited

number

and the

largely

poet
1955,

of

Dionisio

"intellectuals

from football,

have

who joined

wide

to

in

As sadly
the

remain

concluded

anti-Francoist

known a time

never

the major manifestations

dominated

evasion"

were: the cinema,

starring

the immensely popular

Sevilla,

and American and Italian

by trivial

Conchita

when their

1960s onwards,

34. Dionisio

Ridruejo,

Escrito

popular

tear-jerking

of

musicals

Piquer, 35 Lola Flores

and Carmen
"photo-

of which the best-selling

was the undisputed

the hugely

"culture

of this

Andalusian

importations;

bought at the newspaper kiosks,

Simplemente Maria series

early

Ridruejo,

the extremely

who chose
masses.

Delibes,

has been so restricted"34

Apart

novels"

indifferent

the

of

such as Miguel

to bridge

intellectuals

Russian

on the

literature"

by young writers

attempt

and Rafael

Juan Goytisolo

Division"

was the "social

major casualty
failed

"Blue

Falangist

of-the

exploits

exaggerated

market leader; 36 from the

trivial

en Espafia, Madrid,

serials

and game shows

1962, p. 176.

Piquer
the
It was a song of Conchita
which perhaps best epitomised
ignore
desire
to
the immediate
past and contemporary
general
reality
"culture
to this
of evasion":
which was fundamental
don't
"I
out
want to find
Don't tell
me, neighbour
dreaming
to live
I prefer
"
Than to know the truth.
Cronica
This song was quoted in Manuel Vazquez Montalbn,
1971,
28.
de
In this
Barcelona,
Espana,
p.
stimulating
sentimental
including
of the "culture
work, all of the manifestations
evasion",
in depth.
football,
are discussed
details
36. For further
of the Simplemente Maria phenomenon,
see Manuel
Maria y su repercusin
Simplemente
Campo Vidal,
en las clases
1979.
Madrid,
trabajadoras,

35.

138

broadcast

by State
television

period,
evasion",

today's

almost

is watching

television

Spain practically

reduces

to reflect

instead

offering

fellow

Catalan
"to

that

the subject

the social
the public

"culture

this

talk

hours,

such is

Manuel Vazquez
in

about a mass culture

and songs". 39

to'television
of evasion"

and political

of "

in 1972, that

open mouths,

writer

None

made any serious

of Francoist

reality

the opportunity

of long working

the reality

with

of the "culture

of these manifestations
attempt

serials

a year later,

Montalbn to'claim,

dominated

years of the Franco

caused Josep P1 to observe,

38 and his

culture",

the last

During

completely

that

a situation

"everybody

37

television.

Spain,

to escape from

temporarily

low pay, -poor nutrition

and the fear

of repression.

Football
"culture

of

second

most

the

Franco

maintenance
television

was not the only

It

evasion".
popular
regime
of

sport

viewing

has been alleged

in

Francoist

as a distraction

a high

level

figures

which formed

sport

of
for

a part

basketball,

that

Spain. 4 was also

that
political

could

basketball

matches

41
in

by far

the
by

exploited
towards

contribute

passivity.

of this

the

The estimated
the

early

1960s

37. For complete details

of television's
role in this "culture
of
see Manuel VIzquez Montalban, El libro
aris de Television
evasion",
Espanola, Madrid, 1973.
23 December 1972.
38. Quoted in Trio,
39. Vazquez Montalban, El libro
Espadola, op. cit.,
aris de Television
p. 161.
in Francoist
40. For details
Spain in terms
of basketball's
popularity
of paying spectators
and television
audiences,
see Marco, op. cit.,
pp. 167-169.
41.

has been made in

This allegation
Prieto,
op. cit.,
p. 341; Marco,
op. cit.,
p. 108.

139

the
op.

following
cit.,
p.

publications:
167; Garcia

Cazorla
Candau,

high,

were extremely

encouraged

obviously

its

in

football

at

basketball

broadcast

matches

during

holiday,

the

basketball

match

one basketball
domestic
example

matches
the

The only

broadcast

by the

sport

political
speaking,

a sport.

There was a large

RTVE in the summer months,

basketball.
of this

Furthermore,

chapter,

bullfights

which is

as commented by Javier
were also

clash,

transmitted

and

least
top
for

1972.

the Franco regime

in fact

neither

days

May Day holiday,

not,

number of bullfights

when there-was

would

was at

in

is bullfighting,

which

there

international

diversion

May 1966

a Spanish

foreign

served

football

for

record

match

because,

by three

forward

the

with

May Day

four

clash,

occasional

which possibly

reduce

For the

basketball

by TVE during

to

basketball
than

period.

From 1966 onwards,

Union-Yugoslavia

other

no less

the

sport

de Zaragoza

was no room for

viewers,

this

The first

Madrid-Caja

was brought

1980.43

supplemented

Soviet

Real

Madrid

14 million

match

designed

holiday

championship,

until

allegedly

RTVE transmitted

FC Barcelona-Real

seen by an estimated

the

there

May Day public

the

league

the

of

year,

be seen,

shortly

as shall

decide

consisted

The following

1964.

combine

May Day demonstrations.

illegal

the

42 which

million,

(RTVE) to

television

transmissions

special

attendance

in

State

ten

reaching

on occasions

football

as a

strictly
broadcast

by

nor

Solana at the beginning

by RTVE during

the

in Holal,
42. It was claimed in the estimated viewing figures
offered
(Madrid) for example, that the Real Madrid-FC Barcelona basketball
a television
audience of almost
match of February 1964 attracted
It was claimed by Manuel Vazquez Montalbn,
twelve millions.
Espafiola, op. cit.,
however, in El libro
that all
cris de Televisin
in
1960s
figures
the
tended to be exaggerated
viewing
estimated
because of the imprecise methods employed to gather the data.
taken from,
43. Information
IHola!.
140

holiday.

May Day public

The third

objective

was born and gradually

immediately

competitions

stadia

were practically

were practically
bullfighting

These

capacity

by

by the Franco regime

for

was an immense

the league

and cup

The demand for

reality

and consequently

always filled

to capacity.

forms-of

mass entertainment,

no other
during

War, there

from the miserable

years was enormous,

postwar

the process

acceptance.

to recommence. 44

and distraction

entertainment
immediate

of the Civil
in the Press,

demand, reflected

to explain

manipulated

gained widespread

the conclusion

After

is

chapter

was being

football

which the view that

popular

of this

45

cheap
of the

the football
there

In addition,
apart

from

the summer months.

crowds

were

certainly

not

attracted

by the

prospect

in interviews
the Presidents
This demand` was reflected
with
of the
in Marca, 2 May 1939, with the
Troncoso
Sagredo,
RFEF, Julian
in El Mundo
Zaragoza President
Antonio
Rodriguez
Falangist
10 June 1939, and in the editorials
in Marca,
Deportivo,
published
1939 and 22 May 1939, and in El Mundo Deportivo,
28 May and 4
April
September 1939.
in Marca, 19 June 1942 estimated
45. A special
that for
report
published
80% of the first
ie.
and gecond division,
approximately
in the three
and Copa del Generalfsimo
matches played
professional,
War there had been a capacity
the Civil
seasons since
crowd, and
20% of matches only on very rare occasions
had
that at the retaining
been more than 20%.
In consequence,
the shortfall
of spectators
Marca called
a policy
upon the DND to initiate
of stadia
beginning
in
with a 100,000-capacity
national
construction,
stadium
This call
Madrid.
was taken up by both El Alcazar
and Arriba,
however,
because of lack of State investment,
the DND was only able
to offer
to the private
a tiny
amount of financial
assistance
football
to construct
their
By 1944, the Press
clubs
own stadia.
had terminated.
stadia
campaign for public

44.

141

of seeing

spectacular

conflict,

for

football.

example Luis

de Bilbao.

Athletic

America rather

Many others

to Francoist

than return

toured
of

generation
Telmo Zarra
Cesar

of

to

the

of

and Luis

FC Barcelona
players

attractive

Gainza

and Piru

in

the

mentioned

above, and the fact

equality

1940s,

of Spanish football

This increase

continued

de Bilbao,

was largely

distributed
until

of

Real

that

did

Spanish

increased

not

inspired

Basora
lack

This
matter

and

of

overmuch

in the

considerably

young players

team dominated

between the leading

Real Madrid,

featuring

public.

due to the attractive

no single

a new

Estanislao

Madrid.

however,

and war-weary

1940s. 46

the honours being

Athletic

that

fore,

the

came to

players

Molowny

early

entertainment-starved

The popularity

in South

example practically

the mid-1940s

was not until

Spanish

attractive

for

Spain,

of

combined Basque team and of the FC Barcelona

It

Mexico.

Urquizu

and Enrique

to remain in exile

preferred

in the

had died

players

Montanes of Valencia

the whole of the El Euzkadi

team that

leading

Several

clubs.

the game,

This

by the Argentine

state

of

forward

46. Using information

gathered from the archives of El Mundo Deportivo,
that
of Marca, and of the major football
clubs, it can be estimated
for
increased
football
by
professional
crowds
matches
approximately
50% from 1940 to 1950. More accurate figures
cannot be given
because, due to the membership system operated at all Spanish clubs,
at any match are kept.
no exact records of the numbers of spectators
this increase would surely have been far higher if any
In addition,
in
1947,
had
from
Madrid
Real
constructed
apart
other clubs,
increasing
instead
the capacity
merely
of
of
completely new stadia,
The only definitive
statistics
their old grounds.
available
are
those of the the increase of members at the leading clubs, obtained
in July 1940, Real
by the author examining their separate archives:
Madrid had 11,766 members, a figure which had risen to 35,642 by
July 1950; the increase at FC Barcelona during the same period was
de Madrid, from 7,539 to 14,024;
from 4,307 to 33,860; at Atletico
de Bilbao,
from 7,875 to 16,127; at Real Sociedad de
at Athletic
from 5,548 to 11,831.
San Sebastian,

142

in popularity

increase

This

in the football

increase

in the mid-1950s.

began to dominate

Di Stefano,

Alfredo

broadcast

post-Civil
practically

the only

a radio

broadcasting

homes
Spanish
possessed a receiver,
of

private

football

to the exciting

listening

of football

The popularity

belonged

and usually

in Francoist

the national

team in the 1950 World Cup finals

councils
large

of

Franco

47.

and showed

regime

tournament

to

two days

victories

shows caused

the

several
might

Bilbao,

Barcelona,

Madrid,

screens

Spanish

of

people

the

fourth

be exploiting

tournament
whilst

Valencia

and Sevilla
public

The media

afterwards.

with

football

of them4e

the
in

in Brazil.
the

coverage

by

achieved

city
erected

8mm films

game to
order

another

place

was immense,

enthusiastic

connected

by the new

Spain received

considerable

coverage

the majority

spent Sunday evenings

broadcast

because of the creditable

and

to the State

either

coupons in front

pools

increase

The media

of a luxury,

By 1950, however,

commentaries

their

with

stations,

radio

was something

of the Movimiento.

or to the media chain

In the immediate

on the radio.

receiver

stations

in the sharp

reflected

revenue, 47 and in the number of listeners

pools

to the match commentaries

War years,

was also

of

the

and the

suspect

to maintain

film

that

the

a high

football
the three private
the season 1939/1940,
During
pools
had
joint
Civil
War
the
after
recommenced
revenues
which
companies
inferior
1935/1936
to
the
total
2,868,750
was
which
pesetas,
of
of
his total
had spectacularly
By season 1949/1950,
3,011,427
pesetas.
information
This
26,478,348
by an
to
pesetas.
was revealed
risen
of the DND.
of the archives
examination

48. This was claimed to the author by Vicente Marco, the founder-and
former director
of the Cadena SER' highly popular Sunday sports
fifteen
which attracted
an estimated
programme Carrusel deportivo,
by 1950.
listeners
million
143

level

of

political
was not

reasons,

Eight

Spain.

exiles

in

of

The subject

Mexican

Francoist

the

deliberate

of

product

the

was one of

By the

Spain

Francoist

Serrano's

Martinez

and Sandor

Madrid.

In

attracted
clubs

49.

order

by these

either

so far

the

to

increased

at

the

in

the

political

suggest
that

even

Arriba

1958,

that

the

demobilization

that

this

was the

such depoliticization

regime. 5'

to new heights,

largely

at

Real Madrid,

FC Barcelona,
the

because
Di

Ladislas

spectators

players,

practically

all

capacity

of

their

stadia

of

of

the

Stefano,
Kubala,

and Vav at

mass of

in

football

of

such as Alfredo

players

accommodate

foreign

nor

Republican

In November

popularity

Puskas

Kocsis

hinted
in

as to

by Spanish

the

foreign

Raymond Kopa and Ferenc

Serrano

article,

had ascended

world-class

of

arrival

of

obvious

was printed

suspicion

newspapers.

policy,

regime

of

this

broached

be a factor

going

objectives

time

Garcia

could

without

country,

American

Rafael

football

pass before

was originally

and South

writer
of

popularity

to

for

suspicion,

49

print.

were

more years

inside

the

into

put

this

although

passivity,

Atletico
that
the

Eugenio
de

were
professional

by major

This suspicion
was felt
the present
at the the time by for example,
FC Barcelona
Vice-President
Nicolau
Casaus, and by Juan Jose
Castillo,
the veteran
in 1950 a
editor
of El Mundo Deportivo,
journalist
on the paper.

50. See, for example, the special

feature on the popularity
of football
in Francoist
Spain which appeared in La Nacin, 9 October 1956, and
the column of Jose Maria Muguerza, one of the components of the
El Euzkadi Basque
Mexico City sports
November 1957.

team of
review

51. See "Dafensa del ftbol"

November 1958.

1938 who had remained

in exile,
in the
Domingo Deportivo
from June 1955
to

by Rafael

144

Garcia

Serrano

in Arriba,

q&r

29

It

the

suspicion

that

political

soporific

from

regime

began really

the

the outside

of

broadcast

Montalbn,

grow in

Francoist

facilities

broadcasts

The view of football

publicly

to

countries

other

regular

for

expressed

however that

who largely

to

was attempting

of

(RTVE) was not established

television

to permit

Franco

backwardness

technological

new stadia.

the advent of television,

was not until

isolation

completely

or constructed

renovations,

Western

until

use football

Europe,

Spanish

19S8.

October

as a "social

national

Furthermore,
advanced

1961.

matches until

drug'

the

due to its

largely

of RTVE were not sufficiently

of football

as a

Because of

strength.

Spain,

the

in Francoist

Spain was

the first

time in L968, by Manuel Vazquez

based his

argument on the football

coverage of

RTVE:
that there are more football
by
matches transmitted
in Spain than in any other European
country,
says a lot
in this
that exists
about the kind of popular
culture
One of the major
and even about our political
system...
society,
football,
of televised
of such an immensity
apart from
effects
is undoubtebly
to contribute
at the stadia,
attendances
reducing
in all
is passive
the creation
that
towards
of a general
public
"52
respects.

"The fact
television
in itself

Vazquez Montalbn's
important

contribution

about a possible
political

passivity

broaching

of the subject

to encouraging

connection
that

in this

a debate,

albeit

between the "football

existed

in Francoist

way made an

fever"

Spain. 53

somewhat limited,
and the
Two months

52. Quoted in Barca, No., 664,20 March 1968.

for example, pointed out that Vazquez Montalbn's
53. Alex J. Botines,
in Barca encouraged him to be so forthright
frank interview
in Dicen
two months later.

145

in May 1968,

later,

by referring

Montalbn

holiday,

public

J.

Alex

Botines

the

to

went

football

about

Vazquez

than

during

broadcasts

speculating

and mischievously

further

a step

the May Day

possible

for

motives

these broadcasts:
"Once again, the armchair football
supporter has been treated to a
feast, seeing some of the most exciting
domestic and international
But one question repeatedly
action.
occurs to me: why so much
football
during this particular
holiday?
Do the
televized
wish to keep us all in the living-room,
authorities
away from the
beach or the mountains? ""4

1969 was the

There

and quality.

of

increase
with
of

the
this

were

of

1969,

contemporary

Spanish

in

popularity
of

offered
of

the

from

football

"de-Falangization"

the

history.

that

Francoist

quantity

Vazquez
Evaristo

writer

his

amusing

Writing

historical
in

both

humorous

esposados,

first

in both

increased

contributions

celtiberos

Acevedo

process

further

debate

this

a los

irony,
the

which

In February

Carta

published

interpretation
touch

in

and Botines.

Montalbn
Acevedo

year

an obvious

with

explanation
Spain,

was discussed

linking
in

the

of
it

Chapter

Two

thesis:

began to be relegated
"Politics
to a discreet
penumbra, leaving the
biggest preoccupations
for the economy. How was the gap filled
between 1947, the year in which Spain began to despoliticize
itself,
by means of democracia oraanica
and 1967, in which first
by means of other liberalizations,
Spain began to
and afterwards
herself
into the international
into "the
reintegrate
coexistence,
Simple: by "footballizing"
world of our days"?
public opinion.
By means of a controlled
Press,
which dedicated
pages and
to the cup matches,
pages to the league matches,
to the
declarations
to the financially
of coaches and footballers,
fabulous
transfers
figures
of the great
the country
of football,
"55
began to become impassioned
about football.

54.

Dicen,

2 May 1968.

55. Evaristo Acevedo, Carta a los celtiberos

pp. 190-191.

146

esposados,

1969,

important

The first
on the

opinion

found

Bernabeu
serving

and Acevedo.

whether
Franco

regime.

was the

Madrid

book

is

This

5,000

by the

blancos,

these

result

in

into

the

in

published

Vazquez

football

about
the

a deliberate

of

Bernabeu,

commentators,

suspicious

entering

how he was quoted

voles

to

his

express

Santiago

comments of

contrast
or

to

world

President

earlier

without

soporific,

situation

Madrid

In

football

the

dangerous

either

nothing

as political
this

Real

he was annoyed

Botines

Montalbn,

was the

matter

because

probably

inside

figure

question

policy

of

of
the

Real

semi-official
1969:

September

"We are in a moment of such great incomprehension

and such a
bustle that what the people really
horrible
want is tranquility.
The people want to find refuge in their house with their wife, with
their children,
family,
Nothing
with their
with their friends.
is the means by
else matters to them. It's
Football
pure tragedy.
which the great mass of people forget
their problems from time to
time "16
.

Bernabeu

was by no means alone

de Madrid,

Atletico

Vicente

Calderon,

about the subject

questioned
question

itself

a short

period:

reflecting

in

his

opinions.

was far

on television

His

counterpart

more explicit

at

when

in November 1969, the

how widespread

this

debate had become in such

Do you not think

that football
is making the country
stupid?
wish that football
-I
would make the country
and I wish
stupid,
that the people would think
for three days
about football
before
the match.
and three days after
In this
way, they would
not think
things. "57
about other,
more dangerous

56.

Quoted
Bilbao,

in Juan Mattas
1969, p. 326.

57. Reproduced in all

1969.

and Jose

Luis

of the Spanish

147

Muniain,

sports

5,000

newspapers,

soles

blancos,

17 November

debate continued

This

led by Alex J. Botines,

in addition

Garcia,

to non-specialist

of limiting

the general

keeping

in a state

the people

such as Manuel

in February

to claiming

Real Madrid was doing

that

sports

The next significant

to escape from a sometimes

public

boasted

actually

as before,

himself,

majority

Candau and Jose Maria

writers

to the debate came from Bernabeu,

contribution
Instead

sports

Cerecedo. 68

and Francisco

Vazquez Montalban

of critical

Garcia

Jurin

the great

with

coming from the new generation

of contributions
journalists,

apace in the Press,

that

unpleasant

a favour

1971.
football

helped

reality,

he

to the "nation"

of contentment:

for the nation.

What we want is to
"We are doing a service
I say to you that
the people happy.
we are doing a service
football
because people like
and with football
a lot,
nation
daily
Spaniards
problems
more bearable. "59
make their

distinguished

The next
the

about

subject

who objected

to

May Day 1973.

RTVE for
in

the

the

the

Despite
reduction

following

in

person
Athletic

him

days

by three
the
in

normal
paying

the

game to declare

de Bilbao

RFEF requesting

Valencia

against

match

was the

by

in

to

President
bring

order

compensation
spectators,

his

Jose

forward

opinion
Maria

Athletic's

to be broadcast
offered

keep
for the
the

to

Oraa insisted

Oraa,
home

by RTVE on

the

clubs

by

on protesting

way:

football
in this
far too much televized
"There is altogether
loss
I
Furthermore,
to understand why RTVE
at
am
simply
a
country.
always has to broadcast a number of matches during the May Day
holiday,
preoccupied
with keeping about half of
as if it was really
the country in their homes... "60

1970 and 12 September 1971; Barca,

58. See, for example: Dicen, 9 April
No. 765,13 July 1970; As, 27 September and 3 January 1971;
"Deporte,
Cuadernos para el diloco,
sociedad y politica",
(Madrid),
No. XXV, May 1971.
59. Quoted in Informaciones,
(Madrid),
26 February 1971.
60. Quoted in As, 26 April
1973.

148

debate

This

1974,

March
detailed

the

the

During

in

illustrated
football

the

Epilogue
to

continuing

1977 due to

the

claiming

football

that

passivity

political
at

offered

profound

the

was perhaps

biography

of

the

the

the

this

the

one given

world-famous

Spanish

in

of

because,

as shall

allegations

about

all

stopped

soporific
then

Franco

62

in

occurring

Many historical
regime

including
chapter.

the derivative

approach,

were

game.

published,
of

the

democracy

thesis,

that

had served

begining

and one of

to

as a political

of

were

overviews

this

changes

structures

organizational

dictatorship

to

serve

in Spain into

itself

a historical

acquired

Le Monde undertook

situation,

In

media.

was that:

from

transition

obviously

newspaper

political
at

arrived

has converted
passion. "61

"Football
political

debate

it

that

Spanish

the

of

study

conclusions

Paris

prestigious

Spanish

the

to

confined

completely

was not

the

goalkeeper

this
be

around
the

overviews
as an agent

one from

Gonzalez
Ricardo

of

Javier

The most original

by Francisco

Spain,

of

Solana
these

Ledesma

in

his

Zamora:

football
"When the Civil
War finished,
the national
panorama was as
The people longed
gloomy as the general horizon of the country...
that the war seemed to
to return to normal, to return to the life
have destroyed for ever, and they especially
In
wanted to forget.
football
has always been a kind of opium which has
this context,
helped the bad times to pass, and has caused to be forgotten
many
situations
which would have otherwise appeared unbearable.
Concious of this,
the leaders of the "New State" dedicated
a large
to the reorganization
of football,
and there
part of their efforts
is no doubt that they were successful.
For almost forty years, we
Spaniards - in a general,
mass sense - have preoccupied ourselves
less with the realities
of our country than with knowing how our
favourite
team would end up in the league classification.
Without

61. Reproduced in Don Ba17on, No. 66,10 January

62. See, for example, Cazorla Prieto,
op. cit.,
p. 144, or Dicen, 20 March 1977.
cit.,

149

1977.
p. 164-165,

Marco,

op.

it would not have been possible

to substitute,
the stadia filled,
to Fernandez de la Mora, "the things
as in the phrase attributed
for "the politics
of things". 63
politics"

introduces

This above quotation

fourth

objective

really

existed

of this

of the Franco regime

policy

The first

football

to be a political

overview

of Gonzalez Ledesma is the debatable

soporific.

dedicated

the "New State"

a large

of football",

reorganization

with

and hunger of the immediate

the-well-known

concerns

Opus Dei diplomat

its

1974, with

the objective

implication

that

for

attempting

is appropriate

to point

"the

leaders

to the
the misery

de la Mora, the
Works from 1970 to

of Public

had a

the Franco regime possibly

to use football

of

The second point

phrase of Gonzalo Fernandez

as Minister

in the

of mitigating

War years.

post-Civil

who served

basis

theoretical

efforts

there

raised

that

claim

the

to manipulate

point

of their

part

for

which are crucial

which is to examine whether

chapter,

a deliberate

two points

of

as a political

soporific.

It
little

evidence

immediately
is

first

the claim

to support

to be in a position

football

that

true

after

the Civil

competitions

Nacional

de Deportes,

functioning

that

there

on General

again

exists

the regime materially

Jose

Moscard

and then,

to have the

helped

above.

the

head of

sporting

This

is

evidenced

63. Francisco Gonzalez Ledesma, Zamora: mito y realidad

del mejor
1978, pp. 211-212.
guardameta del mundo, Barcelona,
150

It

from 1941 onwards,

national

as soon as possible.

very

soporific

War, as Gonzalez Ledesma claims

the Consejo_Nacional_de_Deportes,

Delegacion

that

stage

to serve as a political

was put

pressure

out at this

the

in October 1939:

by Moscard declaring,

"The leaders
of the "New Spain" have placed
the sporting
that
of ensuring
responsibility
immediately...
"64
to full
operation
return
in

Moscardo,
RFEF to

league

in

prove

that

football

as it

the

practically

been before

This

was renamed,

Franco

every

government,
to help

a war,

the

the

immediate

transformation

regime,

despite

the

country

and the

massive

Republic,

the

conflict
had the

that
victors

would

competitions

the

and the
Civil

of

the

have

parties

again

24 October

in

the

political

as soon

of

that

to

the
of

system

against

those

had supported

a different

zealous

usually

War objectives

it

Furthermore,

unions.

is

have

had

regarded
government.

the
of

Franco
the

connected
it

during

has been alleged

way,

then

the

league

as possible,

that

way it

the

to

return

normality

unleashed

political

been equally

functioning

of

to

of

is

character,

competence

post-Civil

War concluded

64. Quoted in Marca,

65.

to

repression

trade

life

potential

be argued

could

first

does not

the

of

political

return

as a demonstration

was one of

the

everyday

This

conflict.

It

of whatever

65 and

and the

certainly

aware

diversion.

1939,

June

however,

pressure,

the

of

War Copa del

in

commencing

haste,

with

post-Civil

was immediately

regime

as a political

populace

with

This

serve

after

first

weighty
of Spain

directors

own appointed

and cup competitions

the

achieve

1939.

October

to

anxious,

to

his

to

pressure
league

the

managed

Generalisimo,

by the

applied

reorganize

they

this

turn

upon me the
competitions

both

the

Republican

and cup
as a

1939.

In the archives
from
of the DND, the author
uncovered
a letter
dated 5 June 1939, urging
Moscard,
the RFEF President
Julian
by Moscardo only three
Sagredo,
Troncoso
appointed
to
weeks earlier,
"use all
in order
possible
resources
and efforts"
to have the Copa
del Generalisimo
played in June and July,
and the league in
again from October.
operation

151

demonstration

Ledesma's

Gonzlez
its

of

part

itself

functioning
helped

to

RFEF in

evidence

for

to

the

scarce

extremely

In February
requested

military

67.

regard

to

without

not

for

time,

received

expenses until

Moscirdo

travel

of
to

of their

1939.

petrol,

them to
The

was a

an

away matches. 67

of their

stadium,

in October 1936.69
Sporting

de Gijon,

1939, when they

efforts,

to finance

received

for

response when they

a negative

April-September

Deportes

materially

War years

post-Civil

by the Real Sociedad,

they

does

The only

exist.

of the city

conquest

order

October

acquisition

any coordination

from the Consejo_Superiorde

and other

the

in the period

however,

regime

in

in the reconstruction

was received

and Cadiz clubs

individually,

repairs

66.

immediate

the Nationalist

The same response

loan

the

assistance

in

league

in

the

Franco

themselves,

does

at

a large

to both

applied

the

simply

clubs

commodity

that

the

public"

"dedicated
,

no

and cup competitions

to reorganize
of

general

football"

pressure

implies

1939, the Oviedo club

damaged during

Valencia

the

the

was practically

regime

of

league

the

claim

with

priviledged"position

to

relaunching

support-this
made to

concession

to have

clubs

Franco

reorganization

The phrase

football

be prepared

the

the war-weary

the

that

referring

order

again.,

the

claim

to

efforts

confine

and the

all

for

cheap form of entertainment

other

not

competence and because there

of their

their

requested
stadia

the gate money from their

has been made in the following

This 1llegation
publications:
Ledesma, op. cit.,
Prieto,
145;,
Gonzalez
p. 212; Cazorla
op. cit.,
Candau, op. cit.,
Garcia
p. 52.
by an examination
to the author
As revealed
of the archives
of the
they were not subjected
to any
clubs,
major football
rationing
whatsoever.

68. For further

details,

see Marca,

152

9 September 1939.

home league match in October

first

national

with

competitions

for

themselves

to prepare

were compelled

1939.69

practically

In consequence,

the clubs

the recommencement of the

from the Francoist

no assistance

authorities.

In later

help

form of material

'N

the Franco regime was unwilling

years,

of them by the football

requested

1944, the Real'Madrid

In April

construct

new stadia.

requested

from the DND a ten-year

loan of 25 million

implement

his

the construction

Madrid
of

one million
Sporting

Private

the

total

cost

scheme. 71
October
of

cost
Sevilla

69.

70.

of

pesetas

all
club

that

of

its

football
requested

the

its

"Support

but
the

construction,

As seen in

1951,

out

this

a five

supporters
Two of

Chapter
"Support
stadia
a loan

this

Fund"

would

constructions
of

40 million

to

years

thesis

in order

pesetas

the

the

contribute

Real

Construction

the
less

than

money being
advanced

just

4% of
raised

membership

DND ruled,

from

to

capacity

gave

and improvements.
pesetas

to

President

Fund for

of

loans

ofa125,000

amounted

remainder

the only

clubs:

The DND instead

refused.

Facilities",

by offering

by Bernabeu

for

plans

was immediately

but

stadium,

visionary

to offer

in

2.5% to

the

When the
the

DND for

by the archives
Information
of the DND: no information
revealed
or the subsequent
refusals
about these requests,
of the DND, was
given by Marca or any newspaper.
by the archives
This information
was revealed
of the DND, and of
Real Madrid;
about this matter
no information
again,
was given by
Press,
the extensive
to
as seen in the Introduction
which,
sporting
by the DND's "Commission
this
thesis,
controlled
was closely
of
Press and Propaganda".

71. Revealed by examination

of the archives of Real Madrid.
For further
details
of the construction
about the financing
of the Estadio
de oro del Real Madrid, Madrid, 1952, pp.
Bernabeu, see El libro
338-345.

153

their

in October

plans,

stadium

regime did-practically
was in a position
for

lack

this

of

conclusion

the

In fact,

time

there

was aware
the

of

cities

74.

this

did

if

it

had been aware

from

potential,.

difficult

the

helping

clubs

is

from

right

the

circumstances

economic
the

The question
however,

this

even

immediately

not

way.

of

Brazil,

of

whatsoever

this

of

potential

in

any meaningful

73 with

50% of

an estimated

on the

one of

the

until

the

radio,

40% of

approximately

to read

football

immense new stadia

broadcast

them, 74 with

preferring

the

to suggest

to be a political

already

the

72. Once again, information

revealed
Press.
by*the
sporting
given
not
73.

regime
in

serve

is no evidence

at

footballcommentaries
front

it

the

reason

of the

position

was aware

then

game was allegedly

attendances

average
after

War,

Civil

game to

football

way.

material

regime

because

have prevented

still

would

regime

hypothetical,

somewhat

the

of

Franco

the

whether

was that

reason

the Franco

The obvious

soporific.

was the poor financial

possible

potential

that

refused. 72

term to ensure that

as a political

of assistance

the

recognize

the conclusion

in material

nothing
to serve

Another

regime.

of

towards

of the above tends

All

1955, they were also promptly

the

the

specialist

1960s,

by which

soporific,
highest

their

inhabitants
sports

by the archives

in

with
the

pools
of

world
to

listening

population
with

the Franco

that

coupons'in
the

newspapers

large
rather

of DND, which was

August 1965, the average estimated

to World Soccer,
According
division
for a Spanish first
match was 42,300,
attendance
and that
39,800.
for a Brazilian
by the radio
broadcaster
This estimate
was made to the author
Marco.
Vicente

154

the

than

a general

these

sports

this

practically

nothing
was not

to

to

General

Alonso

of football

be argued that

final

for

contentment,

or

even by a comment

Moscardb

or

one of

Franco's

Munoz Grandes

Agustin

its

awareness of the potential

when RTVE began its

that

or at least

It

maintain

policy
could
itself

had presented

at the same

of football.

by RTVE was the June 1960 cup

de Madrid,

sixteen

with

very poor quality

up to the summer of 1976, a

years,

matches were broadcast

in their

at an average of 4.46 matches per month on the basis

season lasting

This

way,

opportunity

match transmitted

In the following

of 714 football

to

had done

number of matches, in 1960.

to increase,

between Real and Atletico

pictures.
total

football

logical

regime

regime.

soporific

high

the immense popularity

The first

Franco

as General

demonstrated

the first

to the regime to attempt

level,

such

is

It

in

the'space

Vega.

an extremely
this-was

the

General

to serve as a political

of broadcasting

from

first

The Franco regime

the

which

ministers,

Camilo

76

any documentary

Press

the

football-enthusiastic
or
.

in

expressed

football.

pleased

promote,

60% of

approximately

to

affairs,

of

state

satisfaction

of

dedicated

newspapers

assume that

however,

75 and with

newspaper,

ten months of the year. 77

This

entirety

by RTVE,

of the football
total

was far

higher

75. This estimate,

Bilbao,
which corresponded to Madrid, Barcelona,
Sevilla
Valencia,
and Zaragoza in 1960, was made by Luis Maria
Cazorla Prieto,
op. cit.,
p. 165.
76.

This estimate
on the basis
was made by the author,
of having
in Francoist
newspapers published
examined an abundance of sports
Spain.

77. This total was gathered by the author

because of the lack of such statistics

155

from the daily newspapers,

in the archives of RTVE.

figure

than the corresponding

this

period,

country
Italy,
In both

by private

television

Francoist

Spain

is

fortnight

being

screened

final,

the

which

period,

European

three

matches

in

was no Spanish
the

club

of

European

offered

by RTVE as "saturation

claimed

that

practically

there
every

78. Information

existed
football,

gathered

foreign

a policy

Real
in

matches

from the archives

from

81. Quoted in Bar a, No. 765,13

July

1970.

156

finals

and
both

teams

in

Madrid
there

which

from

matches

tournaments,

Manuel

in the world".

author

Information
Francisco

from

Spanish

were

one

team during

national

of "transmitting

everywhere

in

one a

match,

international

80 whilst

by the
gathered
Cercedo,
op. cit.

79.
80.

semi

along

the amount of football

level",

RTVE had

with

the

79

competitions.

Cerecedo described

Francisco

assorted

Cup final

Nations

club

Spanish

were

transmitted

international

37 of which

mostly

the

season,

109 games featuring

Cup;, 161 other

participation,

the

92;

to

competitions,

Cup and European

World

finals

amounted

single

by the

played

European

the

every

78

screened.

usually

the

usually

was

and thereafter

league

the

cup games,

May and June;

and friendly,

competitive
this

in

played.

during

evening

67 domestic

to April;

September

1961-1968,

the

matches

Spain

with

matches,

period

were

714 matches

these

of

the

in

whereas

during

Spain,

the

of

a proportion

285 league

during

Saturday

every

practically

as follows:

a month

matches

stations,

After

of football

coverage

three

The breakdown

monopoly.

a complete

television

however,

and Italy,

in the world

country

from 1967 to 1969.

almost

of

an average

Argentina

broadcast

highest

the third

where

any other

from Argentina

apart

with

for

coverage
Vazquez

the kicking
81

Montalbn

of

The editors

of World Soccer.
Spanish

daily

newspapers.

of

the

World

Soccer,

London,
it

that

recalled
during

1960s

the

and Jaques

known on the

and early

1970s that

international

countries

of

the

games that

two competing

no European

practically
obstacle

being

the

fall

in

consequent
in

overcome

collective

Francoist

1972,

and August
receipts

between

season,

or on the

the

been broadcast.

be estimated

that
three

professional
presence
this
the

clubs
of

money,

the

Estadio

Bernabeu

Domestic

1960-1975,

This

same fixture

when that

particular

RTVE spent

approximately

600 million

million

pounds sterling,

television

cameras. 83

less

than

of between
every

four

season,

a third,

went

and seven
whilst

RTVE.

of

the

the

FC Barcelona

Real

league

of

the

pesetas

of

Madrid
matches

received

club
in

for
the

103 millions

interview
82. Author's
with Keir Radnedge, and With Jacques Ferran.
83. Because of the lack of information
by RTVE, this
offered
approximation
was made by the author.

157

can

the

because

183 million
to

It

pesetas,

spectators

Exactly

had not

practically

on compensating

paying

1966

in gate

fixture

for

in

in July

the previous

expensive

fall

the RFEF

difference

and the

was

problem

1961 and renewed

the

the

of

between

an agreement

and

the main

because

clubs

to be extremely

their

the

few countries,

very

match

slightly

broadcasting

teams. 82

a league

for

in

only

of transmitting

proved

to

right

transmitted

stadia.

compensate

match

occasion

the

scene

buy up the

period

the

at

in August

televized

night

approximately

of

by means of

The policy

Saturday

every

opposition

RTVE would

previous

in

the

formulated
by which

club

during

spectators

Spain

and RTVE, originally

or

both

fotball

RIVE would

simultaneously

country,

paying

international

were usually

Radnedge of

Paris,

L'Equipe,

of

national

were broadcast

matches

Keir

publications,

Ferran

was well

broadcast

league

football

two most prestigious

world's

during

this

two and four

between
this

teen-year

six

football

clubs

In addition
Cup, European

more than

Cup and European

Estadio

Estudio
division

of

has been claimed

that
the

on compensating

half'of

RTVE's total

league,

cup, international,

high.

Only

on

spending

Madrid
matches

for

excess
the

the
of

because of,

the

ten

this

important

Spanish

Franco

league

did

years.

the

first

the

on Sunday

especially

The television

the

always
of

figure

Approximately

of between

games in

the

the

were consistently
viewing

mark.

matches,

half

coverage,

estimated

audience

team almost

approximately

Spain

million

Real Madrid's
national

saturation

Francoist

by a television

15 milion,

later

in

occasions

below

and FC Barcelona,
of

of

all

day was transmitted

that

football

rare

game fall

The most

called

programme
of

their

1968 onwards.

were watched

million.

a two-hour

World
in

broadcast

Cup matches

highlights

of

earlier

or possibly

on very

a televized
matches

played

audiences

estimated

1960 to 1976,

September

Despite,

Nations

and consisting

matches
from

nights

to the 714 domestic

by RTVE from

entirety

during

transmission

"

sport.

in

It

600 million

approximately

constituted

the

permitting

season. 84

per

matches

of

expenditure

for

period

ten

achieved
Spanish

audience

80% of

and fifteen

between

European

for

Real

Cup and the

an audience

population
for

a football

by the archives
84. Information
of the two clubs.
revealed
in Barca, No. 765,
85. This claim was made by Manuel Vzquez Montalbn
he did not attempt
13 July 1970, although
to make any approximation
in general
for
of the expenditures
of RTVE on sport
and compensation
because of RTVE's refusal
the football
to offer
clubs in particular,
him information.

158

of five

match in Francoist

Spain exceeded 20 million

European Cup final

between Real Madrid and Partisan

1966; the decisive

World Cup match between Spain and West Germany in

July

1966; the July

the World Cup final

of June 1970 between Brazil

to assume that

been even higher

The conclusion
televized

football

was extremely
estimated
evidence
promoting

to
in

be drawn
Francoist

the

football

figures.
Franco

for

all

1974.86

football

for

is

Spain

facts

did

to be a political

have

the

of
that

RTVE, and that

regime

the league

and Italy;

would have

it

have

generally

a policy

soporific.

was more of

achieved

87

of

set.

about

above material

there

is

It

had had access to a television

from

These

and FC Barcelona;

in February

figures

viewing

Spaniard

every

expensive

viewing
that

if

these

the

in May

Belgrade

between Real Madrid

1968 cup final

match between Real Madrid and FC Barcelona

logical

occasions:

it,

very

high

been

accepted

it

as

systematically

The responsibility

86. All of this information

audiences was
about estimated television
It should be borne in mind, however,
taken from the magazine'1Holal.
in
42
Footnote
that the accuracy of
of this chapter,
pointed
as
these figures has been called into question.
87.

have been accepted

These facts
as evidence
of the existence
of this
books
in
the
of
and articles
majority
overwhelming
mentioned
policy
thesis,
this
throughout
in the footnotes
and by the overwhelming
interviewees,
by,
for
the
the
even
example,
author's
of
majority
It is more convenient
Pablo Porta.
to list
former
RFEF_President
interpretations
the interviewees
who were not in agreement with this
former
Paya,
the
RFEF President,
Perez
facts:
Luis
Jose
the
the
of
de Deportes
Benito
Castejon,
the Marca
former
Delecado Nacional
journalists
Belarmo "Belarmino".
Jose Maria Lorente
It
and Rodolfo
is significant
that
high-ranking
of these dissenters
were either
all
in the Francoist
Falangist
system,
officials
sporting
or formerly
newspaper of the Movimiento.
of the sports
employees

159

for

this

to Manuel Fraga,

from 1962 to 1969.88

and Tourism

of Information

Minister

been attributed

has usually

policy

importance

his awareness of the social

demonstrated

seeing

commenting after
member, defeat

the club

Real Madrid,

Fraga

of football

by

of which he was a paid-up

in the 1966 European Cup semi

of Milan

Internazionale

the

finals:
in' this
has
"The immense social
significance
of football
country
In how
exciting
match...
again been amply shown up by tonight's
in the world would the stadium be packed by
many other countries
desperate
120,000 supporters,
to enter
with thousands
more outside
but unable to do so, and with more than half
of the nation
"e9
following
the game on the television?

by his

This awareness of Fraga was demonstrated

his

integrated

he successfully
1964 European

the

be seen in detail

As shall

words.

quarter

of a century

Chapter

Six,

he persuaded

take

part

in his

to

December
using

frequently

been alleged

that

personal

nominees

and men of

Ezcurra,

appointed

as Director

RTVE respectively

within

in

on the

to promote

his

Spain

vast

Franco

as by

Seven of this

thesis,

of

favour

propaganda

regime's

of

"Organic

football
Fraga

to

General

two months

of

and other

be apolitical

Eduardo

Fraga

sportsmen
in

With

regard

the

soporific,

Elorriaga

becoming

in

vote

by means of

and Director

be illustrated

State".

this

entitled
of

celebration

an affirmative
Law of

of

stages

campaign

as shall

achieved

confidence

final

the

famous footballers

several

campaign

in

In addition,

of power.

1966 referendum

television

the

Peace",

of

in Chapter

staging

Cup into

Nations

Years

"Twenty-Five

the

as well

actions

of

giving

to

it

has
his

and Luis
Programming

at

Minister,

has been made in the following

88.. This attributation
studies,
as well
too numerous
and magazine articles
as in an abundance of newspaper
Cazorla
Prieto,
to list:
op. cit.,
p. 1)5; Alcoba,
op. cit.,
pp.
254-255;
Marco, op. cit.,
p. 146; Garcia Candau, op. cit.,
pp. 5253; Botines,
op. cit.,
p. 18.

89. Quoted in Marca, 14 April

1966.

160

it

More specifically,

91

these intructions

by RTVE during

potential

problems

In May 1960,

the

"Vertical

the

Real

Bernabeu,

the

broadcasting

of

head

Games" ceased

published

year,

of

held

it

that

is

matches were

which posed the biggest

of

May Day holiday

matches

to

until

cup victory

1964.

After

the

in

though

figures

In place

Cup semi

of

these

of

Madrid's
Elorriaga

of

"Syndicalist
because

estimated

of

audiences

games on May Day 1963,

was transmitted.
final

On

Games" of

Real

arrival
these

1976.

commenced.

by RTVE, presumably

away to Granada
European

not

date

of

1960 to

Sporting

1962,

September

be broadcast
even

had still

on this

details

from

"Syndicalist

the

by RTVE.

RTVE in

fullest

the

to offer

annually

screened

viewers,

Real's

to prove that

to believe

holiday

1961 and 1962,

were

the

at

Madrid's

following

during

Syndicates",

low number

were not

stage

both

the May Day public

evidence

is difficult

this

at

RTVE's

May Days of

Sporting

it

the public

coverage

the

and Ezcurra

no documentary

two

the Franco regime.

appropriate

football

Estadio

for

during

neccessary,

his

combined with

such an abundance of football

that

broadcast

is

is

were given,

merely a coincidence

RTVE's

if

there

Although

Fraga instructed

that

alleged

90

as possible.

amount of football,

and bullfighting

basketball

It

is

a large

nominees to transmit

holiday.

as much football

to broadcast

instructions

match

The

away to

Zurich

in Footnote
90. This allegation
was made in all of the studies listed
except the Alcoba book, op. cit.,
88, with the same page references,
to Elorriaga
which made no reference
and Ezcurra.
in Footnote 88, including
91. All of the studies listed
the Alcoba
book, made this allegation
about basketball
and bullfighting.

161

was broadcast

match between Atletico

being,

thirteen
as seen

basketball

in

four

English
though

there

following
between

Benfica

days

Barcelona's

of

Lisbon,

Budapest

92. Information

Real

Madrid

night

between

the

the

first

May Day
de

and Caja

30 April

1965,

in

the

match

the

European

who had previously

of

four

on May Day itself,

the

of

by RIVE,

final

Cup semi
Real
live

even

The

match.

eliminated

A series

28 April,

and West Ham United

testimonial

part

remarkable

Wednesday

of

London was broadcast

taking

when,

by RTVE

by RTVE, two of

Zaragoza

Madrid,

matches

RTVE transmitted

in
FC

Valencia.

1966, the Spanish national

for

of the preparations

obtained

1965,

of

On the

in

1973,

games.

player

home game against

part

the

was screened.

was completed

On 30 April
Belgium,

Friday

evening,

year,

night,

the

in

forward

days were transmitted

Matthews

was no Spanish

and Vasas of
four

Stanley

player

this

May Day holiday

The following

was transmitted.

92

Cup match

Cup-Winners

European

match

participants.

for

de Bilbao

the

In

two days

complain

to bring

two football

four

to

Athletic

by RTVE, between

the

in

President

club

Oraa of

complied.

the

matches

had no Spanish

which
the

to

addition

and during

Before
number of

and duly

was broadcast

match

Zaragoza,

Maria

only

requested

were

RFEF,

the

through

Jose

already

the

with

the cup

forward

would be normal

that

a practice

years,

de Madrid

Atletico

on May Day itself

whilst

de Madrid and Murcia was brought

Establishing

and screened.
following

of 30 April,

on the night

friendly

match with

the 1966 World cup finals

from the archives

162

team's

of Atletico

de Madrid.

was broadcast

tournament,

by the FC Barcelona-Real

immediately

complement the football

de Madrid

the

and then

Gijon,
"derby"

On the night
one of

the

public

holiday:

of

and Castellon

team,

Sporting

versus

the

competition,

de

Madrid

time RTVE broadcast

every

the

for

goal

by Javier

ultra-nationalist

May Day,

by the

scored
Solana

between

the

at

commentator

cup match

May Day

the

Real

Matias
Madrid

was transmitted.

RTVE's football

became even more intense.

match between FC Barcelona

Day itself,

of

as recalled

by the

day,

cup matches

made specially

collection

narrated,

chapter,

the

forward

brought

domestic

the first
it

that

programmes

From 1971 onwards,

hoiday

game of

between

tie

the

specially

two other

1970, for

a two hour-long

this

and Espanol de

and Atletico.

of 30 April

The following

Prats.

Real

compilation

national

beginning

and Valencia.

de San Sebastian

Sociedad

most attractive

between

match

Spanish

and 1 May 1969,

by RTVE: Real

screened

de Alicante,

and Hercules

On 30 April

two days.
were

between Murcia

match was

the football

whilst

by RTVE, and on May Day itself

was broadcast

Atletico

match to

1968, the cup match between Sevilla

On 30 April

From 1966

game.

basketball

de Badalona,

by RTVE was the cup tie

Barcelona

basketball

by

followed

transmitted,

In 1967, the basketball

on May Day.
and Joventut

between FC Barcelona
broadcast

Madrid

would always be a televized

there

onwards,

cup match away to Malaga being

their

Real Madrid,

day was dominated

The following

by RTVE.

a two-and-a-half

coverage

On the night

and Betis

163

this

of 30 April

of Seville

hour special

during

history

public
1971, the cup

was screened.

On May

of Real Madrid's

in

performances
Real's

the

On 30 April
on this

1972,

broadcast

by RTVE.

and FC Barcelona,

basketball

day,

Real

the

league
with

by the

Madrid

Galician

the

significance

followed

of 30 April

regard

Soviet

and La Coruna,
was

seaport,
between

match
to

Valencia

league

the

Union-Yugoslavia

1973, RTVE broadcast

the narration

programmes with

special

of

game.

On the night

that

crucial

was transmitted,

title,

in

match played

The following
of

between

match

another

a league

occasion

transmission

La Coruna.

with

cup match

by the

Cup was followed

European

the normal basketball

year,

complemented by the Athletic

the protests,

observed

of Matias

Prats:

and bullfighting

de Bilbao-Valencia
in

earlier

this

of its

another

On May Day of

transmissions

were

league match,

despite

of the Athletic

chapter,

President.

The friendly
both

teams,
broadcast
day,

match

in

preparation

for

by RTVE on the

night

two-hour

a special

Cup competition

league

On 30 April
was conveniently

international

the

the

of

match

brought

match

of

30 April

German programme

1975,

life

West German and Yugoslav

1974 World

the

the

between

league

forward
Franco,

available

there

was

The following

history

the

of

World

by the

de Madrid

between

to be transmitted,

164

the

national

tournament,

year.

immediately

and broadcast
however,

that

about

Atletico

match

Cup finals

of

followed

was transmitted,

broughtforward

Day during

between

Zaragoza
by RTVE.

and Oviedo.

and Real
On the

was no domestic
and therefore

Madrid
last

or
RTVE

May

complemented the usual basketball

world-famous

who had just

player

As shall

be illustrated

May Day public

holiday

the government

of Carlos

forward

match being brought

reduce attendance

of transition

favour

In the light

It

is

football

passivity
separate

transmitted

in the game in Francoist

the

For the May Day of 1976,

in Madrid's

rally

of the forces

during

question,

that

in

and parties

democracy. 93

regard

by RTVE throughout

can be defended by claiming

during

soporific

there

has been no attempt

to use football

the Franco regime attempted

can be reached with

conclusion

Obreras

of the above evidence,

a completely

to this

on the Real Madrid-Ba_rVa

in order to
by two days and televized,

to plurarist

an agent of political

the

insisted

Navarro

demonstrations

to deny that

whatsoever

as a political

at the Com!isiones

Casa de Campo and other

in the Epilogue

detail

not end in 1975.

Arias

by

football.

from first-class

in greater

did

broadcasts

"The Thousand Goals of Pele",

retired

of football

the manipulation

thesis,

film

Brazilian

the two-hour

screening

and bullfighting

the May Day public

however,

whether

to the extremely
the year.

the remarkably

holidays.

Spain demanded a remarkably

94

the same
high

level

The policy
high

as

level
high

of

of RTVE

of interest
level

of

details,
93. For further
Press,
see the whole of the Spanish sporting
the Barcelona newspapers, from 24 April
to 2 May 1976,
especially
in Garcia Candau, op.
and also the comprehensive account offered
cit.,
pp. 51-52.
94. This was not even attempted by the four defenders of RTVE's general
policy of football
coverage discussed in Footnote 95, all of whom
remained silent
about the question of the annual May Day
transmissions.

165

television

This

coverage.

was the predictable

response of Luis

Ezcurra

about the matter:

when questioned

"Our aim is to satisfy

to satisfy
the millions
all the appetites,
in
football
has
Spain, always taking into,
which
supporters
of
in
it
is
football
big
We
televize
teams...
the
a
necessity
account
our coverage, given the importance of this sport in Spain. "95
This is the argument normally
"culture

of evasion"

culture:

that

by the very persons

their

only

demand, rather

public

employed to explain

is

objective

the satisfaction

than the promotion

why there

was such a high

Spain. 96

There can be a little

level

demand to see a large

public

example,

Britain,

and that

if

Italy

Spain,

viewing

figures

would

have

achieved.

imagine

that

even

there
of

awareness

testimonial
mentioned

or
above

games shown at
or major

the

been

Spanish

existence

was almost

connection

other

times

the

the

year

significance,

it

such

for

as the

is

friendly

any Spanish
the

impossible
to

see,

Stanley

May Day RTVE coverage,

example

same high

the

demand beforehand

without

English

to
or

Matthews

match,

both

or

other

participation
FA Cup

March 1964.
Barca, No. 434,19
of remark was made, for example, in Cazorla Prieto,
165, Marco, op. cit.,
p. 146 and by Manuel Vazquez
in Bar a, No. 765,13
July 1970.

166

in

had been broadcast

Moreover,

Yugoslavia

versus

for

1960-1976,

the period

approximately

matches

with
of

then

of

as much

in,

football

football

public

of,

West Germany

in

international

95. Quoted in
96. This type
cit.,
p.
Montalbn

was any
the

there

and West Germany during

Francoist

and writers,

in Francoist

football

amount of televized

as in

demand.

of this

answer to the question

doubt that

countries

these

this

promoting

journalists

of televized

the same amount of televized

of a

of a genuine

or stimulation

is by no means a satisfactory

this

for

responsible

As remarked by an abundance of Spanish sports

however,

the existence

op.

in

Final
the

South

this
it

May of

American
flaw

major
is

difficult

of

person

defence

to

avoid

football

to be a political

illustration

form. 97

Franco

years,

stimulated

Franco

the

of

demand for

artificially

from

of

in

regime,

which is

chapter,

to examine the
promoting

of systematically

to the popularity

official

and political

of
in

does not exist

simply

regarding

is an

else

attitudes
is

passivity

which follow.

quotations

is

desire

the much-cited

of Franco's

Works Gonzalo Fernandez de la Mora to substitute

for

in his

revealingly-titled

the politics

98 constituted

the group of Opus Dei "technocrats"

to find
expected
in his examination

98. Gonzalo Fernandez

Madrid, 1965.

brought

de las

into

ideolog(as

de la Mora, El crepsculo

the cabinet

of

of
the

de las

"the

expressed
C" The

one of the clearest

such an illustration
of the archives

167

desire,

This

of things".

book E1 crepsculo

of the Ideologies"),

The author
attitudes
RFEF.

the

public

of the regime

attitude

of these quotations

of politics

97.

and final

As a consequence

demands above all

between football

things

Twilight

of this

The best evidence

in the three

of Public

the

such an illustration

Unfortunately,

about the connection

Minister

on instructions

soporific,

of the official

The first

finals

during

was partly

the Franco regime had a policy

that

documentary

Spain

semi

policy
that

conclusion

objective

evidence

the game.

the

October.

every
RTVE's

of

Francoist

or

Fraga.

Manuel

What the fourth

contained

the

by RTVE, acting

and promoted
the

the

in

year,

championship

club

in

football

televized

every

practically

calls
in the

official
DND, or

ideolocias,

of

the

by

1960s for

demobilized

a politically

la Mora's

has been interpreted

call

to promote football

attempt

entertainment

as agents of political

Ledesma, the biographer

that

Marco alleged

Vicente

was the inspiration

for

this

the regime's

sources

of

not only by Gonzalez

passivity

Zamora, as seen above.

of the goalkeeper

de

the Franco

popular

and other

within

Fernindez

that

as a suggestion

regime should

example,

dictatorship.

framework of the existing

the institutional

consumer society

and passive

of the Opus Dei Minister

phrase

to use football

attempts

For

as a

soporific:

political

"The desire of the Franco government to change "the things of

in
its
had
things"
for
the
effects
of
naturally
politics
politics
in particular
began to be employed,
Spanish sports,
where football
by means of an unprecedented level of television
coverage, as a
the Spanish man-in-the-street
and insulating
means of alienating
"99
from the not completely favourable
political
and social reality.

The second

defeat
Cup,

Elola

Antonio

Jose

the

of
played
in

staging

triumph

Madrid.

Spain

organized
with

the

on the

Union

the

of

coincided

conveniently
campaign

Olaso,

Soviet

in

comes from

quotation

in

occasion

the

final

As commented
semi
with

by Manuel
propaganda

finals
the

of
of

already
and final

"Twenty-Five

Fraga.
campaign

in

the

the

de Deportes,

Nacional
Spanish

national

1964 European

the
in

this

of

chapter,

this

Years
Olaso

Elola

is the great
triumph
"This
sporting
for the "Twenty-Five
to the Caudillo

99.

Delegado

the

of
linked

following

of peace.
Years of

team's

Nations
the

competition
Peace"
the

propaganda
football

way:
It is our offering
Peace". "loo

This phrase of Fernandez

de la Mora was
Marco, op. cit.,
p. 145.
illustration
in three other
of the Franco regime's
as
an
used
Prieto,
Cazorla
op. cit.,
p. 166; by Alex J. Botines
publications:
2 May 1968; by Manuel Vazquez Montalbn
in Barca, No. 765,
in Dicen,
13 July 1970.

100. Quoted in ABC, 23 June 1964.

168

It
that

can be argued
Franco

the

which

enthusiasm,

This

regime.

among others,

built

of

interpretation

the
Elola

of

Vazquez

Delegado
"peace"

was a social
of

and

intense

dictatorship

continued
Olaso's

implied

Nacional

foundations

on the

partly
facilitate

would

Manuel

the

interpretation

regime's

passivity,

political

comment from

this

that

football
the

of

by,

comment was expressed

Montalban:

intended to say
"What our former honourable [sic]
Delegado_Nacional
type of peace is
was that he longed for a country where a certain
maintained by everyone being passively
stuck in front of their
television
sets marvelling
at the breathtaking
exploits
of Real
Madrid. "101

The third
regime

offered

is

passivity

motion

the tension

in order

requesting
to leave

The response

is extremely

that

the

of football

all

ways.

Franco

a
Martin

matches be played

religious

regime's

In

trials,

by the little-known

football
for

and

ambiguous than the two

of the Burgos military

Sunday free
of

of the Franco

in different

to the Cortes

motion was presented

Fernandez Palacios,
Saturday

and less

somewhat clearer

above, which have been interpreted

December 1970, during

curious

the attitude

between the popularity

to the connection

political

activities.

which illustrates

quotation

on

and family

spokesman

to

this

revealing:

"The issue which Senor Fernandez Palacios brinas uD is very

interesting,
but difficult
in the present organization
to establish
of our sport, which alreaady authorizes
matches to be celebrated
on
Saturday when both participants
are in agreement, and in any case
the organization
One is
of matches on Sunday has two objectives.
being
holiday,
due
Sunday
to
whilst playing the games on
economic,
Saturday would mean the major part of the productive
and working
being unable to go and watch their favourite
In
population
sport.
is
football
that
the
motive
constitutes
second
an obvious
addition,

101. Quoted in Ba

664,20
No.
,

March 1968.

169

for
thousands
Spaniards,
thousands
and
of
relaxation
and
solace
that support in the country is immense and that we are obliged to
it,
increase
to the
access to such spectacles
granting
and
sustain
"ioz
largest
possible number of citizens.
from the Franco regime,

This statement
in this

outlined

off

by this

football

critique

radical

from Nestor

already

as a

was acting

This debate about the Cortes

soporific.

political

about whether

chapter,

the debate,

revitalized

motion was sparked

Lujn:

"Football
is a ludicrous
sport from all points of view, 'although
important with regard to panemet_circenses...
We would like the
Spaniards to become passionate about other problems, but as we
them, we accept
don't have the slightest
possibility
of influencing
the facts with a painful
and very long, too long, silence. "103
The usual

critics

took their

regime

of the alleged

as the clearest

the regime's

yet of

football

promoting

Manuel Vazquez Montalbn

passivity.

response

piece of evidence

of systematically

of a regime policy

be an agent of political
particularly

motion

by the Franco

of football

cue from Lujan and interpreted

to Fernandez Palacios'
the existence

manipulation

to

was

incisive:

"And so now, at long last,

the government of
we have the truth:
to sustain and increase"
this country feels "obliged
enthusiasm for
level,
football.
Surely the government realizes
that the cultural
the level of political
awareness of the Spanish man-in-the-street
for
low, and rising
slowly,
sufficiently
sufficiently
are still
to continue with the policy
there to be little
of
necessity
national
sport as a means of
employing our so badly-treated
"04
passivity.
as a means of social and political
alienation,

There were several

regime's

statement.

105

other
Not

critical
every

interpretations

interpretation,

of the Franco

however,

was negative.

icial
de las Cortes Esvafiolas,
in
Of
the
Boletin
Madrid,
102. Reproduced
No. 1129,23 December 1970. (Madrid),
6 February 1971.
103. Sbado Grafico,
February 1971.
No. 796,16
104. Bam,
105. See, for example: Alcoba, op. cit.,
p. 256; Botines,
op. cit.,
p.
19; Dicen, 17 February 1971; El Mundo Deportivo,
21 February 1971.
170

Marca,
of

perhaps

Movimiento,

the

doing

launching

who believed

given

was eager

once again

it

was a systematic

as the

status
to

defend

the

newspaper

sports

in

regime,

the

critical

group

regime

policy

to utilize

against

a counter-attack
that

its

surprisingly

not

of

so

writers
the

soporific:

game as a political

in the official
"We see nothing peculiar
response to
or suspicious
the motion presented in the Cortes in December by Senor Fernandez
Palacios,
we are slightly
perplexed by all the fuss
and therefore
This appears to us to be no more than the
that has surrounded it.
thoughtful,
considerate
statement of a government that obviously
whereby a large proportion
of its
wants to avoid the situation
favourite
sport and source
subjects would be unable to enjoy their
In a more general context,
all of this stuff
of entertainment...
is
"escape
"social
drug"
football
a
valve"
an
a
and
acting
as
about
impassioning
has
been
the
Football
as
a
cathedral.
cliche as old
people both in Spain and elsewhere for almost all of this century,
because it is something like an island of refuge in a sea of
not because any government has
everyday concerns and worries,
own specific
purposes. "106
promoted it for their
Marca's

point

correspondent
suggest

that
of

response

It

is

question

was supported

"Gilera",

who claimed

there
the

sufficiently
possible

Franco

of whether

conclusion

in

was any possible

appropriate

to be a political
this

by the

view

of

to

regime

at

there

this

soporific.

Given the very

agent of political

passivity

20 February
1971.

at

the

a conclusion

about

of promoting

football

limited

the potential

Spain had become the European country

106. Marca editorial,

107. ABC, 22 February

in

evidence

the

available,

The Franco regime was not

to realize

perceptive

arrive

to

107

motion.

a regime policy

must be as follows.

was "ridiculous

significance"

Cortes

to

stage

El Alczar
it

ABC that

political
the

existed

former

until
with

1971.

171

of the game as a

the 1960s, by which

the highest

level

time

of football

lack of perception,

Because of this

enthusiasm.

economic means, the regime did pratically

for

preparing

new high-capacity

constructing

led by the astute

to

satisfactory

without

football,

televized

the

towards

contribute
demonstrations

the

of

In

the

Spanish

passivity

as the

and final

The fifth
what extent
soporific
level

it

of

actually

question

wanted

that

172

inter-

special
popularity

of

transmissions

illegal

could

May Day

This

utilization

of
on the

to

emulate

money in

the

game to

serve

assistance

the

as an agent
to

the

clubs,

to do.

obliged

chapter

many

is

to evaluate

to

of football

as a political

the maintenance

of the high

existed

has been treated

the

sums of

felt

utilization
towards

to

regard

huge

financial

of this

objective

passivity

the

of

1967 to

much a manipulation

of

America

South

contributed

or

such

is not

It

from

had been unwilling

giving

the Franco regime's

of political

particular

was very

investment

the

without

regimes

military

at

regime

for

demand was partly

with

opposition.

soporific

in

that

attendances

anti-Francoist

the regime,

an abundance

immediate

the

of

realized

regime

infrastructure,

sporting

political

light

such

This

participation

same way as the

and Mussolini

Hitler

demand.

any Spanish
the

1960s,

Argentina

except

especially

reducing

game as a political

cheap.

country

and promoted,

In

significance.

1939, and in

or even increased.
of

with

in Francoist
far

in

the clubs

the enthusiasm

transmission

by immense public

screened

national

the

any other

stimulated

matches

of

in

was justified

artificially

the

that

claim

more than

matches,
1969,

way to ensure that

of

became aware that

member Manuel Fraga,

remained at the same high level

football

in October

In the early

stadia.

Real Madrid

was the perfect

television

to assist

nothing

of the league

the relaunching

to a lack

allied

less

Spain.

This

debate and discussion

than the question

football

the Franco regime with

football

the illegal

demonstrations.

In the light
the

resist
of

football

being
the

the

end of
the

Civil

War,

to

suspicion
themselves

accept

died

in

the
the

and repression,
and their

regard

of

are basically

in

Spain was
These

passivity.

to details,

for

example

reduced attendance

at

is impossible

to

108

evidence

the

Francoist
than
the

in

the

significance

Spain

a cause

Spanish

of

in

political

purges.

new regime,

and to

and to maintain
Given

struggle

of

harsh

enthusiasm

whatever
the

that
to

employment
the

level

After

was politically

had left
Those

this

high

passivity.

and militants,
conflict,

the

of

consists

population

subsequent

dependents.

it

available,

political

leaders

anti-Francoist

been eliminated

108.

rather

had either

grouping,

obliged

in

enthusiasm

a consequence

because

that

political

on May Day actually

of the limited

conclusion

with

and defenders

in Francoist

of football

differ

simply

whether the televized

question

the cause of this

rather

and defenders

critics

to the latter

regard

to employ

policy

a regime

Both the critics

the immense popularity

the effect

partly

existed

soporific.

as a political

agreement that

there

of whether

political
or had

country

survived
avoid
in

passive

were

political

order

to

support

social

by Alex J. Botines,
It was claimed
to the author
for example,
and
by Julian
Garcia Candau, that the May Day football
by
transmissions
fulfilled
desired
the regime's
RTVE probably
effect
of reducing
Other critics
at the demonstrations.
attendances
of this
regime,
for example,
however,
Manuel Vazquez Montalbn
and leading
in this
historian
Juan Pablo Fusi,
respectively,
case agree with
defenders
habitual
sporting
of the regimes's
policy,
-such as
Gil de la Vega "Gilera",
Enrique
and the great
majority
of the
interviewees
in doubting
that
these broadcasts
had a
author's
This question
has never
effect
on the attendances.
substantial
in print.
been discussed

173

that

conditions

it

entertainment,

and the lack

existed

football

that

became a hugely

or escape from the grim reality

form of refuge

popular

be no surprise

should

forms of cheap popular

of other

of the post-Civil

War years.

The abundance
the

delighted
to

caused
the

persons

Franco

from

prepared

televized

football

during

Spaniard,

although

there

to

feast

have

from

doing

of

the

himself

then it

illegal

later

so.

or

their

potential

there

up during
opponent

demonstrations.

If

Fraga
to

opposition

particular,

served

years

no evidence

of Manuel

nominees

In

Franco

absolutely

demonstrated

Eb Ceffe
and his family

should

the
is

football

televized

any opponents

attending

to subject

by the

otherwise

refrain

restrained

demonstrations,

initiated

policy

who would

the

Day holidays
regime

the

regime
that

no proof

average

that

suggest

of

of

exists

the

May

the

any Spaniard

6wdSG.:
s; or, 4nd
by attending
these

be presumed that

his

were

political

developed

consciousness and commitment were sufficiently

vQ r ec w. ts b cti t
through1and miss a football
match broadcast on television
even
day,
109
assuming that he was a football
enthusiast.

to'both

see

on the same

109. Several former opponents of the Franco regime, mostly members of

to the author that these May
the Comisiones Obreras, have testified
did not cause them even to consider staying at
Day transmissions
home, even if a match of the club which they supported,
mostly
de Madrid, FC Barcelona or Athletic
de Bilbao was
either Atretico
screened.
174

CHAPTER FOUR : FOOTBALL AND DICTATORSHIP

The third

aspect of the political

during

the Franco years

within

the structures

the almost

concerns

of the game both

in the DND and the RFEF, and at local

to what

extent

aspects

other

discusses

attempted
avoid

the

the
of

Spanish

of

to maintain

an uncomfortable

this

in

during
allegation

lack

of democracy
level,

administrative

level.

club

it

Firstly,

democracy

society

frequently-made

As illustrated-in

1.

lack

complete

at national

has two objectives.

This chapter

of Spanish football

manipulation

football
the

the

period.
Franco

in

all

Secondly,

it

a lack

reflected

Franco

that

aims to demonstrate

regime

of democracy in the game in order

lack

comparison

with

the Introduction

the lack

in all

to this

thesis,

other

to

areas. '

Spanish

football

has been made in the following

This allegation
Alex J.
publications:
Marco, op. cit.,
Botines,
p. 73; Vicente
p. 25; Jose Maria
op. cit.,
14 October
1975,2
Garcia,
February
pp. 11 and 92f" Dicen,
op. cit.,
No. 14,6
January
1976; Sport,
1976 and 4 March 1981; Don Baltin,
10
have also made this
interviewees
1980.
The following
April
the Catalan
Joan Josep
to the author:
sociologist
allegation
Manuel Vazquez Montalbn,
the sports
Artells,
the celebrated
writer
journalist
Alex J. Botines,
the former Barca players
Carles
Rexach,
FC Barcelona
Vice-President
the current
Nicolau
Gasaus, the sports
Julian
Garcia
Candau and Jose Maria Garcia,
writers
and the former
de Bilbao
Athletic
players
and coaches Jose Angel Iribar
and Javier
Clemente.

175

ft

RFEF was founded in 1902 by the first

directors

were voted for

of each club

The

Presidents

by the club

in Madrid every July.

held

the assemblies

and its

clubs,

were chosen in annual elections

directors

democratically.

War had been governed completely

the Civil

before

and
at

representatives

In the same way, the

by the members on an annual basis.

democratic

This

the

War was still

Civil

Moscardo,
its

the

and regional

national
With

1940,

two examples

club

army colonel

of
of

the
the

the

the

in

January

Luis

Saura
are

Antonio

the Spanish political

of

Spanish

situation

more than
1941,

the

the

to

full

1939 and,
Pan,

of

Julian

at

clubs.

death
club

as President
in

every

Troncoso

upon his

whilst

nomination

quez
Rodr

the

many private

CND appointed

del

two years,

directors

the

May 1939,

in
level
of

3.

the

of Cdiz in June 1939.3

by the

CND almost

exactly

of the time by being

a clear

sport

For details
of these powers of the DND, see Luis Maria Cazorla
Prieto,
pp. 212-213.
op. cit.,
details,
For further
see Marca, 9 May and 18 June 1939.

176

the

and of

2.

by

sport

alsounder

CND exercised

and of

Delgado as President

domination

For

and all

football,

Falangist

Spanish

govern

whilst

Jose

General

of

February

federation,

CND's domination

Juan Carlos

The two-year

reflected

to

him with

replaced

DND in

Presidents

sports

to

powers

1938,

November

direction

the

Moscardb,

RFEF presidency

the

to

Zaragoza

the

in

formed

War.

the Civil

changed after

Movimiento.

the

General

specifically

regard

Sagredo
April

of

nominating

of

power

emergency

a permanent

of

leadership

forceful
its

wide

overlord

creation

under

raging,

was granted

organizational

until

(CND),

de Deportes

Nacional

The Consejo

immediately

situation

example
in

order

caudilla]e,

of

to legitimize
of

equivalent
totalitarian
from

the

concept
the

Pemartin

word

dictatorial
the

the

a limited

and, in addition,

of football

democracy"),

the second concept

firmly
popular
or

4.

upon the rejection

participation,

corporative

various

anti-democratic

participation

professional

managed to recuperate
the RFEF,

within

in return,
organica

to

to the

the growing

("organic

used by the Franco regime in an attempt

rule.

the

oroanica

as a formula

as an alternative

decision-making
the

associations,

Democracia
suffrage

proposing
in

in the

These minor reforms

reflected,

of universal
instead

of

democracy was allowed

Spain of democracia

significance

its

Julian

Conde,

of Caudillaie

the clubs

of the clubs.

of Francoist

to legitimize

the concept

degree of internal

to the administration
structure

of

the administration

power and influence

former

amount of their

This

Javier

in detail,

In the 1960s, however,

1940s and 1950s.

derived

by three

context

Falangist

the

of

concept

reflected

clearly

Spanish

the

leader.

War Spanish
the

regime

to history,

only

all-powerful

meaning

be illustrated

presently

Nazi

mystical

accountable

post-Civil

and Juan Beyento.

organizational

almost

Franco

is

Caudillaje

rule.

intellectuals,

Francoist

used by the

originally

dictator

Caudillo,

to

was adapted

Spanish football

return

its

by the

Spanish

As shall

a small

concept

Fhrerprinzip,
rule

leading

the

official

process
"vertical"

was based
for
the
of
trade

"organic"
the
unions

1950, Julian
See Javier
Conde, Lucha de pasiones,
Barcelona,
Jose Antonio,
Madrid,
Permartin,
1953, and the following
three works
Genio y ficura
del Movimiento,
by Juan Beneyto:
1940;
Madrid,
Madrid,
de las doctrinas
1948; El nuevo Estado
Historia
politicas,
1939.
Madrid,
espafiol,

177

local

and the

town and city

of democracia
approved
the

the

Law,

organized

Tourism,

which

ballers,

by Manuel
included

glass

the

with

urns

"yes"

in this

way stipulated

election

of one fifth

families

and married

1966 Organic

Law of

Fraga,

in

the

Minister

votes

in

in

ballot

for

about

"stuffing"

and even the

Law approved

The Organic

to Franco and the

by the heads of

to the Cortes

women, making a total

foot-

to preventive

addition

and

famous

the succession

of the deputies

State,

Information

several

paper

some areas.

the rules

the

a referendum

of

of

Six,

process

by an immense propaganda

collaboration
Chapter

in

who voted

was guaranteed

transparent

urns,

of

Spaniards

the

be seen

as shall

detentions,
of

which

of

result

campaign

88% of

the

this

The culmination

December

was the

orgnica

by 96% of

councils.

electorate

of approximately

17 million.

The domination

still
the

the

reflect

continued-to
the

of Spanish
concept

Caudillo,

all-powerful

CND had done previously.

Toledo

Alczar

thesis

regard

with

by the DND from 1941 onwards

of

caudillaie,

in

the

Vith

maintained

seige

changing

regularly

sport

control

President,
-

directors.

5.
6.

over

the

hero

to the Presidents.

In March 1947, for

Portugal

Jesus Rivero
In addition,

and Eire

defeat

Meneses, the Vice-President

the

to this

example,
by the

suffered

and four

empowered to veto

details,
For further
see Edouard de Blaye,
See Marca, Madrid, March 3-10,1047.
178

of

he sacked the RFEF

that

Moscardo was also

of

RFEF by

as seen in the Introduction

team against

the

leadership,

its

Moscardo was so dismayed by the humiliating

national

football,

to

Moscard

domination

same way as the

regard

a rigid

General

with

op. Cit.,

of the
any of the

pp. 237-238.

by
his
taken,
measures
he did,

and this
team's

chosen men that

example in May 1950 with

for

preparations

This use of the veto

team not sufficient.?

by the Delegado Nacional,

out before

he intervened,

before

salute

aware of Moscad's

sufficiently

usually

every

for

match

and the

blue
thesis,

in

Chapter

Two of

this

his

every

suggestion,

about,

for

the

touring

suggestion

East

that

Moscardo maintained
regional

football

and amateur level,

personally
example,

federation

7.

the same rigid

as'he

nominated

were

players,

responsible

for

and directors.

he axed the whole of the executives

because of their

failure

match
in

implement

to

against

May 1950,

Six.

over the various

the game at junior,

did over the RFEF, regularly

Presidents

eager

again

Chapter

control

them

team,

national

an exhibition

in

were either

of the Fascist

the

they

or

refugee

discussed

federations,

for

shirts

to

resorted

they carried

that

wishes

example,

European

be fully

will

the national

was very rarely

example the introduction

discussed

team of

camp for

because the RFEF leaders

however,

in Brazil,

tournament

one week training

the RFEF's planned

considering

liking,

to the national

regard

the 1950 World Cup finals

for

to his

were not completely

changing

his

youth
own

In March 1943, for

committee

of the Murcian

to have discovered that a referee

in

RFEF,
the
the author
the
discovered
Whilst
of
archives
examining
a
Dr. Armando Munoz
from General
Moscard to the RFEF President
letter
the former's
"profound
dated 17 May ,950,
Calero,
expressing
having
disappointment"
planned
at Munoz for Calero
only a week-long
team at El Escorial
before
leaving
training
camp for themenational
Moscardo suggested
a camp "of at least
for Brazil.
two weeks
demanding
tough,
physical
in order
duration
a
nature,
for the
and of
Motherland
the
to
be
to
in
represent
optimum
selected
players
(oz
finals
tournament".
Cup
World
Mu?
for the
Calero
condition
beginning
two-week
7
camp,
June
on
1950.
a
by
arranging
obliged

119

league had fought, in the Republican

junior

a local

In December 1948, the same fate

War. 8

federation

Cantabrian

Moscardo's
however,

lasted

only

and presidential

assemblies

as club

Presidents,

at that

particular

good friend

of the actual
Up to that

In March 1940,

club.
and former

for

replaced

appointment

which will

was not the only

club

Nacional.

In February

the crisis

at the Betis

him with

to have its
1945, for
club

1946 by the nomination

President
example,

"

his

own men
crisis

Moscard appointed
Piieiro,

the

of FC Barcelona,

and

in June 1944,

in Chapter
nominated

Eight.

Bara

to resolve

the Falangist

and the same at Valladolid

of Juan Antonio

an

by the DeleQado

Moscard attempted
by appointing

of Sevil]t

Eduardo Ramirez to the presidency,

October

example,

in detail

be discussed

10 and

an internal

Jose Vendrell

Colonel

club

forbidden,

to nominate

War comrade Enrique

Civil

team. 9

clubs,

the annual

to resolve

Marques de la Mesa de Asta to the presidency

subsequently

date,

frequently

in an attempt

usually

football

had been strictly

elections

had continued

the Delegado Nacional

his

1948.

until

of the

13-1 by a French amateur touring

domination

complete

the directors

a team composed of the best amateur players

after

had been thrashed

of the region

befell

army in the Civil

Perez Garcia. 12

No. 7,21 March 1943, Marca, 19-20

See Murcia Deportiva,
details.
March 1943, for further
details,
9. For further
see Marca, 5 December 1948.
in the Boletin
10., A brief
note signed by Moscard and published
1943, explained
this prohibition:
de la DND, No. 1, April

in
The

8.

is hereby stated
that all
"It
of officials
at
and elections
until
remain under prohibition
de Deportes
Nacional
considers

11. See Marca, 8-11 February

details,
12. See, for further

official
gatherings,
the sporting
clubs
such time as this
their
celebration

1945, for details.

Marca, 27-28 October

180

1946.

Oficial

assemblies
of Spain shall
Deleaacin
"
opportune.

Delegado Nacional

of the other

performance

undue intervention,

from amongst the-incumbent

order

to avoid

other

aspects

who have alleged

comparison

of Spanish society,

claim

that

There is no documentary

the rigid

The DND itself,

insignificant

comparatively
way in

which

the

sport.

This

RFEF in

February

President

of

higher

is

awareness
1945,

Eduardo

echelons

of

the

illustrated

a formality

in
to

which

in the 1940s,

any of Franco's

of

the

Franco
was fully

and Moscardo

part,

clubs

control

'4
ministers

of democracy to football.

the return
was a part

nevertheless,

sports

by the regime itself.

to prove that

evidence

in

in vogue in Spain at the

of Caudillaje

about preventing

were concerned

and other

regime was

lack of democracy in all

with

was demanded of the Delegado Nacional

time,

the Franco's

that

over the RFEF and the football

the concept

to be chosen

t3

an uncomfortable

reflecting

successors

of democracy in football

a lack

Moscardo exercised
closely

directors.

club

The many commentators

their

and

them to work without

to allow

for

arrange

andito

eager to maintain

Presidents

club

the character

with

satisfied

was sufficiently

regime

wanted

a letter

explain

the

that

regime,
aware
him to
he wrote

appointment

albeit
of

the

govern
to

the

as Betis

Ramirez:

"As you well know, one of the primary objectives

of this regime,
de Deportes, is to maintain
firm
and of this Delegacien Nonal

13. In this way, Santiago Bernabeu, for example, became President

of
Real Madrid in September 1943 and Javier Borroso assumed power at
de Madrid in March 1948, without the need either
for
Athl'etico
intervene.
for
to
Moscard4r
or
elections
has been made in the following
14. This specific
allegation
73;
Marco, op. cit.,
Botines,
cit.,
op.
p.
publications:
p. 25; and
interviews:
Alex J. Botines:
to the author in the following
Manuel
Vazquez Montalbn; Nicolau Casaus; Julian Garcia Candau.
181

order and authority

to effect
obliged
"15
Balonpie.

This letter
C.

sufficient

constitutes

Moscard s refusal

dictatorial

style,

regime personality

was concerned

about the possible

Moscardo's policy

the

club

directors

These

problems

the

of

Presidents.

presidency

of

insisted

on retaining

resigned

after

unanimous
1947,

vote
the

of

Blanco,

forced

to

resign

club's

accounts.

January

1948,
.

Leon demonstrated

Elche

the

unsuccessful

A third
when the
against,

the

of

by Moscardo

when serious

by the

incompetent

irregularities

months

who

and a
'6

the

Delegado

supporters

of

the

Cultural

In

earlier,

discovered

for

directors

Galvin,

Miguel

club,

were

nominee

directors.

problem

and three

when his

supporters

Castellon

eighteen

the

as team coach,

him by the

against

President

leadership,

Ricardo

Juan Reverte

demonstration

appointed

"

Falangist

the

club,

1947,

of

effects

ways.

the clubs'

commenced in March

no confidence

in 1947, because of ignoring

the

Falangist

negative

democratic

controlling

for

any significant

and members and appointing

a vociferous

Rodriguez

in

former

began to cause hir problems

however,

June

of rigidly

that

no proof

that

was largely

preference

exists

to its

the claim

to football

even if`there

the game to revert

allowing

for

democracy to return

to allow

reason I feel
de
Club Betis

this
Real

to permit

evidence

by an awareness of the Franco regime's

motivated

wishes

in all
institutions,
and for
these necessary
changes at the

was
in

Nacional

the
occurred

y Deportivo

resigned

in

protest

club
at,

from Moscardo to the RFEF President,

15. -This letter
dated 9 February
1945 was discovered by the author in the archives of the RFEF.
details,
16. For further
Murcia, Nos. 217-219,18
see Murcia Deportiva,
March -1 April 1947, and Marca, 29-29 March 1947.
17. See Marca, 3-4 June 1947, for details.

182

of

of the retired

the presidency
with

persisted
for

Juan Sanchez Cabello,

army colonel

the same manager despite

of humiliating

a series

but was compelled

the team. He did not resign,

who
defeats

to appoint

a new

coach.

The Delegado Nacional

would emerge if

he allowed

recommence, but with

to
that

stipulation

only

would then choose his

the right,

member with
cancel

he allowed

the bizarre

the elections

circumstances

the annual

club

and unprecedented

200 members drawn out of a hat be allowed

own directors,

however,

a dubious

club Presidents

amount of democracy to return

These 200 would be able to vote

attend. 19

retained

more competent

a very limited

In March 1948, therefore,

to the game.
assemblies

that

realized

every

four

the President

candidate

record, 20 and, in addition,

and again appoint

demand such action".

his

only,

who

Moscardo,

years.

to veto as presidential

political

As a consequence of this

for

to

own man, "if

any club

the right

to

the

21

limited

reform,

more competent

and popular

18. For details,

see Marca, 4-16 January 1948.
for these assemblies and elections
19. The precise rules and regulations
de la DND, No. 61, April 1948.
in the Boletin Oficial
were published
20. The current FC Barcelona Vice-President
and former militant
of the
Nicolau
Casaus for example,
Esquerra
Republicana,
Catalanist
party
vetoed by the DND as a potential
presidential
was frequently
illustrated
fully
be
in Chapter
director,
as
shall
or
candidate
thesis.
Eight
of this

de la DND, No. 61, April

1948. It should
Oficial
21. Quoted in Boletin
be pointed out at this stage that this reform was humorously
in Posible,
identified
by Francisco Cerecedo, writing
No. 2,1
December 1974:
"And after twelve years without being allowed to hold general
(sic,
assemblies at the clubs, the Federation
should read DND)
of democracia ora nica to the football
conceded the benefits
by means of limited
institutions,
in this way
elections,
of the dreaded universal
avoiding the resurrection
vote. "
183

club
feel
His

the

with

completely

resolved.

frequently

occurred

the

to

Because
in

their

change
effect,

simply

than

the

binding

rules

Carreto

Marti
rights

discussed

be fully
Albert

rights

interim

in Chapter

into

mass election,

an election

of former

although

that

both

DND and

by requiring

to

clubs

this

every

follow

rather

adopted

following
selling

Alfredo

system was
at practically

were necessary

of this

at FC

the resignation

of

to Real Madrid of all

an issue

Di Stefano,
thesis,

club

that

will

secretary

the 1948 system had not been

meaning that

with

every

Barca Presidents

knowing,

the

was that

the Bar2a statutes,

in holding

committee

that

been

The 1948 reforms

automatically

Eight

club.

mistake
of

obligatory

elections

player

discovered

Malaquer

incorporated
its

however,

the controversial

not

had intended.

1953, nonetheless,

over the Argentina

officials

for

did

had not

bureaucratic

accordingly.

Moscard

When presidential

over

the

recommendations
that

however,

of

new system

impression,

in October

Barcelona

Spain,

and was consequently

every club. 22

kind

the

of

and Moscardo
any professional

at

leaders,

own regulations

in

compulsory,

process

club

Francoist

were,

The general

1948 onwards,

this

of

choice

to make this

RFEF omitted

club

in

intervene

to

compelled
problems

from

came to power

Presidents

as will

adult

the club was within

member voting.

decided

be illustrated

to arrange
in detail

The
such a
in

22. This was the impression received by Julio Lamana, general secretary
de Bilbao from 1949 to 1983. Lamana alleged that, had he
of Athletic
been aware of the loophole in the 1948 regulations,
he would have
when presidential
elections
advised the club directors,
were
necessary in July 1951, to hold a mass vote of all the 13,000 adult
just
by
instead
200 that appeared
the
election
of
members,
obligatory.

184

Chapter

Eight

Delegado Nacional,
23

election.
exercised
for

After

their

surprisingly

to many, did

a month-long

campaign,

right

to vote,

a right

General

not attempt

Moscardo. ' The

to prevent

the

more than 17,000 Barca socios

that

they would not enjoy

again

25 years.

annoyed at these

Moscard was predictably

vehement in his
them. 24

every

criticism

In order

democracy,

a half

and

had caused
of local

such exhibition

the RFEF make the 1948 system compulsory

for

club. 25

lack

of democracy in

of General
of influence

Delecado General,
following

democracy at the football

lack

of the total

complete

years

in Barcelona,

events

whose errors

any further

he demanded that

dictatorship

like

of the officials

to prevent

The lack of real

23.

would infuriate

decision

this

that

Moscardo,

within

his

the game during

the other

the RFEF.

the DND irresistibly

however,

clubs,

Whilst

dominated

death in 1956; however;

half

was only

the caudillaje-

being

the clubs'

Moscardo was

the RFEF.

the clubs

In the

began to express

interviewees
to the author
their
The following
confessed
surprise
at
to prevent
the Bam
the time at General Moscardo not intervening
the former FC Barcelona
President
Agusti
Montal;
Nicolau
election:
Casaus; the veteran
Juan Jose
editor
of El Mundo Deportivo,
Enrique
Gil de la Vega "Gilera",
Castillo;
the veteran
football
for the Delegado
of ABC. Perhaps the explanation
correspondent
is the influenza
lack of intervention
Nacional's
that
surprising
him to bed for three weeks from 17 October
to 8 November,
confined
by Marca, 21,26
and 29 October,
and 2 and 10 November.
revealed

24. The annoyance of the Delegado Nacional was disclosed

to the author
by various veteran officials
during
of the DND, interviewed
March and April
examination of the archives of that institution,
1986.
did this,
by means of their Circular
25. The RFEF obediently
No. 9 of
Oficial
de la DND, No. 129,
January 1954, published in the Boletin
February 1954.
185

frustration

their

by Real Madrid,

most acutely

influence

to

unable
calendar

in

RFEF assembly

the

Bernabeu

seconded

Mir *0 Sans,
directors

passed

at

approval.

the

difference
continue
then

of

the

1958,

July

the

Delegado
but

Elola

Olaso,

sporting

BarYa

post

Moscard's

a rare

Spain

occurred

of

Santiago
FranSesc

counterpart
Vice-Presidents
still

The motion

without

and

to

be filled

was overwhelmingly

any explanation
for

successor,

could

consequence,

President

of

that

President

the

elect

the

players

clubs

by his

Nacional.

vetoed

In

nonetheless

example,

of

Real

clubs
the

number

when the

proposed

that

assembly,

the

two giant

RFEF, leaving

Antonio

the

when sent
DND seal

on
of

27

Three
proposed

of

was felt

by many of

but

for

about,

games. 26

these

of

the

a motion

of'the
nominee

Jose

course

requesting

by the

to

the

or

to the skies

significance,

decisions

and cup matches

between

unity

of

example

diplomatic

RFEF's

frustration

This

European champion and, as shall

Seven, praised

their

the

league

of

be substituted

at

for

ministers

of influence.

spectacular

in Chapter

be seen in detail,
Franco's

lack

at their

years

by the
that

later

of

Valencia
three

by Elola

RFEF assembly,

President

by the
Olaso,

Julio
in

directors

to be nominated

approved

the

addition

a similar

de Miguel

and with

to

President

DND, was again

who realized

that

the

passed
this

this

motion,
the

should

overwhelmingly
minor

time

reform

and
was

is clearly
in the editorials
26. This frustration
reflected
of the
del Real Madrid CF, for example Nos. 43,52,79,92
Boletin
and 95,
of February 1954, November 1954, February 1957, March 1959 and June
1959.
details,
27. For further
see either Marca or El Mundo Deportivo,
8-14
July 1958.

186

necessary

in order

case with

the 1948 reform

this

reform

of the clubs'

of democracia

The football
influence

over the direction

increased

by the alteration

the RFEF President

Benito

about the arrangements

system,

as a step towards

Spanish

discovered,

football.

however,

that

the

29

their

the national
tournament
the general

the majority

directors

these newly-elected

Pico Martinez,

for

in Chile,

into

election

in the method of electing

World Cup finals

Spanish failure

presidential

As had been the

of the game had not been substantially

In May 1962,

RFEF directors.

28.

organica

quickly

clubs

clubs. 28

been interpreted

of 1961 has also

introduction

forthcoming

the frustrated

to pacify

the nominee of Elola

team's

participation

Chile. 30
sentiment

of

clashed
Olaso,
in the

In the wake of
among the clubs

the
was that

See either
Marca or El Mundo Deportivo,
11 July 1961 for further
details.
The motives
Olaso were revealed
to the author
of Elola
Castejon,
the the Delegado Nacional
Benito
from 1959
secretary
onwards.

by Francisco Cerecedo in Posible,

29. This interpretation
was offered
No. 3,15 December 1974, in Botines,
op. cit.,
p. 72, and Marco,
p. 25.
cit.,
30.

with

by

op.

following
the instructions
Pico Marine-z,
presumably
of the Delegado
training
Nacional
camp at El Escorial,
wanted a two-week
preparatory
the club representatives
that
on the executive
whilst
complained
the final
this
rounds of the Copa del
with
would interfere
President
The former
Generalisimo.
of Valencia
and RFEF director
that he led the complaints
de Miguel
to the author
Julio
recalled
of
that
the clubs
the club to Pico Martinez'
plan,
on the grounds
who
for the national
team would be disadvantaged
most players
provided
by having
these players.
to play their
After
cup matches without
a
debate,
lengthy
was reached whereby the training
a compromise
camp
for only ten days, and all of the cup games would be
would last
team players
forward
the national
brought
could participate.
so that
the opposition
De Miguel
of the majority
also expressed
of the clubs
former
FC Barcelona
being
to the controversial
Herrera
coach Helenio
team only a month before
the start
placed in charge of the national
and of his plans to base the team on the injuryof the tournament,
Di St6fano,
of Real Madrid Alfredo
Jose Santamaria
prone veterans
and 34 respectively,
foreignand Ferenc Puskas, aged 35,34
and all
born.

187

the

blame

lay

with

the

tournament.

31

former

annoyance

most

clearly,

but

their

FranSesc

nonetheless

on the

the

criticising

Miro

still

before

suggestions

representative

President

club

by explicitly

punishment

ignored

having

The FC Barcelona

the

executive,

DND for

the

Sans,

pulled

RFEF
expressed

short

of

his

risking

DND:

"I believe
for what happened in Chile lies
that the responsibility
to us before the event, those who
with those who refused to listen
Let's hope that, henceforth,
never seem to listen.
our voice,
which is
influence,
possible

in Spanish
the voice of the clubs,
the real
experts
it's
Otherwise,
will
count for more at the RFEF.
happen again. "32
that
the same will

Mire Sans' hopes, however,

between the clubs

clash

in June 1963.

Following

were to remain unfulfilled.

and the DND for

team, the RFEF directors

national

manager Jose Villalonga

the clubs

resenting
refused

to accept

continue.

football.

reacted

interference

in an angry editorial,

free

to establish

Elola

Olaso,
influence

their

and persuaded

indignantly

for

the

however,
in this

to what they regarded

affairs

way,

as
of

whose club

demanded a return

controlled

and

the two men to

club was Real Madrid,

effectively

of the clubs

from State

poor results

by the DND in the internal

The most indignant

War situation

to resign.

attempting

of the RFEF occurred

persuaded both Pico Martinez

the resignations

The clubs

unwarranted

of further

a series

national

the control

The next

by an RFEF that

magazine,

to the pre-Civil
was completely

control:

"... we want all

of
football,
but also
the obvious
within
"33
authorities.

the responsibility
for the direction
of Spanish
independence
a total
and complete
autonomy,
limits
to the sporting
of subordination

for example, in the editorials

31. This sentiment is reflected,
which
del Real Madrid CF, No. 147, August 1962,
appeared in the Boletin
July 1963.
and in Bar ca, No. 348,25
32.

Quoted

in

33. See Boletin

bicen,

26 July

1962.

del Real Madrid CF, No. 159, August

188

1963.

from

the

in

the

the

along

practice,

July

1963 RFEF assembly and executive

to the President
"this

unneccessary

ourselves".

35

did

not

relations
the
that

Valladolid

only

event,

until

arrive

with

assembly,
he acted

committee

Real,
Elola
in

after

of football,

and Racing
supported
Olaso

clubs

claimed

manner"

boycott

He sent a
for

calling

action

(of Elola

the boycott

-.

trip

to

Madrid.

36

with

very

clubs

speech
the

At
in

which

In

the

close

beginning

the

to

before

the Bernabeu letter

boycott.

over

of the

that

de Santander,

Bernabeu's

conclusion

which should be left

a matter

made an emotive

a "heavy-handed

the

on the players,
the RFEF is hardly

interference

had made the

they

rigid

meetings.
club,

and dishonourable

some Presidents

as the
of

club

There was not enough time to arrange

indeed

the assembly,

drew,

to put this

a complete

of every professional

in the organization

Olaso)

participation

clubs,

useless:

to organize

and attempted

as long

and impose fines

in
of the clubs

into

against

the

Bernabeu decided

President

other

was that,

then

the fixtures
"Simply
to arrange
this
participation
much-vaunted
"34,
worth the trouble.

letter

several

RFEF was practically

the

The Real Madrid

with

affair

DND was maintained,

of

affairs

Madrid,

resignations

unaccepted
of

control

Real

that

The conclusion

of

he accepted

resignations

affair,

del Real Madrid CF, No. 159, August 1963.

34. See Boletin
35. Copies of this letter
were discovered by the author in the archives
de
Bilbao
Athletic
Barcelona,
FC
the
and Real Sociedad de San
of
of
de Madrid.
Sebastian,
and of Atletico
36. This claim was made to the. author by Julio de Miguel and by the
,
President
of Salamanca Jose Maria Dominguez in Marca, 19 July 1963.
discussed in the above footnote,
The copies of Bernabeu's letter
however, all arrived
a week before the assembly, and
approximately
it could be argued that De Miguel and Dominguez simply
therefore
wanted to avoid taking sides in the confrontation
and thus earn the
Bernabeu or Elola Olaso.
enmity of either

189

"less

promised

and concluded
the

of

in

order

unity

Delecado
been

Nacional

struck

The next
Olaso's

Elola
for

a further

support
Delegado

for

RFEF annual
fall

Olaso's

Elola

Despite

from

source

believed

arrogant

man,

assemblies
in

power

of friction

the
in

December

with

Olaso's
with

the following

The

boycott
of

support

promise,
the

had
from

38 the

unprecedented

committee

until

1966.

to renew his

in August 1966.

lack

is

that

37

and Bernabeu'

between the clubs

four

boycott

interests".

complete

game,

to undermine

who seek

and executive

decision

his

those

Elola

the

of

and discipline

unity

continued

unilateral
years

affairs

own selfish

a warm ovation,

blow.

a proud,

the

their

who largely

clubs,

of

further

the

ignoring

sport,

was given

President,

boycott

to

a powerful

other

Real

Spanish

internal

the

"maintain

to

a plea

cornerstone

this

the

with

in

interference"

direct

and the DND concerned

ban on foreign

Bernabeu attempted
kind

of attack

players
to revive

on the

Nacional:

"Thisdemonstrates'one
again the complete lack of importance of the
the
that
to
to
It
presence of
ridiculous
suggest
me
seems
clubs.
is
FC
Barcelona
Madrid
Real
capable
leading foreign
or
at
players
in,
Spanish
the
players
young
emergence of exciting
of preventing
form the
players who will
for example, Leon, Bilbao or Sevilla,
learn
these youngsters
team. If anything,
will
future
the national
in
Spain. "39
foreign
by
players
from the example set
The indignation

by
the
other
Bernabeu
shared
was
of

leading

clubs,

37. Quoted in Marca, 17 July 1963.

favourable
comments
the
belief,
many
either
see
38. For examples of this
17-18
Deportivo,
Mundo
El
in
Marca
or
from leading club Presidents
1963
July
and
399,25
No.
in
Bar?
a,
1963, or the editorials
-July
1963.
August
24,
No.
Aupa Atletico!,
1966.
September
196,
No.
CF,
del Real Madrid
39. Quoted in Boletin
190

this

it

ban because

Barga

40

FC Barcelona.

especially

away the

took

had with

their

foreign

they

have not

used

because
therefore

support

for

The modest

the

that

advantage

stars,
foreign

however,

clubs,

benefited
likes

the

from
Real

of

whilst

the

Basque

clubs

were

players

for

almost

fifty

years,

RFEF boycott

of

is

temporarily

Bernabeu

again

did

and

content
and

not

materialize.

At

this

juncture,

FC Barcelona
just

necessary

between the clubs

of the struggle
RFEF in order

it

and the DND for

to the lack

to return

launched a vociferous

support

to the same extent

from the other

campaign against

as Bernabeu's

clubs

leave

the

the control

was weak.

clubs.

the 1948 system of

the club President,

anti-Elola

question

of the

of democracy at the football

200 members drawn out of a hat electing

almost

to

but,

Olaso campaign,

The main reason for

this

lack

of

40. The Barca magazine, No. 560,10 August 1966, carried

an editorial
issue as an
which effectively
used the foreign
player prohibition
excuse for a vitriolic
attack on the style of government of both the
DND and the RFEF:
"In the
have in

first
the lack of representation
that
the clubs
place,
the RFEF is lamented.
It could be argued that
various
Federations
But as long as the
clubs and regional
are present.
DND has the right
directly
to appoint
the President
and a
then the Federation
(RFEF) will
number of directors,
-certain
nature
as it would with
not have the same representative
The statutes
voted for by the clubs.
officials
of the
Federation
But reality
a few years ago (1961).
were improved
is useless,
has demonstrated
that this
that something
more
has to be achieved,
for
with people who live
effective
it,
football,
to dialogue
and are prepared
who live
with the
The RFEF doesn't
On the
out a dialogue.
carry
clubs.
it is a master of monologue.
And the same occurs
contrary,
The RFEF has wasted magnificent
with the DND ...
opportunities
to talk
The only contact
that it maintains
with the clubs.
with the latter
are the assemblies,
which turn out to be the
that one can see.
saddest and most pathetic
spectacle
Four
hours a year listening
to impressive
speeches and then home
That is all
the dialogue
that
the RFEF offers
again.
to the
Such a state
of affairs
clubs.
"
simply
cannot continue.

191

support

of incumbent

the majority

was that

because it

to see the 1948 system continue

choose

the directors,

and made it

have been the case if

all

The Bam-campaign
conform
this

them to be voted

for

began when the Catalan

their

comment in the club

them the power to

four

bitter

magazine during
the stunted

in office,

years

out of power than would

club was forced

December 1957 elections,

provoking

the name of

on the 1948 system appeared in the club

attacks

the 1960s,

to

magazine:

"This method of election

seems as absurd to us as if
drawn out of a hat. 41
the President was actually
Many similarly

were content

members were enfranchised.

to the 1948 system for

scornful

Presidents

granted

them at least

guaranteed

more difficult

club

in this

culminating

Barra presidential

powerful

during

editorial

campaign of November 1969:

election

is a pity
"It
by a
that an election
type should be decided
of this
in the event that everyone
vote in which 283 people take part,
has to be scrapped and a profound
turns
This system simply
up.
"42
undertaken.
of the whole matter
revision

Another
their

method used by the FC Barcelona

contempt for

the 1948 system and their

democratic

democracy was to make significant

In January

1962 for

attend

and vote at a special

Llaudet

to decide the fate

1965, on the initiative

asked to vote for
club,

every

example,

Barte

of the old

Bar a's

were strictly

by President

December 1957.
November 1969.

192

stadium.

to

Enric

In August

the members were

new stadium.

confined

whenever possible.

member was invited

Les Corts

of the same President,

41. See Bar a, No. 104,12

42. See Barca, No. 730,11

gestures

inner-club

for

preference

assembly organized

a name for

such decisions

adult

to demonstrate

directors

At every

to the boardroom.

other
The

directors

The efforts
the

modification

of

the

Ba as

of

the

1948

division

first

sixteen

between

and the

regime

club

Jose

new RFEF president

connection

however,

FC Barcelona,

of

the
to

need

Luis

leadership

in

Presidents
Costa,

of

to

prove.

a special

gathering

1967,

to

of

the

following

org

return

for

by the

arranged

made the

democracia

democracy

to

responsible

April

Llaudet

point

largely

were
Before

system.

introduction
allow

had an important

pica

the

by the

football

Franco
clubs:

"All the talk at the moment is about permitting

a greater degree of
in
the organization
There was
of the country.
participation
public
Our request for
even a referendum held about this issue recently.
football
club democracy is consistent
with the necessary changes
taking place in Spain as a whole. "43
At

for

this

every club

de Bilbao

for

Llaudet's
having

1967 meeting,

of the Presidents

clubs

reasons
motion

finished

already

outlined

boycott

Olaso as Delegado Nacional,

proposal

system only

of the two Basque clubs,

of

the other

Athletic

thirteen

to see the 1948 system change,

in this

chapter.

was led by Real Madrid President

his

Llaudet's

own electoral

The Presidents

were unwilling

for

support

to choose their

and Real Sociedad. 44

division

mainly

to be allowed

the support

received

first

April

special

of the RFEF after

who declared

The opposition

Bernabeu,

the replacement

to

by then
of Elola

that:

just
"There are always people who want to change things
for the
The system that we have for the election
sake of changing.
of club
for about thirty
has worked very well
Presidents
years,
and
I see absolutely
to change it. ""y
therefore
no reason at all

1967.
43. Quoted in Dicen, 3 April
details
44. For further
of this special
5 April
1967.
El Mundo Deportivo,
1967.
45. Quoted in Marca, 5 April

193

meeting,

see either

Marca or

table

a motion

later.

successor,

in Chapter

stormy

for

year.

that,

a result

that

months later,
election

of the incumbent

incidents

in place

Montal

"For more than

been unable to
participations
full
participation
to the
credit
Spanish sport

elections.

amidst

accusations

Jose Luis
Romero,
of

followed
Antonio

1969 RFEF assembly

at the July

concluded

division

by the supporters.

de Vigo President

a motion

was widely

to vote and even of "ballot-rigging",

of the indisposed

when proposing

1948 system.

Celta

it

of the first

and demonstrations

accusations

similar

of the

season 1968/1969,

the club

angry demonstrations

provoked

The Barca delegate

present

in

beaten

the 200 members allowed

"treating"

be seen

democracy at the

the Cordoba President

won the elections,

surprisingly

months

the consequences

In December 1968,

in debt,

Romero would be convincingly

to

not

both the momentum of and the support

change.

heavily

of three

was, as shall

of club

because of the team being bottom

and the club being

however,

with

the football

During

increased

two incidents

Bar a's campaign for

expected

up the issue

to bring

RFEF assembly of that

however,

too preoccupied

Eight,

1968 cup final

de Carreras,

Narcis

decided

1967, Llaudet

at the RFEF assembly

about the subject

Llaudet's

in detail

in April

heavy defeat

Because of this

Carreras,
in favour

his

referred

"6

Three

the re-

Correira.

47

Agusti

Montal,

to these

two

of the dissolution

of the

speech thus:

thirty
clubs of Spain have
years now, the football
function
the full
as they should do, with
We are convinced
that
this
of all
of the members.
in order for our clubs
to be a
must return,
from which they spring
to
communities
and a credit
in general.
"48

details,
46. For further
see either Marca or As, 7-16 December 1968.
47. See either Marca or As, 18-22 March 1969, for details.
48. Quoted in all of the above sports newspapers, 14 July 1969.
194

The FC Barcelona
in

section
exception

reform

Julio

presented

themselves
the

gained
of

Huelva

of

total,
for

campaigners
President,
"This

led

by Real

Madrid

group

draft

reform

membership

The President

the

Sociedad,

Both

assembly's

Sporting

Galician

committee

simply

by lot,

a suggestion

that,

complete

club

predictably,

democracy.

being

recommended
vote,

not

to
to

a
Valencia

neither

the

Presidents

de Alicante,

federation.

that

49

the

number of

be increased

disappointed
Montal,

of

and Montal
but

Hercules

to

but

by the

committee,

regional

and allowed

Catalan

established

choice

the

was opposed

Bernabeu

de Gijon,

the

of

that

small

with

favour

clubs,

proposed

this

of

the

motion

proposals,

was accepted.

votes,

this

A compromise

clubs,

in

assembly,

the

by then

to

5%

the
Ba_
rsa

that:

recommendation

another,
possibly
election

the

of

the

groups:

and the

clubs

at

for

complained

Basque

franchise

be drawn

members to
the

majority

President

May 1970,

In
club

Real

and the

the

three
Catalan

other

the

neccessary

Valencia,

by the

Barcelona,

de Miguel,

President

into

assembly

extending

to

committee

special

led

1948 system.

the

of

Montal,

the

member;

adult

the

of

solution

compromise

all

Espanol

federations;

regional

every

of

support
of

split

motion

seems to us to

be neither

one thing

nor

by
compromise
unsatisfactory
men who could
an extremely
to contest a popular
be considered to be reluctant
at their
clubs. "50
of Athletic

be seen in Chapter

Eightiat

de Bilbao,

Jose Maria

the time increasingly

details,
49. For further
see As, 14 July 1969.
50. Quoted in Baarrca, No. 759,2 June 1970.

195

Oraa, a man, as shall

influenced

by the

himself

declared

Party,

Basque National

clandestine

to be:

"... somewhat disappointed.

I really
can't understand why so many
are opposed to every member being allowed to
people in football
vote at his club. "81
It

has been alleged

Delegado

Eight

was almost
opponents
Barcelona,
federation,

by the

It
various
the late

rather

accepted,
in

reform

most

of

most

the

favour

Basque

has frequently
democracia
1960s. 55

Basque

regional
effect

Real

Madrid

only

dissenters
the

clubs,

including

in

reforms

53

this

instituted

The new system allowed,

de Madrid members to vote

in the club's

committee's

proposal

other

being

Catalan

in

FC

regional
Athletic

The proposal

de
was approved

1970.54

August

that

discussed

and the

clubs,

because

topicality

fully

the

to

evidence

May 1970 and the

its

will

federation.

been claimed

orgnica

much of

assembly,

with

Catalan

other

DND, and came into

the

the

Between

that

subject

against

although

lost

and the

other

the

of

issue

At

thesis.

unanimously
of

the

another

this

of

Samaranch

system,

by the

was advised

circumstantial.

year,

affair,

and the

Bilbao,

the

of

Guruceta

Chapter

is

claim

RFEF assembly
the

Juan Antonio

a one-member-one-vote

this

support

of

de Deportes

Nacional

recommending

ad hoc committee

this

that

reform

reflected

the

by the Franco regime in

for

example,

presidential

1,228 Atletico

elections

of June

29 May 1970.
51. Quoted in El Mundo Deportivo,
but rather to the
has never been made in print,
52. This allegation
author in interviews
with Alex J. Botines and Julian Garcia Candau.
53. For further
details,
see As, 11 July 1970.
54.

55.

by means of RFEF Circular

This reform
was implemented
No. 10 of
in the Boletin
August 1970, and published
Oficial
de la DND, No.
325, September 1970.
has been made in the following
This allegation
publications:
No. 5,15
January
Cerecedo in Posible,
1975; Botines,
Francisco
op.
Prieto,
op. cit.,
p. 35.
cit.,
p. 72 and Cazoria

196

in the Real Madrid

1971,2,034

Bernabeu was once again the only

Bilbao
1,585.06

for

The campaigners

football

frequently

clubs

complained

of democratization

process

that

in December 1973,

the system had not

that

noting

privately

of the Spanish

de

of complete democracy to the

publicly

1948, whilst

changed since

qualitatively

the return

Santiago

1,127 in the Athletic

candidate,

1973 and, at FC Barcelona

of July

elections

of June 1972, in which

elections

the

system had

political

commenced. 57

At this
issue

point,

of the lack
struggle

it

appropriate

RFEF.

As seen earlier,

Delegado Nacional

request

for

at the annual assembly,

many clubs,

and earned the enmity

with

his

Barcelona
affairs

of Pico Martinez

magazine had insisted,

simply

cannot continue".

the RFEF, however,

continued

' in August,
5e

in
to

disappointed

by refusing

the

to accept

and then by continuing

of foreign

players.

1966, that

The influence

to be severely

of the

of the RFEF directors

of Bernabeu,

prohibition

the Franco

controls

but had subsequently

and Villalonga,

unilaterally-imposed

for

of the

Olaso had consented,

Elola

but three

all

be elected

resignations

during

football

between the DND and the clubs

'the

half

to the other

to return

of democracy in Spanish

years;

1961, to the clubs'

is

FC

"such a state

of the clubs

restricted

The

of

within

by the DND for

56. Information
examination of the archives
of
revealed by the author's
these clubs, op. cit.
57. See, for example, interview
with Jose Maria Oraa, in Dicen, 20 July
28 November 1973
1973, and with Agusti Montal in El Mundo Deportivo,
December 1973.
Montal recalled
to the
and in Bar a, No. 942,4
1970 reforms, he realized
that
that after the disappointing
author,
it would be impossible
to achieve a one-member-one-vote
system
the Franco regime remained in power.
whilst
58. See Bam,
No. 560,10 August 1966.

197

of the Franco years.

the remainder

as Delegado Nacional

The replacement

Samaranch in December 1966, the reasons

Introduction

to this

the football

clubs,

their

boycott

enemy's fall

received

Upon hearing

of the RFEF.

in the

which were discussed

by Real Madrid,

especially

from power,

for

was largely

thesis,

Olaso by Juan Antonio

of Elola

with

by

satisfaction

who immediately

ended

the news of his personal

Real President

Bernabeu declared:

"I am not surprised

I have been expecting this news for
at all,
some time now. Let's hope that Mr. Samaranch, in whom we have
every confidence,
will
permit us the control
of the game that is
is to remain one of the leading
necessary if Spanish football
powers in the world. "59
The hopes that
the

RFEF without

be quickly
proposed

At

confounded.

to have

the

with

President

and "intervening
neccessary".

assembly,

despite

appointed

by Samaranch

the

harmony

part

thirty

that

the

the

60

61

This

internal

Jose

of

only

seven
in

Luis

1967,

July

elected
to

of

Costa,

allegedly

that
of

angry

the

football

RFEF
only

when

by the

RFEF President
is

could

football
about

"upset

for

the

59. Quoted in Marca, 29 December 1966.

details,
60. For further
see any of the sports newspapers,
61. Quoted in all of the sports newspapers, 11 July 1067.

198

to

the

at

approved

the

earlier,

were

Bernabeu

choosing

affairs

organization

them to control

DND, however,

was unanimously

months

the

Samaranch,

of

DND reduced

motion

warning

has existed

years".

the

the

RFEF directors

the

of
in

from

RFEF assembly
the

all

influence

assembly,

absolutely

intervention

excessive

a motion

had of Samaranch allowing

the clubs

the

clubs

11 July

1967.

decided

Bernabeu
boycott

another
the

to

the

of

protest

assemblies

RFEF, after

apologizing

former

Madrid

Pays,
boycott

Real

cause

would

indignation

him. 65

who would

clarifying

to

the

the

and many other

the

trouble
then

influence

greatest

of

Luis

Perez

that

this

provoked

the

by immediately

Presidents

club

with

meetings

Jose

new RFEF President

for

Gich

of

committee

Pay, however,

Perez

exercise

appointment

and executive

centre-forward,

Bernabeu

of

the

against

his

over

presidency:

"It is beyond doubt that I will always be taking the line of the
Minister-Secretary
of the Movimiento and of the Delecado Nacional
because they are the leading rectors of Spanish sport. "66

The last
the

within

Montal

and supported

foreign

the

the

One motion,

players,

the

major

motion

in

the

Bernabeu, 68 called
at

the

almost
with

assembly,

minimum

the

the

that

of

1972,

than

passed,

three

but

explanation

all

then
to

ten

RFEF assembly

President

years

immediately
Press.

vetoed

by

supported

of

to
the

be elected

motions

by Juan

The reaction

worse
The second

earlier.

Both

of

return

had actually

RFEF directors

DND.

of

Agusti

the

prohibition

publicly

the

by the

the

the

team had performed

again
of

influence

their

67 demanded

the

national

had been introduced

assembly

at

FC Barcelona

by Bernabeu,

argument

because

rather

of

occurred

by the

Press

increase

to

clubs

years

once more for

unanimously
the

the

with

prohibition
of

Franco

proposed

been counter-productive
since

football

the

of

RFEF during

1972.

July

attempt

of

were

Gich,
the

clubs

65. This brief apology was made to Perez Paya in a letter,

dated 27
September 1970, uncovered by the author in the archives
of the RFEF.
66. Quoted in Bar a, No. 778,13 October 1970.
67. See interview
with Bernabeu in As, 17 July 1972.
68. See same interview.

200

intransigence

to Gich's

however,

In the event,

to the assembly,

delegates

of clubs

four

all

Rcing
boycott

development

to do their

wishes.

both at the time and afterwards,

failure

second successive

mentioned

that

The

players.

because it

seemed

has been alleged,

It
Gich's

real

motive

away from the national

attention
for

to qualify

above sent

of the Delegado Nacional

at this

were pleased

the ban was to distract

lifting

of the clubs

as a consequence

Gich had been compelled

however,

Valladolid,

Bernabeu's

in May 1973, the ban on foreign

lifting',

surprisingly

that

69

away from the 1973 assembly.

and stay

majority

to join

and Granada promised

Sevilla

de Santander,

indignant.

was predictably

in
team's

the World Cup finals

tournament. 70

the football

By the end of the Franco period,

accepted

defeat

Representatives
and frequently
by the

clubs

in

their

of

the

caused
on the

struggle

the

with

clubs

were in

problems

for

RFEF executive,

the

the

DND for

majority

President.

however,

clubs

were

control
on the
71

had largely
of

the

RFEF.

RFEF executive,

The victories

small

won

and relatively

(Valencia)
69. For examples of this reaction,
No. 126,
see Mestalla,
No. 133, September 1972, Boletin
del
September 1972,1{Aupa Atletico!,
No. 881,4
Real Madrid CF, No. 268, September 1972, and Bam,
September 1972.
No. 916,19
May 1973, Dicen, 17
70. This allegation
was made in am,
May 1973, Botines,
p. 96 and Jose Maria Garcia, op. cit.,
op. cit.,
p. 67.
71.

1974, for example, both Gich and Perez"Paya

In Janry
were prepared
team manager Ladislas
Kabala,
to extend the contract
of national
for the 1974 World Cup finals
despite
the failure
to qualify
for four further
The club representatives
tournament,
years.
on the
however,
RFEF executive,
wanted to engage a different
As
coach.
by Perez Paya, after
to the author
debate,
revealed
a lively
a
of two more years for Kubala was reached.
compromise

201

insignificant

The DND continued

ones.

President

the

nomination

of

any motion

passed

The Presidents

with

the

eighteen
from

apart

feet.

their

as their

division

Presidents

At the

72
73

Valencia

their
domination

1974 RFEF assembly,

only

Presidents

'sending

representative.

summed up by the

the

to vetoe

right

DND's continued

the

July

club

attended.

RFEF through

and the

demonstrated

clubs

at

Bernabeu,

Santiago

director

aptly

leading

division

first

the

assembly.

annual

the

of

dominate

directors,

and three

and frustration

disillusionment
voting

the

at

to

were

The following
for

The motives
President

others,

a Vice-President

either

Julio

July,

or

only

their

of

eight

the

present,

by

six

absence

first

were

de Miguel:

"I see little

point in attending
an assembly that has practically
list
We either discuss trivia
no power.
such as the fixture
and
get bored to tears, or vote on some issue of importance,
only to
have our decision vetoed without any explanation.
"74

and Agusti

Bilbao

democracy
of

the

system

for

Presidents,

Certain

could

Montal

This

chapter

to

after

Information
the RFEF.

Jose

Antonio

FC Barcelona,
restored
the

death

Eguidazu

75 privately
at

of

the
Franco

of

Athletic

concluded

RFEF, and the

de
that

domination

and when the

political

be democratized.

has attempted

the Franco dictatorship

72.

of

be fully

only

DND be broken,
had begun

example

revealed

to demonstrate

were reflected

by the

author's

how the various

in the governance

examination

of

stages

of

of Spanish

the

archives

of

from the RFEF archives.

73. Information
74. Quoted in Dicen, 10 July 1974.
interviews
75. Revealed by author's
with Agusti Montal and Julio Lamana,
de Bilbao secretary
the former Athletic
and confidant
of Equidazu.

202

At first,

football.
sport
into

by the introduction

of these

introduce

more meaningful

other
felt

frustration

in

democracy
consequence

of

order

that

nonetheless,
machinery

of

limited

the

in

the

DND itself
various

of

which
football

that

Franco

the

electoral

is

little

that

the

and other

comparison

the

with

Spain.

It

must be concluded,

was part

of

the

Delegados
the

Nacionales

regime

democracy

permit.

203

wanted
which

Francoist

them to

regime
sports

lack

of

state

de Deportes

the

of

was a direct

There

football

lack

general

allegation

in

democracy

the

period

government.

support

Francoist

way in

scope

of

of

the

an uncomfortable

the

and that

aware

and the

a lack

in general

democracy

to

evidence

to'establish

not

style

regime's

to maintain

was eager

fully

the

during

that

upon realizing

had begun to be dismantled.

demonstrate

to

football

Spanish

documentary

explicit

in

has attempted

chapter

by the specific

clubs

itself

to

refusal

a one-member-one-vote

the Franco dictatorship

system until

This

of football

to introduce

they would not be able

as a whole at the

ones was reflected

by the majority

the

In the 1970s,

clubs.

and the Franco regime's

reforms

put

degree of democracy both

limited

by the country

ineffectiveness

was being

by the Franco regime were

of a very

felt

frustration

the general

other

In the 1960s,

of the RFEF and the football

to the adminstration

and every

that

of caudillaje

introduced

reforms

orgnica

reflected

of this

by Franco in the 1940s and 1950s.

practice

democracia

the concept

reflected

closely

domination

the complete

govern

regime

were
sport

would

CHAPTER FIVE:

The fourth

aspect

concerns

the

both

the

football

the

aspect

poor

the

clubs

poor

Spanish

of
working
in

Arnoriaga,
who dedicated
"vertical

discussed

concerned

sports.

The only

Los esclavos
the

syndicates"

Two explanations

of

de oro

subject

footballers'

working

Pueblo,

the lack

Tomas Martin

2.

See, for

Arnoriaga,

example,

lo,
Pueblo

themselves

with

op.

and Daniel

weekly

of treatment

in

the

"Daniel".

columns

simply

of this

the poverty

aspect
of

204

of

the

not been recognized

(Madrid)

examined

Gomez Jimenez,

and extravagantly-paid

cit.

of

political

have

to

is

have been Tomas Martin

signed

Firstly,

group
the

image of the Spanish footballer

of a luxuriously-treated

1.

select

have generally

conditions

such because the stereotyped

been that

of his

from
This

authorities.

two writers

baln,

several

newspaper

for

del

Spain

players

by the

footballers

the

can be put forward.

politicization

least

the

Francoist

professional

sporting

who have

conditions

to

by the

Francoist

in

football

of

received

and the

has been

which

significance

politicization

treatment

and journalists

writers

the

of

FOOTBALL AND EXPLOITATION

17 September 1968.

as

has usually
young man, in

CHAPTER FIVE:

The fourth

aspect

concerns

the

both

the

football

the

aspect

poor

the

clubs

poor

Spanish

of
working
in

Arnoriaga,
who dedicated
"vertical

discussed

concerned

sports.

The only

Los esclavos
the

syndicates"

Two explanations

footballers'

of

working

several

newspaper

for

Pueblo,

Tomas Martin

2.

See, for

with

his

Pueblo

and Daniel

weekly

signed

Firstly,

the

simply

"Daniel".

of this

aspect
of

204

of

the

not been recognized

(Madrid)

examined

the

and extravagantly-paid

cit.

political

in

image of the Spanish footballer

op.

of

Gomez Jimenez,

columns

the poverty

have generally

conditions

group

have

to

is

have been Tomas Martin

forward.

Arnoriaga,

example,

themselves

of treatment

of a luxuriously-treated

1.

select

the lack

such because the stereotyped

been that

of

from
This

authorities.

two writers

balon,

del

Spain

players

by the

footballers

the

de oro

subject

can be put

politicization

least

the

Francoist

professional

sporting

who have

conditions

to

by the

Francoist

in

football

of

received

and the

has been

which

significance

politicization

treatment

and journalists

writers

the

of

FOOTBALL AND EXPLOITATION

17 September 1968.

as

has usually
young man, in

to

contrast

sharp

workers.

the

even when this

Secondly,

has been occasionally

been

usually
footballers

thought

the

the

of
been

not

simply

Garcia

for

than

rather

not

even in

football,

the

of

result
the

conditions

has

by
a deliberate

political

the

of

footballers

example, 4 it
received

the

In consequence,

the

of

treatment

normal

working

Spanish

of

treatment

shabby

Spanish

of

standard

footballers
works

has

on the

written

by Manuel

Vazquez

Candau, T Francisco

Cerecedoe

and Alex

J.

Botines.

Despite

all

should

players

in

football
favour

great

regime.
shabby

6 Julian

Montalban,

world

recognized,

politicizations

in

the

Franco

significancd

was the

this

majority,

by "Daniel",

recognized,

throughout

of

policy

and ill-paid

poorly-treated

of

majority

of

the

above,

be considered

Francoist
the
of

Spanish

the

because
working

treatment

aspect

as another

Spain,

footballers'

however,

the

Franco

conditions

of

the

regime

by the

received
politicization

of

was undoubtedly

reflecting

those

of

the

workers.

3.

is best illustrated
in: Martin
This image of the footballers
in Marca, 18 November 1957 or 4
Arnoriaga,
p. 159-162;
op. cit.,
interviewed
The majority
by the
March 1969.
of veteran
supporters
have little
for the
and consequently
view,
respect
author
share this
de Futbolistas
the Asociacin
union,
struggles
of the players'
hand, the majority
On the other
Espanoles.
of younger supporters
interviewed
have a sympathetic
towards
the problems
attitude
of the
the need for the Asociacion,
and appreciate
players,
even though
for the four strikes
during
support
undertaken
very few expressed
1979-1984.
the period

4.
5.

See, for
See, for
February

6.
7.,
8.
9.

Manuel V(zquez Montalban,

op.
Candau, op. cit.
Garcia
Julian
Cerecedo,
Francisco
op. cit.
Alex J. Botines,
op. cit.

example,
example,
1974.

Pueblo, 17 September 1968.

As, 1 December 1973, and El Mundo Deportivo,
cit.

205

20

The concrete
does

unfortunately

if

is

it

therefore,

not

The situation
for

Franco

the

Western

held

for

and industrial
by the

working
action.
of

the

Franco

the

it

Therefore,
Franco

regime

is

logical

to maintain

as the majority

among themselves,

loyal

to

to their

to
the

footballers

Spanish

examples
fury",

other

every

of

commitment

and

Francoist

Spain. i1

of

political

mobilization

have been

serious

in

possibly

in

taken

in

highly
terms

one of

by solidarity,

followed

conditions,

as shining

very

had changed

footballers

These

"Spanish

regime,

could

strife,

same situation

10.

valued

poor

had actually

as occurred

same period.
media

an un-

even more uncomfortable

footballers

conditions,

the

that

assumption

the generally

with

have been

much-vaunted

qualities

consequences

rational

Spain had been qualitatively

professional

up by the
the

courage,

self-sacrifice,

set

in

claim,

'0

majority.

working

country

were consistently
discipline.

the

their

European

on the

this

of view of the Franco regime,

undoubtedly

if

regime

however,

claim,

would have been created

would

improve

to

action

back

in Francoist

of the large

conditions

working

above

to support

order

fall

to

treatment

comparison

comfortable

In

from the point

then,

the

support

exist.

necessary

the footballers'

better,

to

evidence

indignation

it

in

example

their

poor

and even strike

was in

approximately

of Spanish workers:
employer,

the
at

militancy

assume that
players

if

The

docile,

and politically

the

interests
the

divided
passive.

is shared by, for example,

Juan Pablo fusi,
Julian
This assumption
Luis Aragones,
the Former FC
Garcia Candua, Manuel Velazquez,
Caries Rexach, Juan Jose Castillo,
Barcelona
player
and Jose Angel
Iribar.

11. See, for example, El Mundo Deportivo,

1949, and Marca, 15 November 1957.
206

14 October

1942 and 30 March

Before

into

entering

a detailed

is necessary

grievances,

it

differences

and similarities

players

by the clubs

difference

a fantastic

was paid

modest

second

division

worker

during

the

former

player

of

Madrid

included.

12

Ministry

1,500

It

of

monthly.

brevity

save money in

salary,

it
earned
For

more than

pesetas,

true
the

1700 pesetas

the

Spanish
the

while
pesetas

that

Marin,

per

average

minimum

a day,

even
Spanish

average

Luis

Jose

single

every

Rayo Vallecano,

club

approximately
year,

that

nonetheless

against

detail,

example,

division

second

this

is

in

opinion

sustained

the

estimates
month

monthly

with

income
by

pay established

approximately

1,200

13

sportsmen
of

be seen

was fifty

Labour

be taken

should

professional
the

In

public

of the

conditions

a myth often

a myth,

shortly

years.

1960 he was earning

is

it

to turn

footballer

Franco

was approximately

pesetas

in order

as shall

player

the

of the

conditions

between the working

Although

themselves

player,

rebellious

bonuses

out both the

to point

between the working

two groups was financial.

in

juncture

at this

and those of the Spanish workers.

The most striking

that

of the footballers'

study

their
order

into

account,

has traditionally
active

careers,

to commence upon

however,

that

the

been relatively
and the

high

consequent

a new career

or

salary

set

of
because

need for
themselves

of

them

to

up

interview
12. Author's
with Jose Luis Marin, 23 February 1987.
13. Information
revealed by Miguel Martinez Cuadrado, Anuario Politico
Madrid, 1970,
Espanol 1969. Cambio social y modernizacion
politics,
de la Espana franguista,
1973, p.
p. 60, and Max Gallo, Historia
436.

207

in their

in business
serious

injury.

very difficult

tolerate

high

relatively

working

these

be seen in detail.

shortly

than differences

between the

conditions

of the footballers

and the majority

of workers

To begin with,

Spain.

enshrined

in Article

and independent

the full

weight

Camacho,

Nicolas

of the Francoist
Redondo and the

regarded

officially

and were consequently

workers",

syndicates"system.
forming

as "amateur

themselves

'4

into

footballers

the

any other

The second major similarity

and the majority

sportsmen"
from

excluded

Nonetheless,

unions

of

the

players

type

of

immense power held by the employers.

11

as Marcelino

grouping

in Francoist

14. Revealed by examination of the archives

de la DND, No. 37, April
Boletin Oficial
1963.

than

still

were

In many large

unions

"genuine

"vertical

or

between the working

of workers

were met by

The footballers

rather
the

was

underground

discovered.

UGT and CNT painfully

Obreras,

Comisiones

trade

of repression,

leaders

other

to form free

"vertical

State-controlled

machinery

in

the right,

Spanish worker

every

to form independent

attempts

denied

of Human Rights,

Practically

unions.

one of the unpopular

All

syndicates".

groups-were

both

23 of the Declaration

trade

to join

compelled

15.

for

more similarities

Francoist

from

prohibited
'5

association.

conditions

of the.

Spain concerns
companies,

the

workers

of the DND, in particular

1946 and No. 233, January

Revealed by examination
of the archives
of the DND, and of the
de la DND, No. 161, October
in particular
Boletin
Oficial
1955.

208

to

were compelled

in return

conditions

as shall

salaries,

footballers

the Spanish

There were far

working

were

mid-thirties,

Furthermore,

in the case of

or even earlier

RFEF,

fined

were systematically
the company rules. 16
were subjected
international

lateness

In a similar

stipulating

" all

Real Madrid and Spanish

manner of petty

17

Perkins

Large multinational

Motors regularly

about the poor working

used to cancel

playing.

continue
of loyalty,

19

and were normally

ceased to be economically

The Spanish footballers

during

the Franco period.

of players

the employers

very

These "syndicates"
ineffective

too badly

to

demanded a high

degree

employees had

useful.

had no less
Firstly,

than seven major grievances

as seen above,

from the official

were generally

union

"vertical

considered

due to being controlled

they were forbidden

or association,
syndicates"

and,

system.

to be inefficient

by the Franco regime,

and

but,

as
to be

See, for example,

Edgard de Blaye,
op. cit.,
pp. 499-501,
London,
A History,
1973.
Gallo,
Spain under Franco:

and Max

at the time by Manuel Velazquez

interview
17. Author's
18. See, for example,
p. 344.
cit.,
19.

to

footballers,

realized

16.

clubs

considered

when their

ruthless

by both the DND and the RFEF to form a trade

moreover were excluded

who dared to complain

or who had been injured

In both cases,

Pegaso and

the Spanish football

the contracts

obedient,

we should

such as Seat,

workers

18 while

conditions,

unilaterally

be insufficiently

firms

used to expel

regulations

eat and drink,

what we should

at what time we should be in bed, and even, on which nights

remain celibate.

of

footballers

way, the professional

Manuel Velazquez,

player

minor infringements

and other

in the words of the former

to,

and restrictions,

for

and other

with Manuel Velazquez.

de Blaye, op. cit,
pp. 499-501,

and Gallo,

op.

Revealed by examination
de Madrid,
of the archi
ves of Atletico
Real
de Bilbao
Atidtic
Madrid,
FC Barcelona,
and Real Sociedad de San
Sebastin.

209

excluded

from

compelled

to

join.

for

professional

the

clubs,

the

compromising

more innocent

words

social

days.

as a retailer

of

Madrid

There

many cases,

Marin,
three
1968.

are
for

Rayo supporter.
Marin

20.

23

of

from

found

interview
Author's
footballers
of the
Angel Iribar.

live

the

of

at

22 of

Article

when a player

the
he

retired,
up during

on money saved
in

from

exclusion

himself

establishing
because

his

his

earnings

had been considerable22.

less

fortunate

and unable
his

of

as a consequence

of

upon retirement,

extended

employment

Gil

that

meant

was unemployed

at Rayo who retired

favour

their

contravention

team star

help

arose

had few problems

goods

however,

Pedro

by the

avoided
in

sportsmen:

and had to

Velezquez

without

He eventually

clear
This

and national

example,

children

in

electrical

as a Real

players

professional

pension,

Manuel

the

of

grievance

system,

no state

received

Consequently,

always

players,

by

considered

21

Human Rights.

of

no sindicato

amateurs.

were

the

of

contracts

considered

security

Declaration

playing

up the

major

being

not

and sueldo

salario

recompensacion.

The second
their

DND to be merely

RFEF, and the

existed

were deceitfully

they

being

than

worse

above, there

because

sportsmen

the

was far

syndicates"

As seen briefly

20

when drawing

clubs

the

"vertical

the

to

approximately

Garcia,
the

his

support

family

as a waiter

and Javier

Jose

players.

in

Luis

wife

and
in

when he retired
a bar

two former
same time,

owned by a
colleagues
were

of

both

and with several

with Manuel Velazquez,
other
for example Caries
Rexach and Jose
Franco period,

21. Revealed by examination of the archives of Atietico

Real Sociedad de San Sebastian.
22. Author's interview
with Manuel Velasquez.
23. Author's interview
with Jose Luis Marin, Madrid.

210

de Madrid,

and

work in Madrid,

to find

unable

field.

injury.

his

His club

the proceeds

as a result

tico

the Atl

de Madrid

dying

before
and his

Such

cases,

to help

obliged

former
in

injury
that,

in

March

as shall

shortly

The third

source

Jose

be seen,

five

Zubiarrain,

to

to the

his

example,
by

terminated

career

take

player

for

compensation

he decided

years

not legally

were simply

so little

Mart(nez,

exceptions

had his

star,
he

the injured

with

Maria

goalkeeper,

and received

from which

of Miguel

were really

because the clubs

de Madrid

1970,

were generous

all.

on the

action

and consider

example that

however,

any way at

Atl (tico

contract

who was in a coma for

midfielder

in 1971, the clubs

family.

for

he had

in the case of a leading

only

cases,

of shabby treatment,

rule

the

In certain

closed.

of courageous
match or him,

the player's

cancel

native

even if

was even, worse,

of a piece

would be considerable

and then unilaterally

matter

player

a testimonial

would arrange

to their

returned

24

injured

of a badly

The plight
sustained

families.

their

towns to work with

and consequently

from

his

club

to

the

law

case

courts.

Spain

was the

player's
present

contract
club

99 and 100 of

in order

clubs'

gave
the

to retain

of indignation
right

of

had expired
its

RFEF's

interview
24. Author's
with
25. Revealed by examination

only

According

Regulations,

a player

the footballers
which

retention,
he could

approval.

for

25 all

was to increase

meant

of Francoist
that

even when a

move elsewhere
to

the

that

his

his

controversial
a club

salary

had to

by 10%.

Jose Luis Marin.

of the archives of the RFEF.
211

if

Articles
do

This

apparently
losing

unjust

rule

the players

great

to prevent

was invoked

Jose

goalkeeper

need for

Athletic
Angel

such a rule,

restriction

but nonetheless

on the liberty

by the

1966, and again

two

international

their
Barra.

of the Spanish

at

from moving to wealthy

stars

Irrbar

it

that

concluded

years

frequency

way in July

joining

from

clubs

for

particular

prevented

from

Irrbar

with

In this

de Bilbao

the smaller

and trained

international

their

Real Madrid and FC Barcelona.

years later,

to protect

they had developed

that

This rule

expense.

Basque clubs

was designd

understood

the

was one more

footballer:

"At the time, when my ambitions to join FC Barcelona were blocked

twice, I was unable to understand the need for this retention
of
by the club.
It seemed to me completely
Over the
contract
unjust.
years, however, and especially
now that I am the coach of Athletic
de Bilbao,
I can appreciate
that this rule was necessary in order
to defend the modest clubs, who would otherwise have lost all their
best young players on whom they had spent vast amounts of money in
training.
On the other hand, however, it must be said that this
retention
rule was one more example of the unjust treatment
denying us the right
to freedom of
received by the footballers,
be protected
movement. The smaller clubs should certainly
against
losing their
best young players,
but not at the expense of the
freedom of contract.
The major consequence of this ruling
players'
was that the clubs had absolute control
over the destiny of the
players,
especially
so because they could sell or cancel a
All of the legal rights
player's
contract
whenever they wanted to.
in the player-club
held by the
relationship
were zealously
clubs. "26
The fourth

bone of contention

Spain

was the

which

had to be obediently

apparently

treated

almost

always

Madrid

star

father

to keep

26.
27.

Author's
Author's

Luis

them in

interview
interview

list

endless

in

at

27

Jose
Luis

petty

every

words

"irresponsible

order".

with
with

the

the footballers
of

accepted

like,

Aragones,

for

Indeed,

of

rules
club.

the

and regulations
The players

former

Atletico

children

who needed

the

Madrid

Angel Iribar.
Aragon's.

212

of Francoist

Real

were
de
a stern

President

Santiago

Bernabeu actually

said on a number of occasions:

for both good and bad, is very much like

"The footballer,
and really
needs to be treated as such. "28

in

regulated,
Human Rights,

This

in

Spain,

however,

Italy

or gestures

example of this

Bernabeu discovered
Paul Breitner,

America.

that

occurred

It

was only

expressly

prohibited

a political

prohibition

newly arrived

Declaration

to his

of

family
to

almost
in

and

the

and
same

Francoist

their

from

players
30

The

in November 1974, when

conscious

at Real Madrid,
workers

the

significance.

occurred

the politically

help to the striking

financial

29

was controlled

individual

the

of

with

12 of

Article

treatment

the clubs

that

of

right

patronizing

and South

making statements

Breitner

the

concerning

extent

clearest

contravention

clear

life.

private

lives

every aspect of the players'

Practically

a child,

West German player

was considering

of the giant

giving

Pegaso Company.

As

explained.

"Bernabeu called me into his office

and told me, in no uncertain
terms, that what I planned to do could have serious consequences.
its
He pointed out the importance of Real Madrid maintaining

image, and said I would make myself

"non-political"
supposedly
very
in Spanish domestic
by interfering
I was forced
unpopular
affairs.
to climb down on the issue and swallow
as so many
my pride,

other

players

apparently

had to do when confronted

by Bernabeu. "31

28. Quoted in Pueblo, 17 September 1968.

29. Revealed by examination of the archives of World Soccer, January
the editions
February 1984, in particular
of June 1963, October
1969, June 1972 and February 1980.
30.

Revealed by examination
of the archives
in particular
de Madrid,
and Real Madrid,
CE, No. 295, December 1974, with regard
Breitner.

31. Author's

interview

with

Paul Breitner.
213

and

World Soccer,
of Atletico
Boletin
del Real Madrid
to the case of Paul

of

for

would have been possible

It

had not been for

lack

players'

five

these

opposed and even eliminated

within

of representation

them taking

their

footballers

were completely

listed

grievances

of the sixth

the existence

footballers

the Spanish

it

grievances:

the

the RFEF, and the prohibition

on

In consequence,

to seek justice

powerless

if

above,

and seventh

to the law courts.

grievances

to have

and fair

the
treatment

from the clubs.

1968, there

Before

committee

executive

RFEF assembly

was passed

international

players,
of

Pays,

such

the

This
first

the

the

at

a representative,

annual

and was

Samaranch. 32 This
by the current

and former

out to be a man who had no

turned

the

was especially
player's

a motion

quo by taking

status

on the

representative

case

up the
with

to

regard

before

representive,

grievances

being

Jose

of
Luis

appointed

RFEF

in 1970.

President

This

lack

insignificance
footballers
to

1968,

July

was to be chosen only

and usually

disturbing

footballers.

Perez

In

requesting

however,

representative,

the

RFEF.

the

of

players'

approved by the Delegado Nat*onal

surprisingly

intention

was not a single

of

redress

of influence

within

alongside

the

Francoist

Spain:

any of

similar

prohibition

country.

33

This

their

other

seventh
the

and final

in

ever

the

of

on the

players

the

existed

was on Article

into

pales

grievance

prohibition

grievances

has apparently
prohibition

the RFEF, however,

5 of

seeking

law courts.

No other

in

footballing

any other

the

statutes,

32. Revealed by examination of the archives of the RFEF, and the DND, in
de la DND,, No. 300, August 1968.
Boletin Oficial
particular
33.. Revealed by examination of the archives
of World Soccer.
214

read:
jurisdication

"The RFF has full

and exclusive
its
within
concern. 1134
In

clause
all

the

addition,
which

clubs

that

stipulated

authority,

court,

The RFEF usually

actually

about having

been fined

right

or

ruled

in favour

for

who who complained

a player's

is

matters

contract

jurisdiction

the

renounces
that

procedure

of
in

established

not

of the club,

infringing

the

argued with

on the few occasions

about not having

some petty

club

been paid,

the former
for

employers

the manager.

Valencia

As recounted

One
from

received
who, in

defender

suspending

or

regulation.

to the RFEF about the treatment

club was Juan Jose Tatono,

having

in

he "expressly

November 1969, denounced his

for

include

dared to complain

when a player

his

always

all

"35

RFEF Regulations.

player

would

over

him without

pay

by Tatono himself:

"Perhaps
but certainly
I deserved
to be suspended,
pay,
not without
in
I had to borrow money from friends
that was completely
unfair.
I complained
to the RFEF, but they came
order to keep my family.
down in favour
It seems
of the club,
agreeing
with the suspension.
is what usually
that this
used to happen with players'
complaints
to the RFEF. My complaining
to Madrid made matters
worse with
Valencia,
to second
who sold me, after
a season on the sidelines,
division
having
back now, I regret
Looking
club Elche.
complained
to the RFEF, because it only did me harm. 1036

In addition,
Articles
a fair
vention

34.

12,22
trial

to the treatment

of the footballers

and 23 of the Declaration

of Human Rights,

therefore,

by an independent

of Articles

and impartial

8 and 10 of that

Revealed by examination
of
Martin
Arnoriaga,
op. cit.

Declaration,

the archives
p. 125.

35. Revealed by examination of the archives

Real Sociedad de San Sebastian.
36.

Author's

interview

with

Juan

Jose

215

court

Tatono.

of

this

was also
as well

the

contravening
lack

in contra-

as of the

RFEF, and quoted

of Atletico

of

de Madrid,

in

and

own Fuero de los espanoles

Franco regime's

labour

to take their

the right

workers

which formally

granted

all
labour

to the special

grievances

courts.

The first

footballer

conditions

was the

occasions

threatened

1950s.

to

a personal

de trabajo

the

contract

late

1970s,

Asociacin

thirty

in

relatively

be seen

the job

for

1940s and 1950s reflected

certain

sections

better
trade
ballers,

situation

in

This

despite,

while

playing

legal

working

Bazn,
for

who on several

studies,

wrote

things,

that

to

thesis,

the

footballers'

was a rare

exception.

the

and then

contract.

this

in

Jaen

a labour

Epilogue

of

unique

among other

proved,

the

footballers

doing

it.

trade

37 In

El

the

Cabrera
the

union,

For approximately

remained
childhood,

The docility

the docility

silent,

to

grateful

and being
in the

of the players

of the Spanish workers

in

began to change in the 1960s, when

gradually

of the workforce

pay and working

unions.

Cabrera

they had dreamed of since

well-paid

This

Jose

was clearly

of the other

all

these

Espanoles.

Bazn, however,

general.

which

foundation

the

de Futbolistas

years,

be doing

deportivo,

about

his

he completed

as shall

Cabrera

srike

a professional

of

Bazn assisted

intelligent

highly

Upon retiring,

contrato

complain

began to take up the struggle

conditions,

and for

change in climate

the right

eventually

37. Jose Cabrera Bazan, El Contrato

216

de trabajo

to form independent

reached

in the words of Jose Angel Iribar,

for

"all

deportivo,

the footthe efforts

Madrid,

of

1961.

the RFEF and the DND to isolate

the clubs,

us players

from the outside

world". 39

The first

serious

1969, but was promptly

the-clubs

and the

to form a players'union

attempt

was made in April

abandoned in the face of the fierce

sporting

As recounted

authorities.

hostility

of

by Manuel

Velazquez:
division
"The captains
the first
teams planned
to come
of all
forming
to
together
to discuss
that would struggle
an association
improve our-working
began when the Press
The problems
conditions.
found out.
The RFEF President
Jose Luis Costa denounced the idea,
Our President,
along with practically
all of the club Presidents.
Bernabeu,
"Pirri",
was particularly
angry because our captain,
and
in the Press
Bernardo
Grosso, had made statements
other player,

in favour of this association.

Bernabeu forced the the two of them
to make humiliating
statements.
public retractions
of their earlier
That was very much the end of the matter.
It was to take another
finally
to form their
ten years for the footballers
own trade
union. "39

This setback

Marcelino

against

the club

with

contract
player

Perez famous for

Cup final

Nations

had done before

directors
high his

turned
salary

38. Author's
39. Author's

public

his winning
the Soviet

however,

did not serve to

goal
Union,

for

centre-forward

Spain in the 1964

demanded a transfer

ended, and complained

more vociferously

when this

him.

opinion

was, and how it

interview
interview

a union,

In June 1970, the Zaragoza

of the players.

all

silence

about forming

with
with

was refused
against

the player

would be further

Jose Angel Iribar.

Manuel Velzquez.

217

when his
than any

The Zaragoza
by pointing
increased

out how

by 10% in

him. 4

to retain

order

however,

and Manuel Velazquez,

for

encouragement

other

in

March

received

from

the

of

transfer,

from

resulting
infringing

the

that

in

compelling

Ajuria

with

contract

the

club

was to

the

enjoy

similar

his

contract.

of

5 of
to

Ajuria

and thus

in

Mendonca

and Mallorca,

Madrid,
was ruled
therefore

reparations.

two years

Madrid

later

goalkeeper

sustained

him a small

Ajuria

statutes.

Bazn, 42 it

by injuries

his

RFEF ban

Cabrera

success

and refusal

fight

to

Mallorca
RFEF's

than

treatment

payment

Supreme Court

financial

Ajuria

of

a possible

the

the

of

the Atletico

by the club paying

lack

aganist

between

to make certain

as seen above. was cut short

then cancelling

case
thesis

the

existed

of Jose Maria Zubiarrain,

infuriated

of

Eduardo

action

Article

controversial

accordance

a labour

terms

lawyer

the

legal

taking

4'

treatment.

by the

was so upset

in

Mallorca,

managed to bring

skilfully
where,

his

about their

Mendonca had no fear

As a veteran,

case.

served as an

Jose Mendon5a went one step further

Mendonca

he engaged

stance

indignant

players

1971.
club

that

Marcelino's

forward

The Angolan-born
Marcelino

out by both Jose Angel Iribar

As pointed

with

the

whose career,

in action.

He was

amount of compensation

fought

case

and

the case in the grounds

40. The opinions of the Zaragoza directors

about the Marcelino case are
fully
Marca,
reproduced in Heraldo de Arao6n, El Mundo Deportivo,
and As, from 17 June to 8 July 1970. The opinions of the player,
in contrast,
himself,
by the Press,
attention
were paid very little
being confined to a few lines in Heraldo de Aragon, 17,22,24
June
in
brief
treatment
6
El Mundo Deportivo,
July,
and a similarly
and
17 and 24 June, and in As 17,22,
June and 7 July 1970.
41.
42.

Auth9 r 's interviews

Jose Cabrera Bazan,

with Manuel
op. cit.

218

Velazquez

and Jose

Anger

Irtbar.

that

the

injury

player's

The following
up by both
attitude

the

Spanish

from

result

towards

clubs

a labour

of

lawyer

the

the
in

footballers

the

accident.

Atletico,

of

illustrates

DND, perfectly

RFEF and the

the

of

defence

of

statement

the

was obviously

backed

patronizing

Francoist'

Spain:
inadmissible
is absolutely
know,
"It
that a player
who, as we all
benefits,
payment,
many paternalistic
enjoys
substantial
doctors
comfortably
of the first
order,
conscientious
short
working
hours,
try to seek the protection
should
of
and so many privileges,
law created
the influence
of a social
security
and benefits
for the genuine
worker. "43
exclusively
and logically

This defence,

however,

Supreme Court

passed a verdict

Atletico

de Madrid for

security

system.

proved

not having

of

nontheless

and Jose

Social
still

Security

President
Social

implicated

43.

case

humiliating
being

besides
the

Director

de Madrid,

Atl'etico

personally

he was also

was both

de la

the

Subdirector

but

verdict.
RFEF
General

of

Security.

Perez Pay skilfully

their

the

of

Enrique

were

The former

because

a footballer

in the Supreme Court.

verdict

Pay.

this

prevent

humiliated,
in

Zubiarrain

Perez

in the social

the argument that

and Vice-President
to

unable

Paya was equally

Perez

Luis

condemning

the player

registered

by the

In December 1973, the

of Zubiarrain,

had been dismissed

worker"

The two men most upset

General

in favour

For the second time,

was not a "genuine

Mata Gorostizaga

to be ineffective.

grievances

to court

prevented

other

by promising

by examination
Revealed
of
Arnoriaga,
quoted in Martin

indignant

to resolve

players
completely

the archives
of Atletico
op. cit.,
p. 32.

219

from taking
the whole

de Madrid,

and

issue

of the footballers'

of the nature

to the social

affiliation

to be a docile

proved

security

by the time of his

about these issues

The obstructionism
the

football

their
further

to
of

ailings

grievances
death

of

of

the

In

passivity

of

the situation
of strikes,

the

the

the

footballers

the spirit

consciousness

desire

of the majority

change on the part

the
for

docility,

to

in

Franco

in general,

apart

the

the

and the

many
the

after

were not

society

after

and political
had reflected

from the occasional

and militancy

wave

among the footballers

in the general

was described

of
thesis,

players

Spanish

period

of Spanish workers.

of the players

this

be resolved

Epilogue,
change

1975.

players

consequence,

obedience

the increase

nothing

majority

to

foreign

of

the

of solidarity

from 1975 onward reflected

Introduction

remained

be seen in

of the workers

the

In

team.

throughout

players

in

prohibition

national

same way as the

by the

Paya was supported

continued

general

executive

from power in July

fall

as seen

As shall

Franco.

the

the

Spanish

to be immune from
1975.

despite,

clubs,

opposition

Perez

of

on the

Perez Pays had done practically

of the RFEF, however,

committee

possible

In the same way as he had

system.

representative

players'

and their

contract

political

This desire
in the following

for
way by

Manuel Velazquez.
"By the time of the death of Franco, we players were desperate f or
For far too many years we'd
a change in our working conditions.
here at Real Madrid.
been treated like little
especially
children,
We were not allowed to form our own trade union, there was no
injured
for when you fell
social security
protection
or retired,
the club could hold on to you for as long as they wanted to, and
to the law courts for justice.
Such an
you couldn't
even resort
continue,
and it was only to be
unfair situation
simply couldn't
like so many other groups and
expected that we footballers,
become
during the
Spanish
militant
would
society,
sections of
from dictatorship
to democracy. "44
transition
44. Author's

interview

with

Manuel Velazquez.
220

CHAPTER SIX:

The fifth

aspect
the

concerns

failure

of
the

of

dictable

refugee

players

Associations
eventually
rapidly
"political
Kubala

with

granted

leading

up by the

attempted

to

players

refugee

for

Permission
by FIFA.

In

under

nationality

exiles",

which

and Ferenc

Puskas,

lead
playing

to

the
the

the

two most

for

the

1962.

221

because

a whole

of

their

prerange

of

these

of
Football

in

East

however,

Spain,
Europeans

special
famous

Spanish

the

of

registration

them to play

addition,

and were

clubs

International

of

as a ,result

uprising,

encountered
the

ratify
of

Hungary

As a result

clubs

Federation

the

from

Spanish

reputations.
Spanish

Spanish

Spain

Francoist

outstanding

had fled

-- these

(FIFA).
conceded

various

in

football

1956 anti-Communist

and coaching

when they

obstacles

of

refugees

October

oppositions,

of

Europe.

these

signed

enthusiastically
immense playing

Spain

Eastern

The majority
the

politicization

in

presence
from

and coaches

the

of

FOOTBALL AND THE REFUGEES

were

classification
refugees,

national

was
all
of

Ladislas

team until

These "golden
can be divided

into

the following

three

that

at the head of a team of anti-Communist

exiles

Europe;

the player

Budapest after

from right

of the 1956 uprising;

the defeat

across

Eastern

which left

the Yugoslavia

in Spanish football

and coaches who were prominent

in Spain in 1950

arrived

army team Honverd,

Hungarian

the world-famous

Kubala and Ferdinand

categories:

and coach partnership

Daucik,

by the Spanish Press, '

as they were called

refugees',

players

in the 1960s and

1970s.

It

has been alleged

that

these footballing

every possible

assistance

to settle

Franco regime

to convert

them into

liberal

relatively
to dicuss

this

Before
of

the

to

establish

East

little

commencing

entry

into
the

European

to

of

context

exiles

discuss

in

The objective
doing

this

of

other

sports

in

exile

in

other

of

Kubala

chapter

in

both

evaluate

of these reugees

Spain

in

were given
in order

symbols"

for

the

by using

of Communism and the

upon an examination

Francoist

footballers

European

and in-so

allegation,

Spain,

"anti-Communist

of Spain. 2

nature

of the presence

significance

in Francoist

both the harsh reality

them to demonstrate

refugees

of this

significance
is

it

necessary

a brief-discussion

Francoist
countries.

Spain.

political

and Daucik,

with

is

the political

in Francoist

the

chapter

Spain,
There

about

and East
is

extremely,

cases.

used to describe
was first
27 August 1950.

Kubala and Daucik

in El

1.

This expression
Mundo Deportivo,

2.

in interviews
has been made to the author
This allegation
with Juan
by Vazquez
Pablo Fusi,
and in print
and Manuel Vzquez Montalbn,
Montalbn
op. cit.,
p. 157.

222

from the footballing

Apart

in Spanish sport
basketball

after

for

Spanish clubs,

had this

country,

Spain.

A small

Germany over

the

mediocre
illustrated

West,

number

of

players
in

cautious

about

damaging

sporting
authorities

relations

with

the

in

from

on tour

the

The other

the
who

players

exchange for

this
apart

have

their

from

had no such

the

East

European

non-existence

of

diplomatic

from

the

however,

they

have

Francoist

Spain

Europeans,

fear

of

because

countries
relations

until

were

Eastern

Spanish

were

present
been
be

authorities

because

the

West

As will

sporting

whole

in

Apart

the

East

Francoist

stayed

reputation.

chapter,

the

with

in

Hungarians

there.

Nachtweih,

dissident

relations

Francoist

of

of

country

taking

1975

without

foreign

vital

an international

course

West European

every

Milan

group,

from January

ban left

German players

East

Norbert

without
the

apart

while

defender

Munich

Bayern

Only one of this

few examples of East European footballers

the

years

of Yugoslavian

permission.

offical

in

asylum

were a handful

authourities.

thus earning

There are extremely

seeking

East Europeans

two-year

a worldwide

serving

of the Yugslavian

permission

1970s.

the- only other

the Caja de Ronda club

for

who played

onwards,

the Franco period

in the early

players

Adamovic,

signed

during

refugees,

extremely
of

fear

Block.

of
The

sporting

negligible,
after

of

a reflection
the

death

of

Franco.

3.
4.

details
For further
see Marca, 10
of the Adamovic affair,
February 1974 and As, 2 January 1975.
In March 1967, for example, the French authorities
to
were reluctant
team
offer asylum to four members of the Romanian Under-21 football
details,
who attempted to defect in Lyon. For further
see World
Soccer, April 1967.
223

The passage
European

more famous

the

story

of

the

romantic,

all

of

Communist

symbol"

prodigious

talent
17.

only

the

daughter

which
in

in

Soviet

soldiers.

has always

Kubala
to

played

leave

conversion

in

July

the
the

1948,

to

international
in

1945,

only

his

of
to

political

in

an "anti1927,
at

he followed

his
the

age

his

team and married

Spartak
the

across

friends,

events

and

into

club

flee

to

Nevertheless,

debut

Czech national
coach

East

prologue

remarkable

Budapest

by several

accompanied

alluded

in

Born

of

Honved team.

later

father

for

Daucik,

Ferdinand

January'1948,

of his

as a kind

is

his

from

Daucik

particular

Spain.

death

coach

the

of

him a Hungarian

earned
the

in
in

assisted

Francoist

to Budapest

border

case

Kubala

of

to Prague,
of

He returned

decision

flight

and the
be regarded

should

and controversial

After

Czech mother

Kubala

player

football

Spanish

to

the

of

the

of

all

Prague.
Austrian

disguised

when explaining

as

his

Hungary:

"I decided
to leave Hungary because of the Communist takeover,
just
bear
then.
I couldn't
which was on the point
of culmination
in a Hungary dominated
by the Soviets.
the thought
My
of living
father-in-law
East
a team of anti-Communist
was organizing
in
Europeans players,
mostly Hungarians,
and we all came together
Milan in March 1948. "5

It
football,

must be taken into

which afforded

account,

Kubala a relatively

of 20, was about to be dissolved

structure.

5.

Author's

The players

interview

nonetheless,

lavish

in Hungary in favour

would have to find

with

that

Ladislas

224

Kubala.

other

professional
lifestyle

at the age

of a rigid

work and leave

amateur
football

for

The team of

East

Europeans,

united

to seek fame and fortune,

desire

their

which did not appeal

and weekends, a prospect

evenings

their

anti-Communism

"Hungaria"

was called

They toured

of Hungarians.

the preponderance

in

and France during

1948 and 1949, playing

matches twice

a week and hoping

to be signed

all

of Turin,

Milan,

to sign up Kubala,

enthusiastic

but were apparently

respective
Eastern
took

countries,
Bloc for

the decision,

following

Anderlecht

dissuaded

because of

of the touring

authorities

who did not want to damage relations

'

club.

and Stade de Reims were

the inspiration

by the sporting

It

team,

of their
with

the

was coach Daucik who

of 1950, -to move on to Spain,

in the spring

the

exhibition

up by a leading

of Brussels

the sake of one footballer.

and

Switzerland,

Italy,

Low Countries

Juventus

to Kubala.

for

the

motives:

to tour at the time,

even though it
seemed a good country
than the rest of Western Europe.
poorer
was still
substantially
for the game there,
There was clearly
and I expected
a huge passion
in a team made up of various
there to be a lot of interest
because Spain had been starved
nationalities
of international
football
War...
As to the political
contacts
since the Civil
side
it did cross my mind beforehand
that our being a team of antiCommunists would help us to fill
the Spanish stadia,
even more so
In
than in Italy
of the Cold War.
and France at the height
it seemed that the Spanish authorities
would be more
addition,
disposed
that caught
to help their
clubs sign on any of our players
the eye, and the purpose of our tour,
after
all,
was to find
us all
clubs in Western Europe. "'
"Spain

It
of

6.
7.

is difficult

"Hungaria"

the political

to assess to what extent

contributed

to

their

success

in

Francoist

for the breakdown of the negotiations

This explanation
to the author by both Kubala and Daucik.
interview
Author's
with Ferdinand Daucik.

225

significance
Spain.

The

was offered

media

offered

entry

into

them an extremely
Spain

headline

the
radio

"Welcome,

team "refugees

from

practically

all

institution

under

the

manner in

With

to

preparing
actually
the

East

attempted
France,

to

a match
for

team of

actual

the

between
World

the

Cup finals

without

its

height.

the

national

visiting
by

regime

this

way,

an

established

Moscard

which

Daucik
teams of

national
1

Brazil.

the

the

advised

Spanish

in

the

media's

RFEF
team,

The RFEF
flattery

of

had previously
Italy,

Switzerland

and

success.

was wound up in July

matches had become a tedious,

10.

"

In

"Hungaria",

to

tournament
in

the

be treated.

and the

visitors

reached

but

Jose

The stated

was adopted

Franco

would

General

Europeans

against

the

assistance

two such matches,

to play

of

dubbed

that

them with

greeted

media. 9

Spanish

exiles

organized

"Hungaria"

8.
9.

the

offical

Freedom".

a label

control

de Deportes,

Nacional

arrange

the

which

regard

Delegado

direct

of

Marca

their

upon

example,

immediately

terror",

sections

the

of

de Espada

Communist

other

May 1950,

Footballers

Brave

Nacional

Radio

station

in

Henday

through

For

warm welcome.

1950, when the series

non-competitive

grind.

of friendly

Most of the

See Marca, 8 May 1950.

by Matias Prats,
to the author
the ultraInformation
revealed
football
former
television
of State radio,
commenatator
nationalist
and NODO news reel.
During examaniation
of the RFEF, the author.,
of the archives
by
from
General
discovered
letter
DND,
the
Moscardo May 13
signed
a
in which the
Armando Muoz Calero,
1950, to the RFEF President
latter
to organize
a game between "our glorious
was requested
footballers
football
team and anti-Communist
from East
national
Europe, currently
on tour in our country".

11. For further

details,

see Marca, 21-26 May 1950.

226

gave up their

players
for

France

or Belgium,
became the

however,
war"

between

club

in

Kubala

that

the

signed

The Barra

the

declaring

for

to

the

the

Daucik,

coach

delighted

in

charge

had to wait

Kubala

The matter
held

1950,

allowed

If

the

FIFA
debated

in

as usual

actually

Zurich,

with

that

to play

the

FIFA

As expected

his

club

by the

promised
FIFA
would

FC Barcelona
by

gratitude

Soviet

January

1951,

player

in

club

interview
12. Revealed by author's
13. Quoted in El Mundo Deportivo,
interview
14. Revealed by author's

Vasas

representative,

of

was accepted.

registration

not have assumed the

In the event,

however,

Kubala
with Ladislas
22 August 1950.
with Ladislas Kubala.

227

14 the

until

had not opposed Kubala's

did.

December

himself,

worldwide

former

but

matches.

meeting

by the

from

us refugees

competitive

executive

by his

would certainly
it

in

be suspended

should

authorities

then the matter

Catalan

Samitier

Spain. 12

team in

first

Bam

another

proposed

significance

at

the

that:

clearance

Kubala

the Hungarian

Barra,

political

was first

to register

Budapest,

of

for

demand that

Hungarian

with

took

"transfer

Munoz Calero,

"Spain is the land of freedom, for it has given

repression
a new home and new hope. "13

Daucik

bitter

on the

Armando

and left
Kubala,

for

representative

who expressed

Press

the

Josep

maneral

registration

player's

in

and signed

doctor

Falangist

footballers,

employment.

episode

general
Spanish

newly-elected

on the

another

other

and FC Barcelona,

Madrid

committee,
approval

secure

of

subject

found

they

where

1950.

August

executive

also

Real

to be professional

ambitions

the

unjust

seemingly
Spanish

football

of Kubala,

supporters

at being

indignant

coupled

The player

and aggressive.

Matias

commentator

because

Mainly
Francoist

Radio Nacional

skilfully

persistently

by evoking
friendly

the

rule

refusing

the

debate,

Kubala's

where

transformed.

made his

he was offered

Ba__ra into

In

Soviet

the

the

debut

six

of

played

vote

player.

a warm reception.

an unstoppable

the

cup with

15.
16.

to the author by Matias

Recalled
El Mundo Deportivo
The newspapers

team,

Munoz

good reason
in

another
his

onto

side

trivial

only

followed

that

FIFA

next

16

a player

non-Communists

weeks

the

of

must give

and Czechoslovakian

as a Bar$a

by the

interest.

substantial

having

Kubala

years.
the

only

course

a federation

of

t8

profession".

the

re-registration

poor

three

with

that

all

ratification

The Hungarian
Seville,.

of

for

matches

impassioned
opposed

1951,

March

a man

campaign

followed

public

used the

picture

out his

politically-motivated

and swung practically

country,

of Communist spite,

carrying

Spanish

in

meeting,

this

of

the

media,

executive
Calero

from freely

prevented

unjustly

to the Spanish

was presented

as a "victim

Prats,

of

caused the media to become

in the words of the ultra-nationalistic

-public,

the frustration

with

the chance to see his

denied

on display,

phenomenal talents

supposedly

for

suspension

the

representatives

17

later

in

a cup match

in

He immediately
leading

them to

triumph

in

sixgoals.

interview
Prats,
and Mar ca both

op.
sent

cit.
a

to Zurich,
along with Matins Prats of Radio Nacional.
correspondent
details,
29
17. For further
see either Marca, or El Mundo Deportivo,
March 1951.

228

both Kubala and Daucik

By the time of the June 1951 cup final,

Their

Spanish citizens.

applications
Minister

months because the Interior

the scarcely-used
demonstration
"golden

these

This

playing

for

Bam.

It

took Mufioz Calero

media attacks

alleged

that

18.

for

the Spanish

Kubala's

that

on this

issue,

The

that

significance

Kubala

opposed to him

a delay

significance.

registering

for

and, in consequence,
19

It

has actually

regime to request

in the national

team in order

proved

of

which caused further

by the Franco

political

Kubala had quickly

team.

May 1953 to win over the majority

until

inclusion

did not auto-

national

were as resolutely

political

to augment this

significance.

20

to be more richly

The truth
talented

an
been

is,
than

had previously
been used to
The category
of "political
refugee"
"the
to Edouard de Blaye,
op. cit.,
pp. 203-204,
shelter,
according
right-wing
ex-dictators,
world's
stock of Fascist
entire
extremists
dictator
such as the former Argentine
on the run',
and collaborators
Leon Degrelle
Nazi leader
Juan Perrin,
the Belgian
and the in famous
SS Colonel
Otto Skorzeny.

19. See, for

20.

however,

the East European attitude

against

of

1e

of the political

the RFEF was ordered

deliberately
however,

committee

in the player's

permission

for

Spain,

them in

in -favour

was actively

the Spanish as they had been about his

the FIFA executive

increase

in-Spain.

conscious

in Francoist

had acquired

regime

of Spanish nationality,

possibly

three

the clearest

refugees",

Franco

Kubala to play

qualify

Hungarians,

the

refugees"-remaining

granting

matically

? hat

in only

Blas Perez Gonzalez placed

"political

category

possible

were processed

were

example,

Marca,

21 October

1952 and 5 March 1953.

to the author by both Juan Pablo Fusi and Manuel

This was alleged
has been uncovered
Vazquez Montalbn,
to
even though no evidence
from the Delegado Nacional
for
this,
example,
no letter
support
General Moscardo to the RFEF President
Kubala's
inclusion
requesting

in the national

team.
229

Spanish

any native
that
his

he would
in

debut

transform
July

and for

player,
the

this

mediocre

of Kubala reached

significance

release,

in March 1954, of a highly

eventful

life,

his

took place

entitled

The climax

Czech wife,

after

in Milan

as the climax

that

he made

which

its
film

romanticized

peak with

is Kubala's

of the film
five

years

in July

symbol.

of separation

1952).

The film

of presenting
It

reunion

search

in Barcelona

for
with

(an event which actually

itself

Kubala

has been alleged

should

be regarded

to the Spanish public

by various

Los ases buscan la paz succeeded in demonstrating

commentthe-.

21. This hope was expressed El Mundo Deportativo,

26 May 1953,1
1953,4 July 1953, and in Marca, 3-4 July 1953.
230

the

based on his

Los ases buscan la paz ("The stars

of the process

as an anti-Communist
ators

team, 21 in

national

hoped

was generally

1953.

The political

peace").

it

reason

July

harshness

liberal

of Communism and the relatively

of Francoist

nature

Spain. 22
1

Kubala's

political

significance

gradually

diminished,

partially

because of being overshadowed from 1956 onwards by the Honved groups,

and partially

to the responsible

contrast

This

1958, for
fellow

because of his

did

significance

example,

own wild
family

anti-Communist

man portrayed

occasionally

Kubala was
Hungarian

and irreponsible

reappear,

the subject
exiles,

lifestyle,

in

in the film.

however.

of a tribute

on the occasion

In March

in Paris

by his

of a France v.

22. This has been alleged to the author in interviews

with'the
following:
Juan Pablo Fusi;
Manuel Vizquez Montalbn, the veteran
El Mundo Deportivo editor
Juan Jose Castillo,
Alex J. Botines,
the
late Dicen columnist,
the As journalist.
In
and Miguel Vidal,
the political
addition,
significance
of this film has twice been
discussed in print,
the first
time. In Vazquez Montalban, op. cit.,
p. 157:
leader of a team of fugitive
"The young visible
Hungarian
(sic) footballers
from the "Red Terror",
Kubala had the
features
too
of a political
symbol, which if not cultivated
later exploded with generosity
in that
much at the beginning,
ineffable
film titled
Los ases buscan la paz. "
(Barcelona),
The second occasion occured when Barrabas,
No. 237,19
April 1977, attempted to explain why the true Kubala story had been
altered in the film:
however, has, as usually happens in
"The cinematographic
plot,
A logical
these cases, a large dose of fantasy.
political
and
thus there was
social moment in which Spain was living,
interest

in

hero, with
the characteristics
showing a popular
in the fierce
so that he could colaborate
of an idol,
antiCommunist Propaganda.
footballer,
The figure
for
and admired
of a beloved
the spirit
would influence
example,
of not a few spectators
"
supporters.

231

and

international

Spain friendly

first
the

footballer

to

DND, an award
its

showing

Communist

the

In

cruel

years

covered

Kubala's

In

the

earlier,
of

Spanish

nationality,
FIFA clearance

obtain

The Hungarian

23.

the

Honved

friendlies,

regime

as such

Spanish
his

with

every

cinema

Kubala-Daucik

story

Spain

were

signed

up by the

by the

media,

for

their

official

new clubs

programme

in

fourteen

aforementioned

the

for

effectively

arrived

all

anti-

described

end of

tyranny.

in

was

a potent

mother,

as "the

Prats

from

media

by Communist

symbols

play

Franco

group

and received
to

Deportivo,

had done

pair
to

popular

top

were
help

acclaim,
were

clubs,

rapidly

granted

possible

and the

to

Spanish

team.

national

being

Mat(as

Merito

served

the

same way as the

the

the

shown before

caused

as anti-Communist

portrayed

1961,

compulsorily

1956-1958,

having

reunion

by commentator

a series

played

for

Kubala

separation

that

suspicion

December

itself.

became the

de Oro al

Medalla

In

the years

repeated
six

to

symbol. 24

Spain,

of

years

caused

which

NODO news reel,

Francoist

the

receive

gratitude

enthusiastically

In August 1961, at Kubala's

the Camp Nou the Hungarian

game in

testimonial

match. 23

a nationalistic,

This

Uprising

of October

anti-Communist

1956 was, by its

and largely

very nature

Catholic

of

insurrection,

in Marca 11 March 1958, as "the tribute

homage was decribed,
of
liberated
from Communist oppression
to Ladislas
patriots
for liberty
Kubala,
example of a courage and thirst
a brilliant
for Hungarians
on both sides of the Iron Curtain".

24. This suspension has been expressed in Vazquez Montalbn,

in
158,
Barrabs, op. cit.
and
p.
25. Revealed by Mattas Prats to the author.

232

op. cit.,

hugely

popular

in

is

regime
at

the

by the

revealed

United

Press,

the

anti-Soviet

invasion

of the Soviet

international
of
means
diplomatic

relations

decision

sport
with

of Hungary,

verbose

the

Franco

delegate

Spanish

only

explanation:

six

by the Spanish

in November and December

and was forced

because of the non-existence

the Eastern

anti-Communist

to withdraw

Olaso,

of

wanted to show to the world

Bloc.

rhetoric

that

was taken by Franco's

was the task of the new Delegado Nacional

Elola

the

demonstrated

months in the post,

its

to do so by
of its

has been alleged

It

the Franco regime hoped to impress the United

and the strong

attitude

of

Games held in Melbourne

The Franco regime desperately

rejection

rhetoric

is further

attitude

of the Olympic

1956.

the

while

were

Nations.

This official
boycott

in

praised

enthusiastically

The insurgents

Spain. 26

Francoist

States

with

this

acoompanied it. 27

boycott
The

on 6 November.

cabinet

de Deportes
simply

that

It

Jose Antonio

to offer

the following

"By taking this decision,

that we are interpreting
the
we believe
feelings
of the Spanish people, who could not agree to participate
in the Olympics in circumstances
like the present ones, in which

26. Every Spanish newspaper of 29 October 1956 carried

the following
comments of Franco about the Hungarian situation:
"The countries
life
that have known freedom and a better
cannot
conform with living
miserably beneath the tyranny and terror
of
Soviet Communism. There comes a moment when there is nothing
to lose and in which death itself
constitutes
a liberation.
They will be able to chain the bodies, but they will be able to
What has happened in one country and
subjugate the conscience.
I always
another was, for me, expected for a long time.
considered the biggest weakness of Russia to be the impossible
digestion
of the occupied countries. "
27.

by Juan
This allegation
was made to the author
Vazquez Montalbn,
sociologist
and the Catalan

233

Pablo Fusi,
Manuel
Joan Josep Artells.

the dignity
of sovereign
countries
are being
and independence
in the sanguinary
invasion
trampled
of
on, and which culminates
decreed by the Communist Internationale,
Hungary,
which reminds
twenty years ago in our
so much of that which they attempted
"28
homeland...

It
the

Francoist

the

Honved

September

1956,

without

this

draw

Spain because,

of how only

pursue his

case with

the

boycott,

of this

all

possible

The chain

and coaches

European

the

Kocsis, 29 they were well

Kubala,

Spain.

Hungarian

when the
in

Francoist

soon giving

Honved players

the

de Bilbao

even

in

to settle

group
in

that

were

authorities

culminated

Athletic

in the light

come as no surprise,

should

of

which

in

Spain

remaining

army team was drawn to play

Cup.

is

It

Honved group

safe

to assume,

aware of the success

Spain had been willing

story

because they were the team of the Hungarian

army, certain

actually

28.

Soviet

and indeed it

30 October

that

troops.

Sgndor

and

reported

was erroneously

in the conflict.

This explanation
was reproduced
newspaper of 7 November 1956.

than Kubala
regiments

Seven of the team joined

the famous Honved captain

been killed

however,

to give him citizenship

significance

fighting,

against

of compatriot

political

against

in

began

FIFA.

The Honved team had a clearer

which fought

for

have ended up in

would

by the famous forward

as admitted

that

assistance

events

us

by the world

in the
Press on

Ferenc Puskas had

30

in

practically

every

Spanish

interview
29. Revealed by author's
with Sandor Kocsis.
30. See, for example, any of the London newspapers of 30 October
234

of

1956.

Although

left

22 November, the Honved party

it

that

was obvious

Ostereicher
capitalizing

were to play

friendly

matches across

on both the team's

immense overseas

then travel

Barcelona

secretary

intention

of
the

of

however,
already

Honved's

team,

Samitier

before

agreed to join

Czibor

the Soviets
Emil

secretary

Western Europe,
reputation

and

and afterwards,

Madrid

that

Vienna

Austrian

the

Rocsis

Real after

and Zoltan
had acted.

Puskas,

himself

of Barcelona

themselves

Spain,

capital

with

Czibor,

the

with

the

in

Vienna,

had

Ostereicher,
with

precontracts

Andras Kazsas. 31

Honved left

Santiago
signed

In

agreed by telephone

out the party

FC

three

On arriving

conversation

Thus by the time that

in West Germany, six

reached

along with

a telephone

had to content

the Espahol club

to exiling

in

and the centre-forward

the coach Jenoe Kalmar.

Francoist

Real

discovered

by Kocsis,

resigned

for

up Puskas,

signing

The Catalan

friendlies

of the club

on to Bilbao,

arrived

left

Samitier

Bernabeu.

addition,

before

when

Spanish clubs.

As soon as news of

stars

and just

The plans

until

days earlier,

twenty

Austria.

join

hopefully,

was not scheduled

with

significance,

political

Budapaest

had failed,

the rising

the frontier

closed

de Bilbao

Athletic

the match with

to engage
Vienna

for

of 19 were effectively

from Hungary and settling

down in

Spain.

The political

alignment

of Honved was made even more clear

31. According to Sandor Kocsis, this pre-contract,

that the three players
US dollars,
stipulatd
non-Hungarian club but Barca.

235

by a

accompanied by 200
would sign for no other

invited

moving speech by Ostereicher,

National

debate on t'e

assembly's

in this

finished

Ostereicher

in the French-

to intervene

Hungarian

on 7 November.

situation

way:

Unfortunately,
"We wanted to leave behind a free Hungary.
this .
could not be, but we believe that Hungarian blood has not been shed
in vain, and that our country will one day become a free country
again, like France. "32
N

Partially

speech by Ostereicher,

Honved were granted

de Bilbao.

they ran out to play Athletic

the Bilbao

club's

insurgents.

33

exhibition

match against

became intense.
party

their

in the decision

an emotional
On the field

in the capital

Upon arriving

a Combined Madrid

As had been the case earlier

as victims

profession

of Soviet

in a free

of the Hungarians

before

two day's
XI,

this

reception

a homage to the fallen

offered

chaplain

were depicted

exercise

featuring

because of the advance Press coverage,

when

the match,

Hungarian

later

for

an

the media coverage

with

repression

Kubala,

the Honved

who only

The importance

country. 34
to remain did

not enter

into

wanted to
of money
the media

treatment.

It

has frequently

game with
Bernabeu,

been alleged

the Combined Madrid XI,

unprecedented

for

that

the size

a capacity

a friendly

of the crowd for

110,000

the

in the Estadio

match, was influenced

by this

17 November 1956.
32. Quoted in Arriba,
details,
33. For further
see any of the Madrid newspapers of 23 November
1956.
34. See, for e; ample, Arriba and ABC, 25-30 November 1956,
29 November 1956.
Arriba,
especially
236

media coverage. 35

politically-moti-vated

Carrero

Captain

Luis

Camilo

Alonso

left

Doctor

absence,
ratify

to

their

committee.

tour

Italy

these attempts
intransigence.

six

Munoz Calero,

' As had been the

passionately,

homage:

Agustin

Mufioz, Grandes,

General

Cavestany.

Press and Kubala in

America

encouraged

with
case

to return

of whom planned

and South

registrations

ministers

a religious

by most of the Catalan

the Honved party,

Barcelona,
Spain,

General

Blanco,

received

began with

also

game, which

Vega and Rafael

being

After
-

the

at

were present

Four of Franco's

the

indignant

December

by the

Spanish

with

in

Kubala,

1956.

DND, 36 attempted

clubs
the

at

the

Spanish

about the united

37 Even the compromise solution

and remain in

of a year's

In

their
to

FIFA executive
media

followed

East European
worldwide

ban

interview
35. This was alleged to the author by Miguel Vidal,
op. cit.,
Enrique Gil de la Vega
correspondent
and the veteran ABC football
"Gilera".
36.

37.

in the archives
by the author
A letter
was discovered
of the RFEF,
from the Delegado Nacional
Elola
Olaso to the RFEF President
Alfonso
1957, requesting
de la Fuente Chaos, dated 4 January
the latter
to
in Spain
direct
Munoz Calero
to arrange
with FIFA the registration
"with
the same enthusiam
and diligence
of the four Honved players,
(sic)
Ladislao
Kubala of
to the player
with regard
as was displayed
Barcelona".
Club de Ftbol
The Spanish sports
sent correspondents
newspapers
and Radio Nacional
in both March and July
in Zurich
to the FIFA executive
meetings
indignation
1957.
European
A good'example
at the-East
of this
in Barca, No. 64,7
intransigence
Fernandez
can be found by Enrique
March 1957:

"The world sporting

outcry is unanimous that the rights
and
of some
sentiments of humanity triumph over the cold legality
clauses, invoked by those who are accustomed to forget them
this "absence"
when it suits them. The causes which motivated
from their homeland and their reluctance
to return should not
be undervalued. "

237

four

-on-the

matches for

further

friendly

media's

attention

a year,

March 1957.

was in this

It

Spanish nationality,

Interior,

the Press. 3

themselves

and Real'Madrid
all

in

by the Ministry

which was granted

in

respectively

of the Hungarians

six

as with

to

which time the Spanish

Kalmar and Ostereicher,

month that

the same swiftness

with

had to confine

during

on them continued.

had begun work at Espafiol

contrast,

1957, did not satisfy

Puskas and colleagues

Accordingly,

for

in July

accepted

players,

applied

of the

the Kuba]q application,

in

was no need to obtain

FIFA

August 1957.

It

for

clearance

to

two further

East

made the

team.

were

former

Permission

to

once

for

in the veteran

for

the

FIFA

adamant

Puskas,

captain
him to

of
line

unlike

the

their
Kubala

strongest

up for

Spain,

stage of their
inspiring

them

and Munoz Calero

in

executive
in

in the

however,

Real Madrid,

were outstanding,

again

because

proposal,

world-famous

Cups,

request

to be included

Honved players

performances

European

Europeans

Spanish

there

team because they were all

Puskas's

therefore

former

the four

Spanish nationl
careers.

that

thought

was originally

March

to

opposition
before

ever

him,

Hungarian

however,

1960.

The
the

was the
national

was granted

at

38.

ban as a
the one-year
The Spanish Press generally
regarded
to prove that the Honved group had committed
malevolent
attempt
some
The strongest
rhetoric
wrong and so needed to be punished.
again
1957:
in
85,1
August
No.
from
Barca,
edition
come
"The measure of FIFA, taken because of the pressuring
of the
does not constitute
federation,
Hungarian
footballing
a simple
but rather
an inhuman ruling,
sanction,
at odds with the most
and with the respect
elemental
norms of human rights,
owing to
in the tragic
the people who fled from the "Red Terror"
events
in Budapest. "
winter
of last

238

third

Munoz Calero's

World Cup finals

to

of

that

for

authorities,
having

left

Yugoslavs

these

the

reached

Yugoslavs

in

playing
coach

outstanding

both

the

Milan

political

Barcelona

during

country.

He arrived

was a Spanish
having

accompany
event

the

in

in

the

February
Ministry

Brocic,

In

refugee".
Zagreb
of

for

1960,
of

to

Real

the

the

Madrid.

Spain with
FC

coach

of

left

his

own

and by May of

that

year

the

Interior

the

October

a European

which

such veteran

in Francoist

with

established

significance

command at

and

matches

addition

a man who had illegaly

Spanish

precedents

Bar a team to

political

in

Spain

him a "political
his

was Ljubisa

the

of

seven

in

who settled

in

The majority

approval

were

being

1960/1961,

the

citizen,

followed

considered

season

there

was a

however,

international

twenty

division,

signigicance

Spain

minimal.

the

first

Spanish

The only one of these Yugoslavs

any clear

Francoist

significance,

1975,

In

Miljanic

in

play

with

in

played

28.

age of

team in the 1962

national

was generally

homeland

their

having

to

political

Hungarians,

the

of

Europeans

Their

1goslavs.

of

collection

East

of

group

the Spanish

Puskas

in Chile.

tournament

The third

contrast

for

was able to play

consequently

in November 1960.39

time of asking,

was fully

Hungarians

and

1960,

he was unable

Fairs

Cup match,

capitalized

an

upon

by the Spanish media. 4

details
39. For further
meeting, see Marca, 2
of this FIFA executive
November 1960.
40. Marca, 14 October 1960, for example described Brocic's
enforced
another Communist
absence from the Zagreb match as "a disgrace,
far to many".
assault against a man who has already suffered

239

to

from Eastern

refugees"

these dissident

but

for

these

footballing

determined

East

Spanish

nationality

fulfill

the

Spanish

parentage

In
Franco
treatment
decision

for

because

to

regime

to

of

the

to

direct

East
in

settle

of

"golden

the

'

of

section

this

not

have

to

residence

the

media,

or

exiles".

from

the

sympathetic

NODO news reels,

football
writers
Brian Glanville,

of.

granting

towards

due to

Information

of

assistance

contributed

of

face

years'

extremely

clearance

Spanish

as "political

concrete
the

FIFA

swift

ten

either

Spain, 42 was largely

41. Reknowned international

editor
of World Soccer,

would certainly

the

who did

classified

and the

in

team,

refugees,

which

of

official

leading

the

the

refugees",

Ministry

that

a successful

secondly,

of

being

Europeans,

television
of

these

two pieces

A considerable

radio,
control

these

the

of

that

DND to obtain
with

national

requirements

strict

addition

by the

opposition:
all

possible

all

firstly,

to. register

Spanish

the

must be affirmed

Western European country. 41

organized

European

usual

it

assistance

two categories:

refugees
for

anti-Communism.
national

into

painstakingly

and to play

clubs

Spain,

by any other

falls

assistance

Spain of these "golden

and coaches were given

in Francoist

not have been offered

about the political

To begin with,

Europe.

players

to settle

assistance

campaign

in Francoist

of the presence

significance

This

to draw conclusions

is now appropriate

It

media

their

regime

's

for

example

was under

and tourism,

while

latent

the
the

such as Keir Radnedge,

sports editor
of The Sunday

have all
Times, and Jaques Ferran,
to
editor
of L'Eauipe,
alleged
Western European country
that no other
the author
would have risked
damaging its
bloc
relations
sporting
with the Eastern
severely
in these Hungarian
by taking
refugee
players.
countries

42. Both Ladislas

author.

Kubala and Sandor Kocsis,

%

240

made this

claim

to the

independent

largely

section

interpretation

shared the Franco regime's

of

events.

The benefits
possible

assistance

to

In

first

were many.

the
in

to demonstrate,
in

Spain

It

is

comparison

evidence

never

to

inside

been alleged

that

the

as "anti-Communist

Los ases buscan

film
Franco

regime's
was far

Spain

to this

been alleged

in

the

of

making

Spanish

sympathetic

club

Francoist
country
bastion

and it

by the

symbols",

particularly

affirmed

that

the

that

behind

domestic

that

Spain,

portrayal

message
to

superior

statement

the
the

presence

and national

Spain

appear,

of

quality
Iron

for
these

of

has practically

the

of

these

hugely

popular
the

supporters
in

life

their

43

curtain.

the Franco regime,

East

team had the

perhaps

to many foreigners

in

evidence.
has widely

media

many football

advantage

sides

European

effect

a tolerant

who had previously

and

regarded

it

as

last

43.

This allegation
was made to the author by Juan Pablo Fusi and Manuel
Vazquez Montalbn.
the latter
the political
comparing
message of the
film
on his nightly
national
with that offered
radio
programme by
Venancio
the virulently
Marcos.
priest
anti-Communist

Fascism.

Spain

had been the

players

international

surprisingly,

it

the

of

44

for

Spanish

Francoist

extremely

concrete

this

Spain

opportunity

of

is

It
with

that

and outside

paz,

perpetual

In addition
has also

la

statement

nonetheless,

both

refugees

this

support

nature

countries.

every

in

the

regime

liberal

the

Communist

the

with

the

offered

offering

to settle

refugees

context,

as true,

been held

they

place,

a kind,

of

footballing

these

a domestic

however,

difficult,

by the Franco regime through

obtained

only

Western

44. This was alleged to the author by the international

football
journalist
Keir Ra:daedge, Brian Glanville
and Jaques Ferran.

241

European

after

country,

new home, an identity,

in full

It

to take in these poor refugees,

all, prepared

personal

and then allow

them to practise

their

profession

the Franco regime benefited

in a third

liberty.

is further

that

alleged

way from the presence

of these "anti-Communist

Chapter Three of this

thesis,

Spanish league contributed

This

example
of

however,

leading

Santamaria

South
of

how important
East

Europens

crowd-pulling

45.

Juan
Alex
and
any

in

American

Real

Madrid,

a factor
really
potential

in
was.
of

making
this

it

Kubala

true

certainly

presence

Alfredo

Di

practically

increase

The claim

in a position

to serve

that

in the 1950s. 4'

the

like

players

is

a variety

wages or

real

being

It

can be attributed-to

increase

the

45

increased

crowds substantially

rise,

football

soporific.

as seen in

symbols".

such as Kubala and Puskas to the

players

towards

the regime as a political

football

them a

give

the

entry

has frequently

obliged

of

factors,

in

Spanish

Stefano
impossible
onto

the

for
football

and Jose
to evaluate
scene

been made that

FC Barcelona

to construct

Juan Josep Artells

Pablo Fusi,
Manuel Vazquez Montalban,
J. Botines,
to the author,
this
that
claiming
allegation
had a greater
Puskas in particular
crowd-pulling
capacity
individual
Spanish player.

of

the
the
the

and
Kubala
than

46. Exact football

such as are recorded in. Britain.
attendance figures
and elsewhere have simply never existed in Spain, due to the
Members are
membership system emplyed by all Spanish clubs.
to see every home match, and so no exact count of how many
entitled
only of how many non-members
members take their seats is maintained,
buy tickets
Consequently,
crowd figures
are all
on the day.
from newspaper to newpaper.
Juan Jose
and differ
estimated,
interview
Castillo,
estimated to the author that first
op. cit.,
football
division
40% during the
crows increased by approximately
1950s, while Enrique Gil de la Vega "Gilera"
offered
a more
estimate of 30-35%.
conservative

242

been considering
Real Madrid
the

Luis

Eugenio

Martinez

for

Catalan

the

No matter
. 'football

such

being

in

public

remain in Spain.
whatsoever

that

East

of offering

There is,

however,

is

that

can be reached

is

facilitate

settlement

the
without,

soporific
doubt

that

factor,
the

Kubala and his

policy

that

perhaps

the

for

explicitly
Franco

regime

East

in

the

incisive

most
did

everything

European

reasons
its
with

to

assistance
evidence

of the regime in this

of official

was pleased

is

there

no concrete

evidence

expressing

to

contributed

was one of the objectives

practically

regime

obvious

attractions

as potent

them. every possible

limited

the

that

Americans

South

soporific,

this

available,

of

unveiling'of

compatriots

on the objectives

Franco

since

as Kubala.

to prove that

sheds light

Europeans

1950s

arrival,

the

with

were just

had

even be argued

could

along

to serve as a political

Given the extremely

respect.

Spain,

the

to what extent

the Franco regime's

it

Barca

that

Kubala's

1948 with

Rodriguez,

and Cesar

and Ramn Villaverde,

able

in

prominence

fact

the

before

Bernabeu. 48 Indeed,

Estadio

no evidence

absolutely

long

a development

Suarez

ignoring

1957,47

worldwide

gained

impressive

Spaniards

the

in

Camp Nou stadium

gigantic

players

with

regard

objectives.
the

overall

to

attitudes

that

conclusion
in

its

power
in

and coaches
to

the

There
impact

to

political
is

no
in

11 April
1955,28
47. This claim has been made in El Mundo Deportivo,
November 1966,23 November 1969, in Dice n, 9
February 1957,10
October 1967 and 14 June 1975, as well as in several unofficial
histories
of the club, for example CF Barcelona by Antonio Hernez
1974, p. 78.
and Jose Luis Marco, Barcelona,
in El Mundo Deportivo,
22 February
48. This is evidenced by an interview
Agusti Montal was quoted as
1948 in which the then Bar ca President
to consider the
saying that "our club has begun seriously
a larger stadium, in the light
of constructing
possibility
of the
highly successful
project
of Real Madrid".
and imaginative
243

Spain of the footballing

This

refugees.

having

Munoz Grandes after

General Agustin

whom Puskas scored

four

goals,

was demonstrated

two of the Bars a scorers

while

by

in December 1960

witnessed,

match won 5-3 by Real Madrid,

Camp Nou a thrilling

at FC Barcelona's

contentment

for

were

Kubala and Kocsis:

for me once again the correctness
"Today's game illustrated
of our
decision to offer refuge to these victims
of Communist repression.
I'm convinced that only in a free country like ours can they fully
express all of their remarkable talents. "49
This

was certainly

contentment

their

regularly'expressed

them a new life.

offered

gratitude

personal
famous

sportsmen

Legr,

in

vote

in

the

the

not

gratitude
50 In

Ministry

December

as tennis
of

towards

addition,

by enthusiastically
such

All

unilateral..

star

Information

1966 referendum

Francoist

Puskas

Santana

and Tourism's
on the

Organic

European

the

East

Spain

for

having

his

own

demonstrated

collaborating,
Manuel

of

along

with

and boxer
campaign
Law of

other

Jose
for

the

a "yes"
State.

61

49. Quoted in Marca, 5 December 1960.

50. See, for example, the interview
with Ladislas Kubala in El Mundo
7 February 1951,4 March 1953,12 November 1957,8
Deportivo,
February 1961 and 29 September 1961, with Ferdinand Daucik in
26 January 1951 and in Marca, 20 December
El Mundo Deportivo,
2 February 1957 and
1965, with Zoltan Czibor in El Mundo Deportivo,
in Barca, No. 118, March 21 1958, with Ferenc Puskas in Marca, 10
October 1957 and 27 September 1963, and with Sandor Kocsis in
19 October 1958.
El Mundo Deportivo,
51.

including
interview
in which famous sportsmen,
Real Madrid
Brief
Francisco
Gento and Amancio Amaro, recommended a "yes" vote in
stars
the ten days
the referendum
appeared in Marca, every day during
The advice of Puskas appeared
to the actual
voting.
on two
prior
In addition,
the
on 6 December and 12 December 1966.
occasions,
former Honved captain
television
arranged
appeared on a specially
personalities,
programme,
on 11 December 1966, in which various
including
Fernando Vizcaino
Casas, requested
the Francoist
writer
for the dictator
in
their
the Spanish people to demonstrate
support
details
For further
the referendum.
about the collaboration
of
in the campaign of the Ministry
Puskas and other
sportsmen
of
ica",
Information
see "Deporte,
sociedad
and Tourism,
y poll
No. XXV extraordinary,
Cuadernos para el dilogo,
May 1971.

243A

CHAPTER SEVEN: FOOTBALL AND DIPLOMACY

importance

The diplomatic
the

of

aspect
Together

enjoyed

politicization
the

with

importance,

that

rather

has emerged
helped

considerably
overseas

image

the

three

aspects

of the most effective

Franco

and football's
of

regionalist

in

a journalistic

manner. '

The generally

this

Franco

critical

regime

to

is

treatment
improve

that

its

both

has

that

politicization

systematic

from

sixth

years.

albeit

accepted
football

poor

general

position.

significance

was discussed

that

the

treatment,

diplomatic

the Franco period

the conclusion

aspect

and diplomatic

The specific

1.

than

game during

critical

amount of

a certain

the

the

constitutes

diversion
the

one of

football

Spanish
of

political
is

this

and anecdotal
theory

of

of the Real Madrid

in the Introduction

Real had been both willing

ambassadors for

Francoist

to this

club
thesis,

and proud to serve

Spain.

during
with
as one

That brief

Julia
Garcia Candau has been the writer
most concerned
about the
diplomatic
His allegations
significance
of Spanish football.
about
Minister
Fernando
the manipulation
Maria
of Real Madrid by Foreign
in his El Pais Semanal article,
Castiella,
made mainly
op. cit.,
and
his book, op. cit.,
caused a great deal of controversy
at the time
because of the lack of evidence
that he
partly
of publication,
had earlier
The subject
to support
the claims.
been treated
offers
by Manuel Vazquez Montalba"n,
briefly
in Politica
and humourously
y
Cerecedo,
deporte,
op. cit.,
and by Francisco
op. cit.

244-

discussion

in

importance

with

the

that

club's

outline

of

years.

The

in

Introduction

the

objective

specific

this

of

objective

chapter,

helped

of

Francoist

stage

that

how,

and to what

overseas

image

and diplomatic

position

be pointed

at

It

should

concepts
invariably

because
It

is

of

Real

is

Madrid

3.

of

suggest
the

quite

another

by the
for

either

that

the

the

style

of

Spain

and success

however,

to

to the establishment

These two concepts have failed

the studies mentioned above.

of

writers

of

improve

or
two. 2

the

a football

team

the
3

extent.

to the claim
or strengthening

to be differentiated

have

who

convenience,

an unquantifiable

to progress

the

concepts

between

to

examine

different

These

group

sake

to

improve

two quite

small

Franco

the

Spain.

chapter.

and 1960s helped

Francoist

to

an

is

hand,

any distinction

recognize

1950s

thing,

contributed

in. this

together

to

image of

team actually

2.

to

this

examination

subject,

an inability

international

It

the

with

one thing

like

out

been discussed

dealt

have

be under

will

effect,

during

other

football

detail

towards

significance
on the

diplomatic

Real's

contributing

of

political

general

the

with

was concerned

in all

that

such a

of concrete

four

of

in all four of the studies

This has been suggested
mentioned
above,
for example,
interviews
the former
with,
and also in the author's
Marca
Manuel Velazquez,
Real Madrid footballer
with the veteran
journalist
"Belarmo"
Belarmino
Rodolfo
and Jose Maria Lorente,
and
the veteran
editor
of El Mundo Deportivo.
with Juan Jose Castillo,
it was alleged
by the former
Real Madrid
Furthermore,
and present
Vice-President
Raimundo Saporta that the club considerably
image
improving
Spain,
the
towards
of Francoist
overseas
contributed

"but in the service of Spain in general rather than that of the

Real Madrid would have behaved in
Franco regime in particular.
does, in order to have increased
the same way, and indeed still
the prestige
of our country abroad whatever government had been
in power.
That is the style of our club, and hopefully
always
will be. "
245

diplomatic

relations

be seen,
first

there

is

It

appropriate

significance

The potential

context.
in

country

the

the

ways for
the

sport;

Olympic

of

coverage
East

of

the

to

improve,

increasing

Olympic

of

foreign

4.

been

image

feats

Black
the

the

of

two

through

in

the

form

African

Soviet
runners

overseas

image

function.

1958 and 1962,

for

example,

that

enigmatic

have
of

served

these

The spectacular

consider=ably
country,

gymnasts,

helped
perhaps

of Brazil's

however,

World Cup victories

between the diplomatic

of 1958 and 1962 and that

tentatively
This claim has only been made to the author,
between Spain
to relations
Garcia Candau, with regard
Eastern
Bloc countries.

246

to

even

tourism.

difference,

of

immense worldwide

the

of

a similar

There is a qualitative
significance

the

extent,

of

since,

traditionally

both

of

years.

Games, the

image

image

the

Cup,

World

Cup has served

international

historical

worldwide

improve

have

because

that,

an unquantifiable

triumph
the

four

its

international

football

every

doubt

the

The World

Brazilian
enhance

held

There
its

improve

German Swimmers and of

to

countries.

War.

Games and the

can be little

There
media

to

to

the second.

has been recognized

world

outside

in

Spain

the

diplomatic

the

place

generally

Second World

tournaments

month-long

sport

the

a country

to

stage

Francoist

of
of

eyes

approximately,
major

in

football

of

this

at

presently

to support

none for

but practically

of these allegations,

As shall

of evidence

wealth

a veritable

exists

country.

any particular

with

by Julian
and the

of 1970.

The latter

triumph

'uffnta led by General

military

diplomatic

links

with

foreign

attract

regime
than

substantial

to

1972,

it

prestigious

because

the

preparations

'uffnta

led

to

would
before

how the
distracting

that

were

could

preparations,

staging

tournament,
of

attention

the

World

in

Brazil.
that

which

were

for

there

away from

both
from

"Dirty

in

War"

back

be

in

The
international

successfully

staging

unlimited

Western
Videla

then

corners
cut. 6

to

government

the

would

up by cutting

speeded

serve

wake of

country

the

practically

was a debate

the

the

the

schedule.

a democratic

Cup could

In

to Argentina

realized

dedicated

the

been even more

behind

be obtained

for

to

exports.

Cup triumph

awarded

so far

however,

have been impossible

the

junta

tournament

and consequently
the

Brazilian

have

to

appear

Medici

the campaign

of assisting

seemed unlikely

by Videla,

advantage

tournament,

resources

Just

takeover,
the

and domestic

that

the

of improving

of strengthening

1978 World

the

Videla

for

stage

military

from

General

those

1976 military

able

the

of

dictatorship,

and even of boosting

derived

by the

exploited

the objectives

with

countries,

certain

tourists,

The advantage
Argentine

Medici,

image of the military

the overseas

the

was systematically

Europe
regime

being

about

by

fought

5.

World Cup triumph by the Medici

The exploitation
of the 1970 Brazil
by the American sociologist
discussed:
Janet Lever
regime is fully
in World Soccer, April
1973; in Barrabas No. 176,4
op. cit.,
October 1977.
February 1976; and in Don Baln, No. 106,20

6.

For details
preparations
and hopes for the
regime's
of the Vidal
in: L'Eauipe,
15 November 1977: World
1978 World Cup, see articles
1978; Don Baln,
No. 134,19
May 1978; As, 26 May
Soccer;
April
28 May 1978; La Nacin,
1978; El Mundo Deportivo,
25 November 1983;
1985, by the former
Buenos Aires,
the book
uFtbol sin trampa,
Argentine
manager Cesar Luis Menotti.

247

against

all

opponent

months

before

the

teams might

issue.

In

of

foreign

the

the

military

people

the

World

were

applauded

It
staged

9.

has been

instead

of

confined
the

the Mundialito

6-0

Brazil.
to

the

spectacular

that

At

of

1981 between former

Dutch

the

of

time,

Argentine

success.

and

occasions

to

dictates

the

these
the

whilst

that

Argentina

allow

however,

of

improved

Argentina

Cup" tournament

World Cup winners

Argentine

violent

team to

of

tournament

and so progress

the

all

any trace

on various

Peruvian

and

human rights

As a consequence

Videla's

of

media,

see all

the

using

past.

Brazilian

World

that

hardly

the Uruguay military

or "Little

For details
of this debate,
articles
mentioned above.

the

scorline,
9

two

team won the

alleged

the

just

hospitality

instead
in

1978,

and practically

discover

jhe

image

'uffnta'bribed

has been alleged

and January

8.

it

1978,

attended,

to

football,

the

of

Argentine

young

international

military

Cup Final

world

countries

Furthermore,

them by a remarkable

allegations

because

surprised

and the

the

Since

Argentine

to defeat

the

attacking

above,

even appeared

compete,

as on so many occasions

immeasurably.

7.

repression.

play

of

of
were

visitors

attractive,

negative

the

all

event,

was exemplary,

playing

all

the

to

refuse

In April

it

tournament,

actual

Swedish

dictatorship.?

the

of

watching

invented

and

of December 1980

in order

to extract

the newspaper and magazine

Kubala,
This surprise
the manager of the
was shared by Ladislas
journalists
Spanish national
team in 1978, and by the following
who
Keir Radnedge of World Soccer,
the tournaments:
Brian
attended
Glanville
Jaques
of The Sunday Times, David Lacey of The Guardian
Juan Jose Castillo
Ferran
of El Mundo Deportivo
of L'Eguipe,
and
Miguel Vidal
of As.
has been debated in many newspaper
Brazil,
Outside
this
allegation
the most comprehensive
in: World
and magazine articles,
appearing
(Santiago
Soccer,
November 1983, El Mercurio,
de Chile)
13 June
1985; The Sunday Times, 22 June 1986; El Pais,
31 July 1987.

248

the

same kind

domestic

of

Brazilian

and Argentine

Argentine

three

al

defensive

military

won the

pattern,

tournament,,

a considerable

with

'0

team dropped

Uruguay

the

earlier,

as their

advantages

had done previously.

counterparts

years

regime

and international

thus

-and

amount

of

Like

their

the

traditionthe

presented

international

much needed

prestige.

As shall
not regularly
its

during

image in the style

for

the simple

the Franco years.

success on the part

national

triumphs

improve

their

certain

overseas

South American

One of the clearest

11.

leading

successes
image.

achieved
lack

it

Indeed,

dictatorships.

possible
club

very

team did
to enhance

in this

few successes

of consistent
regime was keen to

from the inter-

team, Real Madrid.

dictatorships

of their

methods of the Franco regime

actual

10.

advantages

examples of military

the international

using

it

team, the Franco

of the country's

There are many other

the opportunity

because of this

of the national

football

of the South American military

reason that

Partly

the maximum diplomatic

extract

the Spanish national

the Franco regime with

provide

international

dictatorships,

be seen,

presently

leading

systematically

club

team in order

has been alleged

respect

that

the ,

have been copied

by

"

examples of this

kind

of utilization

details
see the following:
of these allegations,
_For
January 1981; Sport, 4 January 1981; As, 6 January
9- 25 November 1983.

is

that

World Soccer,
1981; La Naci6n,

in: Jan et Lever,

discussed
has been most fully
This allegation
9-25 November 1983.
1981; La Nacion,
As, 6 January
This
op. cit.,
by the following
claim has also been made to the author
interviewees:
Gandau, Miguel
Julin
Garcia
Vidal,
Juan Jose
Castillo,
Manuel Vazquez Montalban.

249

to

of

the Olympia

club

international

1960s as the
Paraguay.

In

were Real

Madrid

'uffnta

have

in

out,

for

with

that

their

been partisans

carrying
host

the

Libertadores,

the

South

The most important

club of Pelt,
During

for

domestic

stage.

his

country,

solution

flag

Olympia's

ambassadorial
their

peak of

Brazilian

club

club

not being

occasions,

and that

that

to

the

the

Copa de los

12

to all

parts

the

with

their

his

a return

of the world,
attractive

and

controversial

to democracy to the

the Brazilian

military

democracy had caused many problems

an extended

wake of

was Santos,

respect

the

in Rome in 1969, in. Mexico in 1970

in 1972, he delighted

by claiming

together

in the 1960s and 1970s.

Brazil

ready for

in

championship.

most famous player

Santos travelled

in

triumph

in this

running

services

effectiveness

1979

October
annual

On three

and in Buenos Aires

dictatorships

national

Paraguayan

a military-governed

comment about Brazil

comported

both

the

his

members of

whose players

However, Pele did not confine

play.

spectacular

other

ministers

always

American

these two decades,

his

of

abroad,

the

the world's

making friends

and the

in

regime

majority

the

since

manner when playing

and spectacular

surprising

and the

of Olympia,

country.

reached

regime

served

Stroessner

the

of

Stroessner

supporters,

example,

Stroessner

flagship

an exemplary

of

has apparently

which

same way as Franco

the

always

themselves

Asuncion,

of

period

of military

rule

for

was a possible

to these problems. 13

12. See, for example: World Soccer, April 1980; Sport; 7 November 1980;
La Nacin, 9-25 November 1983.
13. For details
Janet Lever,
see the following:
of Pele's declarations,
World Soccer, November 1969 and May 1972; Goal, 7 May
op. cit.,
1972.

250

has been alleged

It
specific

instructions

powerful

River

classes,

in

considered

to

to be the

club

Italian

immigrants.

leading

Argentine

to

the

please

Boca Juniors,
1977 and 1978,
catalyst

for

triumphs

gave

''

the
of

the

juntas

managed to

contrast,

and on both
furtive

by winning

international

little

'uffnta because the team played

with

control

the opposing

star

This utilization
for

dictatorship
confined
Nasser,
exploited
Leopards

of a successful

the international
in a quite
club

football

objectives,

triumphs

blatant

Libertadores.

these

to

tactics

the

in

trophy

Furthermore,

the
Boca

Videla

style

and was

in order

to

team by a military
has not been

In the Egypt of Colonel

of the Zamalek club

manner. 16

of Kampala during

managed

were

however,

Spain and South America.

to Francoist

on

'5

players.

ambassadorial

Plate

celebrations

defensive

violent

the

prestigious

prestige

a pragmatic

employing

accused of systematically

often

victory

demostrations.

anti-regime

extremely

the

occasions

up that

middle

never

club

Copa de los

the

pick

the

the

especially

by River

however,

to

generally

classes,

spending

players,

and-foreign

in

huge

the

gave

abroad

Boca Juniors,

lower

city's

authorities

Buenos Aires

the

of

more popular

Despite

military

military
when playing

favourite

the

club,

opposition

Argentine

how to behave

about

Plate

the

that

of Cairo

The same happened with

the dictatorship

of Idi

were
the

Amin, especially

discussed in World
has been most fully
14. This allegation
Soccer, July 1983, and in La Nacion, 9-25 November 1983.
28
15. See, for example: As, 27 November 1978; El Mundo Deportivo;
November 1978; World Soccer, January 1979 and July 1983; La Nacion
25 November 1983.
16. See World Soccer, March 1975.
251

9-

after

Champion Club. 17

in the African

1974 triumph

their

In the same way as the context-for

the game in this

role

least

in other

respect

in this

played

motive

for

making this

Vice-president
Maria Castiella
benefits

a basketball

administration

by President

organizing

a national

Madrid at

Christmas

convinced
contribution
proceeded

international
man.

Castiella

that

football

Santiago

1952.

It

tournament

if

instructions

abroad of the Real Madrid basketball

seemed to have been dutifully

17. See World Soccer,

18.

This has been the

Raimundo Saporta,

triumphs,

carried

19

to the club's

splendidly
Frances

Saporta

in

even

diplomatic

Castiella

regarding

team, the large

out.

was

recruited

that

Fernando

the maximum

extract

could make a greater

managed correctly.

Saporta detailed

the Real Madrid

at the Liceo

has been alleged

The chief

good friend

Bernabeu after

basketball

than football
to give

his

He was originally

basketball

10

Raimundo Saporta,
with

the Franco

Spain had at

as f6otball.

the Franco regime could

so that

from the club's

essentially

that

of

the

concern

during

in Francoist

function

collaborated

who closely

the manipulation

must also

Spanish sports

basketball

is

claim

it

countries,

as much of an ambassadorial

on the ambassadoral

chapter

Spain concerns

by other

regard

can be argued that

It

period.,

in Francoist

of football

significance

this

then

the journeys

majority

One of the priorities

of which
of the

March 1975.
interviewees:
of the author's
argument of several
Ganau and Miguel
Garcia
Vidal.
Julian

19. This can alleged by Julian

author, and in his El Pais
however,
Saporta himself,
stated that he would have
but at the
on this point,
potential
of
ambassadorial

Garcia Gandau, both in interview

with the
Semanal article,
Raimundo
op. cit.,
denied the allegation,
yet nonetheless
been pleased to have convinced Castiella
time did not completely
the
realize
himself.
basketball

252

Franco

by Real

United

Spain

the

which

out

to

oranges

In the late

the

of

presidency

20.

21.

like

crowd,

by the

top

between

American

players

image

possibly
tours

in

Spain

to

go to

the

United

States,

ambassadors,

playing

in

flags,
an open

in

Spain

that

of

the

and economic
chose

and American

and then

clubs,

helped

professional

Spanish

Spanish

Francoist

of

of

the

also

1970s, basketball

1960s and early

Francoist

Spain

a consequence of Saporta

having

it

the

that

light

this

Relations

general

basketball

both

with

out

the

almost

in

upon common strategic

addition,

Madrid

improvement

Saporta
in
for
handing
and

manner. 22

attractive

image

In

is

1960s was the

players

many top

improve

behaved

players

Spanish

based

that

to

Real

running

example

be seen. 2

21

States.
annual

arranged

should

helped

perhaps

United

basketball

fact

the

early

and it

States,

were obviously

but

the

American

Madrid,

States

interests,

the

leading

of

signing

in

policy

United

the

with

relations

led

foreign

regime's

in

the

Eastern

finally

accepting,

of the Real Federacion

refused

it

on several

Bloc

helped

and China.

This

in November 1966,

Espanola de Baloncesto,

occasions

to improve

after

the

was partly

the
earlier

on the grounds of excessive

work

in Spanish basketball
Americans
This first
the
even before
arrived
league began in 1965.
The first
big name
professional
national
in
to arrive
who signed for Real Madrid
was Don Lawrence,
player
by his friend
Ben Davis two months later.
1964, followed
April
FC
1965, signing
the American market in January
Barcelona
entered
up
Robin Mortensen.
by Raimundo Saporta,
This possibility
supported
was tentatively
Julin
Garcia Gandau and Miguel Vidal,
and also by Robin Mortensen,
basketball
the former FC Barcelona
now coach at the Joventut
player,
club of Badalona.

22. For details

of the ambassadorial behavior of the Real Madrid
basketball
players in the United States, see, any July or August
del Real Madrid, or of Marca, from 1963 to
of the Boletin
edition
1972.
253

team into

basketball

with

the Real team.

Spanish basketball

he organized

Furthermore,
Israel,

Castiella

The ageing

1969 by Gregorio

the behaviour

October
basketball

that

several

tours

Europe and the Soviet

of the Middle

Union,

by-passing

East,

the Arab States

with

another

a brief

After

was another

basketball

team when travelling

1972, Lpez Bravo requested

of China.

tour

diplomacy"

that

significant
been claimed

other

diplomatic
on various

Santana was almost

23. See, for

role

for

about

went

diplomacy",

ahead, being
similar

In

a national
hailed

by

to the more
the same time

football

and basketball

which played

the Franco regime was tennis.

occasions

as effective

example,

to undertake

was going on at exactly

besides

sport

to Saporta

States. 23

between China and the United

The only

member and

abroad recommenced.

duly

The tour

October

teams and the Spanish

Saporta

the Press as an example of "basket

famous "ping-pong

the instructions

Sports

in

Minister

Real Madrid

paid-up

pause,

the Real Madrid

of all

as Foreign

was replaced

Lpez Bravo,

keen supporter-.

national

as

Castiella.

of

priority

the Franco regime,

Saporta had used at Real.

gestures

because good relations

partly

the Spanish national

1968, he led the

In April

of Eastern

tour

of the goodwill

all

to convert

ambassador for

an efffective

done with

he had earlier
first

then proceeded

Saporta

at Real Madrid.

that

the leading

an ambassador for

Marca from 1963 to 1972.

254

Spanish
Francoist

It

player

has
Manuel

Spain as

were the
the

ambassadorial
in

triumphs

significance

tournaments

which

he won.

whilst

on the

Off

all

the

been alleged

in

of

light

his

upon him with-great

gave him the

highest

Cruz de Caballero
triumph

In
to

in

the

however,

men's

1960's,

as the

unlike

tournament,

Orden

single

Ministry

Furthermore,

de Isabella

Orantes
of

to win

the

always
bestowed

Minister

Castiella
the

services,
his

after

Wimbledon

emerged

in

and awards

Catolica,
at

and

Santana

many medals

ambassadorial

particularly

vote

when Foreign

tournament

failed

a positive

has

It

Tourism

of

in

style

and well-spoken,

Franco,

of

1966.25
the

the

tennis.

for

ambassador

Santana,

polite

campaign

for

Manuel

tennis

the

especially

decorations

de la

late

the

Santana

in

to

also

he was an admirer

receive

ceremony,

but

world,

Madrid,

due to his

simply

and attractive

that

to

pleased

seemed extremely

was not

stylish

December

of

same way as Real

was always

participation

referendum

regime's

the

Santana

immense publicity

Information's

the

around

he played

court

In

Santana

of

court,

consistently
the

teams. 24

Madrid

Real

various

in

as a possible
Spain.

any major

international

famous

1966.

July

Francoist

Gran

successors

Orantes,

and so his

capacity

to

serve

as an ambassador

Spanish

sportsmen

or

teams

exercised

was strictly

limited.

No other
ambassadorial

24.

25.

role

during

the

Franco

years,

by the
This claim has been made in print
1977, and to the author
April
No. 235,4
Manuel Vazquez Montalbn.
intervention
in
For details
of Santana's
No. 235,4
April
campaign,
see Barrabs,

255

largely

a significant
because,

satirical
by Julian

as seen

in

Weekly Barrabs,
Garcia Gandau and

the 1966 referendum

1977; Sport, 19 July

1977.

the Introduction

to this

in international

terms.

In
football

in

Francoist

previous

six

pages

improve

in

borne

of

potential

the

kind

between

one of

were

Real

however,

along
the

evidenced

and Tito's

Madrid
with

fiercest
by her

almost

course,

which

this

study

and Partisan

diplomatic

and

in

the
to

the
two

improvement

acting

must necessarily

concerns

Sporting

Yugoslavia.

Mexico,

economic

limited

always

of

position

between

relations

assist

chapter,

potential

than

concept

to

sport

be

this

diplomatic

concrete

in

sports

and the

a country,

diplomatic

of

of

to

excellent,

opposition

the

eager

should

the

of

teams

as a

consist

of

interests.

more relevant

Spain

two countries

main

and economic

An example
Francoist

the

It

here:

of many political,

is

of other

of

examination
image

the

dictatorships

beginning

more doubtful

The ability

to

the

at

improve

a far

relations

side-plate
political

mutual

is

consequence

diplomatic

of

out

of

football

of

significance.

overseas
to

examples

and examples

under

or weakness

factors.

geographical

are

actually

The latter

is

actual

as pointed

general

The strength

countries

of

the

sport

a country.

former.

image,

nation

significance
context,

by other

ambassadors

concepts

improve

to

given

an ambassadorial

however,

mind,

two distinct

sport

of

having

Spain

historical

proper
have

thesis

this

of

its

international

their

Francoist

that

in

Spain

sporting

and diplomatic

ambassadorial

been used as effective

having
to

the

to place

order

Spain was a second-rate

thesis,

commencing

with

Belgrade

in

Uruguay

and the

opponents
to Spanish

256

of
entry

between

relations
the

European

December

into

Franco
the

Yugoslavia,

countries,
regime,

United

the

Cup matches

1955.

Warsaw Pact
the

between

relations

was
as

Nations

at

the same time as the Real-Partisan

exactly

formal

establish

the first

1978 that

was not until

be sufficient

normally
diplomatic

regime

failed

to materially

In
1950s

Foreign

of

efforts

the

the

period

played

sport

alone cannot

or improvement

in

detail

its

the

how football
international

poor

or

establishment

with

any other

country,

Minister

Castiella

to

end.

from

conclusion

1955.

the

in

the

for
Until

foreign

of

national

the

champion

that

this

the

of

significance

Cup tournament

against

in

examine

relations

concentrated

commence until

that

the establishment

improve

assist

ambassadorial

completely
European

to
to

generally

diplomatic

concrete

to

of

between two countries.

now necessary

Franco

for

motive

relations

is

It

were taken by Yugoslavia

steps

above demonstrate

These two examples given

It

above.

Spain.

with

relations

games mentioned

year,

Civil

team,
club
the

chiefly
of

but
of

despite

the

War until

the

mid-

was almost
because

club

on an irregular,

opposition

improvement

each country

Spanish

the

image,

football

Spanish

helped

teams

the
did

not

only

non-competitive

basis.

During

the Second World War, the Franco regime blatantly

Spanish national
maintenance
and Vichy
journalists
and advice

football

team as an ambassador to assist

of good relations
France.
during

with

The behaviour

of the players,

these exhibition

of the Foreign

the Axis powers,

Ministry,

257

in the

Salazar's

RFEF officials

matches was subjected

used the

Portugal
and

to the orders

and passed on to the RFEF via

the

DND. The existence

the

Spanish

the

by the

signed
for

the

serving

as sporting

"should

behave

prestige

in

overseas

the

message

all

of

hinted

our States,

especially

that
of this

in

the

red shirts
carrying
lined

way that

flag".

political

both the Spanish

up alongside

their

That this

"several

control

to

Ministry
of

relations,

be dependent

on

by the Franco regime,

blue
and that

opponents

advice

of Spain. " 26

Two of this

flag

the

high organs

our foreign

with

to Falangist-inspired

and as such

in the Foreign

that

of

most benefit

will

to you, and will

advice

it

conscious

county",

team originated

team, as seen in Chapter

the national

glorious

one concerned

"be

was

Although

occasion,

party

national

a message

and players.

once you pass beyond the frontiers

As a consequence of this

country,

our

at by the affirmation

share the sentiments

the field

for

one of

Jose Moscard

on every

travelling

of our beloved

is strongly

coaches

every

to play

1951,

General

changed

the

lands

foreign

the components of the national

traditional

teams's

ambassadors

and respect

your behaviour

Nacional

Before

journey

1939 to

period

the

of

the

of

demanded that

basically

fourteen

Delegado

attention

wording

actual

of

by several

revealed

DND.

the

archives

during

matches

personally

the

command is

of

chain

team's

national

international

written

in

discovered

documents

this

of

thesis,
ones,

changed their
ran out on to

of the opposing

to give

the Fascist

salute

Of'icial
de
26. These messages, were reproduced in the monthly Boletin
the note was simply passed on
la DND from 1941 to 1947. Thereafter,
to the offices
of the RFEF, and read out to the players before the
manager, with the exception of the especially
match by the national
in May 1950, of the
long message from Koscardo before the departure,
in
the World Cup finals
team
to
tournament in
compete
national
Brazil.

258

to

largely

the

to

according

play,

in

originated

27

way as possible".
dutifully

"in

and then

match,

DND, which

the

as sporting

Spanish

to

presents

diplomatic

to

proceeded

probably

and ambassadorial
for

The RFEF and DND officials,

and offered

country,

the
from

Ministry,

typical

gave out

opposing

instructions

the

Foreign

the

before

crowd

uniformed

the

their

part,

officials

of

to

opinions

the

foreign

the

sports

journalists.

international

The first

and the

Salazar,

friendly

during

these

the

Suevos,

in

invalidated
of

playing

In the following
suggestions

January
the

Antonio

of

1940s.

as an effective

1941.

of

de Oliveira
no less

of

The

maintenance

than

The prominent

master

team

national

Galician

ceremonies

games.

a team composed of the best

policy

in

Lisbon

by arranging

the

In March 1942, the Spanish national

later

Spanish

priorities

obliged

Portugal
acted

in

regime

neighbouring

with

by the

leading

RFEF consequently

matches
Jesus

Falangist

its

had as one of
with

relations

close

played

Portugal

war was against

Ministry

Foreign

ten

Civil

the

after

match

month,

and Milan,

France,

host

in Sevilla,

a match that

federation.

French football

to

was

This

the teams of the Axis Powers was continued.

the blue-spirted

of the Foreign

matches in Berlin

of Vichy

players

by the official
against

team played

Ministry

by

Spanish
taking

team carried

part

which served as rare

out the

in exhibition
opportunities

for

the

in
27. These words, or ones to the same effect,
were always included
football
team before each
the message from the DND to the national
of its matchers overseas during the period 1939 to 1951, discussed
in the previous footnote.
more fully
259

mass expression

of international

on the suggestions

acting

German and Italian

1943,29,
military

teams to play

national

return

position

themselves

to military

the period

1945-1950,

culminated

28. Again

solidarity.

the RFEF invited

isolated

because the deteriorating

leading

their

the Western ostracization

in the rather

ineffective

sporting

of the

Minister,

the Franco
in which it

the English,

federations

regime ease its

found itself

three

own Foreign

footballers

United

of Francoist
Nations

community.

completely

Again acting

the RFEF regularly

way out of the diplomatic

by trying

French and Italian

of these

of their

Foreign

in

duties.

from the international

the suggestions

the

matches in Madrid

and economic embargo, caused Spain to be almost

diplomatic

advice

Ministry,

of the Axis powers required

Spain, -which

with

of the Foreign

proved to be impossible

During

jacket

sporting

but this

to dedicate

to help

Fascist

countries
Ministries,

to arrange

national
also

friendly

teams. 30

apparently

upon

attempted
strait
matches

The football

acted upon the

and consequently

ignored

the

28. The suggestion

that the visit
team to Berlin
of the Spanish national
teams of Hitler
and Milan in April 1942 to play against the national
Ministry
for diplomatic
and Mussolini
were promoted by the foreign
in
Casas
Contando los
by
Vizcaino
Fernando
reasons was made
Madrid, 1978, p. 156-147/ and to the author by the
cuarenta,
interviewees;
following
Manuel Vazquez Montalban,
Julian Garcia
Candau and Miguel Vidal.
29. It has been claimed that the Foreign Ministry
encouraged the RFEF to
invite
teams to play exhibition
the German and Italian
national
interviews
in
in
book
the
three
Spain
the
and
matches
mentioned in
the previous footnote.
30. Revealed by the discovery of invitation
letters
of the football
in the archives
federations
of these three countries
of the RFEF,
Madrid.

260

Spanish invitations,
chapter

that

diplomatic

can usually

sport

economic interests

already

extremely

careful

boycott

Cup finals
and the

Irish

accepted

the

FIFA were

Republic,
RFEF's

the

arranging

tournament.

of

when mutual political

the

of Francoist

qualifying
forced

groups

to

many invitations

for

the

for

Spain

place

two countries

only

Spain,

and

the

FIFA was forced

organization

governing

in

made in this

exist.

Because of the diplomatic

football

already

in the improvement

assist

only

between two countries

relations

international

the point

31 thus proving

the
With

to

be

1950 World
Portugal

had consistently

that
friendly

matches

in

the

1940s.

The 1950 World Cup finals

a Spanish

occasion

of

outside

world

since

sporting

the Civil

message to the chosen players

31.

tournament,

held

team coming

under

War, and therefore,

in Brazil,
the

was the first

scrutiny

of

as pointed

out

from the Delegado Nacional

the

in the

General

football
federation
The suggestion
that the English
the
consulted
before
the four Spanish invitations
British
Office
Foreign
rejecting
1947, November 1947 and March 1949 was
of September 1946, February
by the late
Sir Stanley
Rous, the former
to the author
confirmed
Rous affirmed
the receipt
Association,
of
secretary
of the Football
that he then,
from Madrid,
the four letters
and recalled
aware of
Spain,
telephone
the Foreign
the Diplomatic
embargo on Francoist
the Association
Office,
to turn
advised
politely
where an official
down the first
Spanish offer
of September 1946 and any subsequent
to the Spanish invitations
With regards
to
ones that might arrive.
federation,
the veteran
the French football
editor
of the Paris
that
the French Foreign
alleged
sports
newspaper Jacques Ferran,
its
Ministry
British
and like
was probably
consulted
counterparts,
because of the United
Nations
boycott.
It
gave a negative
response
is logical
to assume that
in connection
the same process
occurred
to the Italian
federation.
with the Spanish invitations

261

the impression

Moscard6,32
favourable
players
Luis

one.

by the Spanish

created

The ambassadorial

was huge, 33 as confirmed

team had to be a

responsibility

upon the

placed

by one of the members of the

teams,

Molowny.
before
flying
"During
to Brazil,
the training
camp at El Escorial
times that we should
think
of ourselves
we were told countless
as
for daring
for Spain,
ambassadors
shunned by the rest of the world
We were instructed
to be different.
about how to behave ourselves
in Brazil,
for example,
to say the
always to wear official
suit,
Pressman,
thing
to foreign
and even to pick your opponent
right
up
him. 34
the floor
off
with a smile if you had fouled

team dutifully

The national
originated

from the Foreign

smart and diplomatic,

attractive

style

These players
to improve

and achieved

beaten

surprisingly

Ministry.

whilst

the

certainly

the overseas

highly

out these instructions

carried

Off

on the field
a creditable
respected

which

the field,

the players

they played

in an open,

fourth
England

did more than any future

image of the Francoist

place,
of

having

Stanley

national

were

Matthews.

team generally

Spain. "

32. The content of this message from General Moscardo which was
in the Boletin
de la DND No. 87, July 1950, and in
Oficial
published
discussed in
the Marca and El Mundo Deportivo newspapers, was fully
Footnote 27 of this chapter.

33.

This ambasadorial
responsibility
Brazil
was commented upon in the
Cesar Alonso de los Rios,
writing
Extraordinario,
May 1971:

team in
on the Spanish national
way by
ironic
following
humourous,
in Cuadernos Para el dilogo,
XXV

"The Spanish players were charged with the responsibility

of
flag in the face of those countries
high the national
raising
had to recognize Spain, and integrate
that necessarily
her into
the international
and into the economic aid
organizations
plans. "
34. Authors'
interview
with Luis Molowny, the former Real Madrid and
footballer.
Spanish international
35.

in print
by Cesar Alfonso
had been expressed
This opinion
Rios,
with the author by the
op. cit.,
and in interviews
Juan Pablo Fusi,
Manuel Vezquez Montalban,
Julian
Garcia
Juan Jose Castillo,
Miguel Vidal
and Luis Molowny.

262

del los
historian
Candau,

Evidence
national
"Blue
of

of

good

team is

the

election

doctor,

Division"
due to

FIFA,

the

including

those

Francoist

Spain. 36

during

the
it

because

of

demonstrated

clearly

international

from

being

the

opposition

of

boastfully

recognized

the

into

practically

in

Rio

Foreign

a full

countries,
opponents

in

of

de Janeiro
Ministry,
to

the

member of
despite

transformation

himself

committee

had managed

Spain

overnight,
This

by Munoz Calero

executive

American

the

Spanish

and former

diplomatic

that

countries.

socialist

the

was held

fact

an outcast

community

sporting

South

delighted

undoubtedly

to

resolute

which

election,

by the

Brazil

RFEF President

the

of

and Uruguay,

Mexico
This

then

Munoz Calero

votes

combined

in

created

the

of

Armando

tournament,

itself

transform

impression

the

the

was

1953.

in 1950,
"When I joined
Spain only maintained
the FIFA executive
Now, however,
and Ireland.
sporting
relations
with Portugal
we
have normal relations
the countries
of the world,
with all
except
freedom behind the Iron Curtain.
Now, the
those that live
without
the same as that of the most
voice of Spain is heard and respected
37
powerful
nation
...

team, however,

The Spanish national

ambassadorial

it

work that

success on the field.

first

poorly

when the crucial

to qualify

for

the good

It

did manage to qualify

but on both occasions

moment arrived.

lack

of

both the 1954 and

being humiliatingly

tournaments,

Turkey and then Switzerland.

1962 and 1966 tournament,

to continue

began in 1950 because of a surprising

The team failed

the 1958 World Cup finals

failed

performed

eliminated
for

by

the

extremely

Even worse was to follow,

36. Information
revealed by an examination by the author of the archives
of World Soccer, January and February 1984, and of Mundo Deportivo,
September and October 1984.
37. Quoted in Boletin
del Real Madrid CF, No. 40, November 1953.

263

because

the

tournaments.
years

Franco

limited

severely

the

in

function

On this

occasion,

motivated

boycott

by the

failure
the

on the

during

the

of'the

Spanish

role

on behalf

diplomatic

from
discussion

any Press

cabinet.
Alonso
Soviets,

pairing
38

At

inaugural

the

however,
Franco

Spain
of

a draw which

instructions

the

field.
finals

quarter

away basis,

38.

ability

team was also

national

1960.

of

the

1970

the

and 1974
Franco

national
of

the

regime.

ambassadorial

in

for

to qualify
Cup record

an important

team to play

Furthermore,

of

failed

then

disappointing'World

This

obviously

football

team

national

the

the

regime

rather

was drawn

to

the

shocked
of

the

this

cabinet

matter

regime.

diplomatic

Nations

than

the

to boycott

Vega put

forward

the

proposal

on the

grounds

that

there

Cup Tournament

Spanish

the

against

Soviet

The DND, acting

and Tourism,
or

Union

on a home-and-

arranged

Interior

were still

an

another

sporting

has been discussed

meeting,

fulfil

was a politically-

play

Information

the

either

until

reason

new competition,

Ministry
of

European
the

to

unable

on

prohibited
consequences

by Franco's
Minister
the

matches

Camilo
with

some ex-commandants

the
of

the

in the archives
by the discovery
Information
revealed
of the DND of
from the President
de Prensa v
of the DND's Comisin
a letter
dated 17 May 1960, to the editors
Propaganda,
of the country's
editors
of the large
sporting
newspapers
and the sports
general
from discussing
to refrain
them "kindly
the
newspaper,
requesting
football
team having
been drawn
possible
of our national
consequence
to play the Soviet
Cup, until
one in the European National
such time
has been fully
discussed
by the highest
as the matter
organs of
State. "

264

Falangist

"Blue

The Foreign

Minister,

Secretary

of

collegues

about

image

of

the

Fernando

the
such

the

Franco

held

prisoner

Maria

Castiella

Jose Solis,

Movimiento,

that

realized

being

Division"

diplomatic

more

Soviet

labour

and the

Minister

aware

and ambassadorial

a withdrawal
regime,

in

but

could

only

their

arguments

than

their

any of

significance

of

sport,

international

the

worsen

camps. 39

the

against

boycott

were

defeated40.

The worst

fears

of Castiella

which had been ordered

was largely
simply

a tool

extended

regarded

and Solis

to withdraw

as far

from the competition

by the international

of the Franco regime,

as prohibiting

became reality.

footballing

whose rabid

a sporting

by the DND,41
community as

anti-socialism

contest.

The RFEF,

42

even

The incisive

39. There were no reports

of this cabinet debate in the Spanish Press,
This information
simply the news that the match was cancelled.
was
in 1960 secretary
to
given to the author by Benito Castejn,
Delegado Nacional
who was informed
Jose Solis.

Elola
Olaso and later
to become Delepado himself,
in detail
friend
about the debate by his close

40. Revealed by author's

41.

42.

interview

with

Benito

Castejon.

in the archives
Information
by the discovery
revealed
of the DND,
de Deportes,
from the Delegado Nacional
Jose Antonio
of a letter
Elola
dela Fuente
Olaso,
to the President
of the RFEF, Alfonso
informed
Chaos, dated 21 May 1960.
The letter
the RFEF President
long and deep
that "the highest
organ of the State have, after
in the present
decided
that,
the
contemplation,
circumstances,
European Nations
Cup match between the Spanish national
football
team and that of the Soviet Union cannot proceed".
Elola
Olaso then
de la Fuente Chaos to "inform
to instruct
the media about
proceeded
this
arrangements
cancellation,
and make the necessary
within
your
"
own federation.
This view of the RFEF in the light
of the cancellation
of the
in articles
is reflected
in,
for example,
matches with the Soviets
The Times, May 1960, and L'EQuipe
This view has
of the same date.
in interviews
to the author
also been expressed
the following:
with
Sir Stanley
Rous, Brian Glanville
Keir Radnedge, David Lacey, and
Jaques Ferran.

265

football

of the Soviet

response

federation

was:

in respect
"This act of arbitrariness
of the Spanish
and coercion
Union shows that the
footballers
who wanted to play the Soviet
the principles
dictator
Fascist
of the
of Spain tramples-over
his
bosses,
international
Obeying
the
federations.
will
of
sports
into
he tries
imperialists,
to bring
the
the United
States
sport
elements
of the Cold War. "43

Along with
about this
for

and Solis,

Castiella
withdrawal

the important

another

the man largely

was Raimundo'Saporta,

ambassadorial

who was disappointed

Spaniard

being

services

rendered

responsible

to the Franco

the same time:

regime by the Real Madrid club at exactly

"As soon as I learnt

Union,
about Spain being drawn with the Soviet
the regime.
If we had
I knew that
there would be problems
with
Eastern
Bloc countries,
the game
been drawn with any of the other
has
Madrid
Real
have
Indeed,
already
played
would
gone ahead.
in
the European Cup.
The
teams
Yugoslavian
Hungarian
against
and
different
however, was a qualitatively
Soviet
Union,
case.
thinking
Personally,
I share 'the arguments
and Solis,
of Castiell-,;
for
It was an opportunity
that the games should have been played.
in the eyes of the
Spain to appear moderate and forgiving
backwardinternational
the
than
as
rather
community,
sporting
that we seemed in the
looking
isolated
bastion
of reactionarism
This boycott
light
probably
undid a
withdrawal.
of the mistaken
in
doing
for
Madrid
Spain
lot of
Real
that
was
good
ambassadorial
issue
is
thing
that period.
The most ironic
about the whole sorry
have beaten the
that,
time,
certainly
at that
we would almost
because we had an
Soviets
and perhaps even won the competition,
the likes
Kubala,
Suarez
team containing
of Di Stefano,
excellent
'and Gento". 44

The negative
Franco regime,

however,

representative
governing

on the executive

of this

effects

were mitigated

Because of the influence

later,

Madrid

ambassadorial

withdrawal

by the events
Pujol,

of Agusti
committee

Spain was designated

r

43. Quoted in The Times, 26 May 1960.

interview
44. Author's
with Raimundo Saporta.
266

of four

the

years

the Spanish

of the European football

body UEFA, and because of the excellence

and FC Barcelona,

for

of the stadia

as the host

for

of Real

the semi

finals

and final

Soviet

Union,

as defending

visiting

semi-finalists

cabinet,

especially

final.

Another

the
were
of

a Spain

even been
hosting
the

European

In
the

1964,

that

"Twenty-Five
festivities

to

dictatorship.

the

ministers

his

world

that

the

matches

the

image

"

bid

Spain's

has

It

that

colleagues
to

on this

and that

watching

assistance

new young

who pointed

the

games could
Peace"

commemorate

of

arguments

was made to

by the

the

to

enter

out,

the

staging

of
to

seem even more attractive

Minister

at

the

be included

celebration,
the

Castiella,

of

same cabinet
in

the

twenty-fifth

Information

his

meeting
for

plans

supposedly

anniversary

and
in

the

spontaneous
of

the

revealed by an examination of the archives of World

Mundo Deportivo, Marca and the RFEF.
of this cabinet debate was revealed to Benito Castejn by
Accurate reports of the debate have also been offered,
Botines, op. cit,
p. 131, and in Manuel Vazquez
p. 73.
op. cit.,

in
This was alleged
Vazquez Montalban.

48. All three

allegation
Grandes.

other

and tolerant.

to

claimed

Fraga,

of

but

48

45. Information
Soccer, El
46. The course
Jose Solis.
in Alex J.
Montalban,
47.

of

Cup matches

Years

the

the

a Spain-Soviet

Vega,

failure,

the

Community. 47

cabinet

Manuel

the

convinced

be of

could

to all

addition

by Alonso

to

that

Franco's

within

predicted

more hospitable

Castiella

Economic

and his

Tourism

that

matches

1964 Nations

Franco

April

the

experts

to offer

becoming

gradually

of

unrest

had been a diplomatic

opportunity

alleged

the

of

by Solis,

aided

an excellent

caused

The fact

was to be one of

champions,

was demanded

withdrawal

boycott

previous

European

when most

cup tournament.

predictably

Castiella,

occasion

1964 Nations

the

of

Botines,

ibid.,

but

neither

by Castejon

nor

of the sources mentioned in the above footnote made this

of Franco, Alonso Vega and Munoz
about the reservations

267

In

the

consequence,
of Alonso

reservations
Munoz Grandes,
predictably
Frando,

2-1

triumphed

needed boost from this

just

Party
being

played

played
Spanish

sportsmanship
called
to give

lecture

importance.

In addition,

49.
50.

interview
interview

in

in

front

a dramatic

match with

This boost
cancelled

a Soviet

both Castiella

camp of the host

because it

was

by two of the

ambassadorial

Jose Angel Iribar.

Jesus Pereda.

268

and Solis

team on the morning

the immense crowd,

with
with

due to the match

and Jesus Pereda, 80 this

due to

about its

a much

of the Communist

but also

As revealed

spirit.

sporting

was not only

Estadio

team, coming as it

execution

again,

of

final.

football

the controversial

team

an impassioned

in

Union

Agustin

national

of the Franco regime received

Jose Angel Iribar49

at the training

Author's
Author's

Soviet

General

and then,
fans

the

prestige

was partially

a brief

the

than being

in an excellent

finals,

semi

State

The Spanish

and 125,000

over

Grimau.

rather

players,

the

despite

Spain

Head of

himself.

Franco

in

over a year after

agent Julian

Deputy

the

ministers

The international

did

of

Hungary

most of his

Bernabeu,

Vega,

and even

beat

matches

in

ahead

went

having
of the final

and diplomatic

partly

inspired

by appeals

for

in the newspapers, 51 treated

good behaviour

respect,

and then applauded

visiting

team.

won four

years earlier,

their

visit

expect a hostile
sporting

team left

which surprised

of the

visitors

with

in his

glowing

moves made by the

plenty

alluded

to both

crowd and the consequent

report

had

of good memories of

them because they had been led

52 Franco himself
capacity

anthem with

the European crown they

without

but nonetheless

reception.

attitude

the Soviet

each of the impressive

The Soviet

to Spain,

the Soviet

to

the
surprise

of

of the final:

"I am content with the victory

and with the behaviour of the crowd,
its
which constantly
encouraged the Spanish team, demonstrating
failing
to treat the foreign
team correctly,
enthusiam without
and
the same when listening
to the Soviet Anthem. The enormous
the Estadio Bernabeu could not have been
gathering which filled
Our
towards me, with its repeated ovations.
more affectionate
and
unity and patriotism
were evidenced in front of millions
in many
millions
of people who saw the big match on television
I am sure that the team of the USSR, its
countries of the world.
directors
took away from Spain an excellent
and assistants
impression,
and will
remember the sportsmanship of our team and of
the numerous spectators
who packed the stadium. "53

The great

51.

majority

of the 6,000 international

Pressmen who gathered

to the author by an examination

This appeal was, as revealed
of the
in the newspaper
for publication
by the
archives
of the DND, issued
Comisibn de Prensa y Propaganda
text
of the DND. The complete
of
the appeal is as follows:
is to be hoped that
"It
the behavior
of the crowd at the
to be contested
Cup Final,
European Nations
on Sunday in the
between teams representing
Spain and
Madrid,
Estadio
Bernabeu,
be of exemplary
The football
the Soviet
Union,
nature.
will
bear in mind that the attention
the
of
supporters
should
whole
,
be focused on this match,
and therefore
sporting
world will
fair
their
they should demonstrate
good education,
mindedness
"
and sportsmanship.

in interviews
52. The views of the Soviet team are reflected
with
several players,
which appeared in all of the Spanish general and
sporting newspaper on 23 and 24 June 1964, and in World Soccer July
and August 1964.
53.

Quoted in Francisco
privadas
con Franco,

Franco Salgado-Araujo,
1976, p.
Barcelona,

269

Mis
426

conversaciones

in Madrid

of the final

reports

towards

Spain. 55

Furthermore,

and friendly

actual

words

of

"the

MatiGPrats,
social

the

by our good protector

applause

It

should

significance
achieved
pales

the stadium just

left

victory

in Brazil

image of Francoist

in the

ultra-nationalistic

Spain,

basking

Francisco

and radio
received

two minutes

by the dictator
before

national

that

insignificance

Before

examining

alongside

exactly

the final

the ambassadorial

team was confined

to the successes

in 1950 and in Madrid in 1964, and therefore

into

in the

assured. 51

be borne in mind, however,

of the Spanish

undoubtedly

and Caudillo,

to the impressive

a historic

with

by the

given

television

alluded

the match. 54

of the continent,

most of the foreign

when he very astutely

whistle,

to half

image of a happy and hospitable

Indeed,

commentators

of the overseas

offering

RTVE commentary

peace established

Franco. 56

atmosphere

not

coverage of the game was taken by

television

European countries,

as the Soviets

surprised

ambience surrounding

the improvement

,, contributed

fifteen

were as pleasantly

a tense and hostile

to encounter
Their

the final

for

that

almost

of Real Madrid.

when and how Real Madrid

improved

the

54. This surprise

was expressed to the author by the following
sports
journalists
David Miller
present:
of the The Times Brian Glanville,
David Lacey, and Jaques Ferran.
55. This is the view of the four journalists
mentioned in the previous
footnote,
although they all pointed out that they were neither
Spain with
conscious of or keen to improve the image of Francoist
their reports.
This view is shared by Raimundo Saporta, Manuel
Vzquez Montalbn, and Juan Pablo Fusi, besides the majority
of
journalists.
Spanish football
56. Author's
interview
with MatiaaPrats.
57. Author's
interview
the BBC television
with Sir Kenneth Volstenholme,
commentator for the Madrid final.

"

270

.1

international

image of Francoist

two examples of ministerial

importance,

Foreign

la Catolica
1960,

Gran Cruz de Caballero

that

the

6e

abroad".

In

club

"has

an'interview

ambassadorial

the

Di Stefano
embassy

the, newspaper

with

was in a more expansive

Castiella

best

to offer

upon

de la Orden de Isabel

Alfredo

star

constituted

first

appropriate

was moved to declare,

Castiella

Argentinian

to Real's

is

of the club's

recognition

Minister

the prestigious

awarding

it

Spain,

in December

that

ABC eight

we have sent
years

later,

mood:

"Real Madrid, is furthermore,

a complete style of sportsmanship,
the name of Spain whilst
travelling
and they know how to dignify
The club's players
around the world.
comport themselves like
genuine ambassadors, contributing
with their
performance to the
prestige
of our country. 59
The other

minister

was Jose` Solis,

to the ambassadorial

to pay tribute

who, in October 1959 was the representative

Franco regime at ReaV s banquet after

Luxembourg club
his

feet

work of the club

Jeunesse d'Esch

addressing

the players

the 5-0 destruction

of the
of the

in the European Cup, and he was soon on

in this

fulsome

way:

"You have-done much more than many scattered

embassies for this
people of God. Foreigners who used to hate us now understand us,
thanks to you, because you have broken down many walls..
Your
victories
constitute
a legitimate
pride for all Spaniards, both
inside and outside our country.
When you retire
to the dressing
the end of every` match, to staunch your sporting
rooms
at
wounds,
,
you should know that all the Spaniards are with you accompany you,
the Spanish flag so
proud of your triumphs,
which have lifted
high. "6o

It
only

must be pointed

ministers

out that

to praise

58. Quoted in the Boletin

59. Quoted in ABC
1
60. Quoted in the Boletfn

Castiella

the. ambassadorial

del Real Madrid,

del Real Madrid

2h

and Solis
importance

have not been the

of their

No. 128, January

country's

1961.

CF No. 112, November 1959.

"'

successful

by governments

Foreign

Ministers,

regular

international

of

Real

Madrid

Castiella,
club

Francoist

as shall

simply

improving

Spain

the

Foreign

Minister

to

for

fulfilment

Castiella
way if

the

went
of

would obviously

of this

proud to be of assistance,
Raimundo

began.

is

different

not

since

What makes the

himself

content
image

one step

further,

specific

diplomatic

of

the

actually

that
with

attempting

objectives.

thesis,

to allow
however,

as revealed

this

to happen.

the club

by eternal

As seen in

was both pleased

and

Vice President

Saporta.

Castiella

Saporta

the

country.

"Real Madrid...
has always been so powerful because of being
column of the State. "61
service of the vertebral

club.

case

have not been able to use Real in this

the club had been unwilling

the Introduction

did

by

usually

persuasion

international

general

out,

political

all

qualitatively

be seen,

shortly

The Spanish
use Real

of

competitions

sporting

in

has been handed

Such praise

sportsmen.

found in Saporta

By both his

own admission

the perfect

and diplomatic,

overseas,

because his

and, in addition,

actually

character

he spoke perfect

at the

of others, '2

and the allegations

would have been almost as comfortable

Spanish diplomat

man to work with

at the

serving

was extremely
French and

as a
pleasant
competent

English.

61. Quoted in El Pais, 3 December 1978.

62. This suggestion originates
from authors interviews
with: Raimundo
Saporta, the form V Real Madrid; layer Manuel Velzquez, Luis
Molowny, Manuel Vazquez Montalban and Julin Garcia Candau.

272

The allegation
is

that

before

Saporta

Saporta
64

allegation.

it

that

admitted

that

either

that

Ministry

before

problems,

for

or basketball

to confirm

or deny this

interviewed

for

have

before

every

example,

but

Ministry

to France or Belgium,

probable

chapter

from Castiella

journalists

of sporting

overseas,

of this

the Real football

Saporta went to the Foreign

diplomatic

possible

instructions

specific

was reluctant

was highly

by the Foreign

advice
with

himself

Real excursion

single

to the second half

abroad of either

The majority

doubts

expressed

is central

used to receive

journey

every

team. 63

that

the Vice President

was given

upon a journey

embarking
instance

to Eastern

fraught

Europe or the

East. 65

Middle

It

is now necessary

Real Madrid

both improved

and was used by Castiella

to offer

concrete

the general
in an attempt

historical

overseas

examples of how

image of Francoist

to attain

specific

Spain,

diplomatic

objectives.

63.

ra
by
This controversial
Julian
Garc :
was originally
allegation
made
Candau in his El Pais Semanal article,
op. cit.,
and then at greater
in his book, op. cit.,
length
and with greater
conviction
pp. 54-55,
Garcia Candau's
op. cit..
and in interview
with the author,
have been supported
in
allegations
practically
unequivocally
interview
by Manuel Vazquez Montalbn
and by the late Catalan
sports
hand, however,
Alex J. Botines.
On the other
this
writer
allegation
has been refuted
by Luis Molowny,
Manuel Velazquez,
Jose Maria
Lorente,
"Belarmo",
Rodolfo
Belarmino
Gil de la Vega
and Enrique
"Gilera",
the veteran
correspondents
sports
of ABC.

64. Author's
interview
with
characteristic
affability
particular
question.
65.

Raimundo Saporta who lost

upon being
and serenity

a good part
asked this

of his

between Garca
This view,
Candau and his
position
a kind of middle
has been expressed
Real Madrid connected
detractors,
to the author
by Miguel
Vidal,
Juan Jose Castillo,
Joan Josep:. Artells,
the author
Barsa, Barca,
Hernaez,
of Barga,
the veteran
op. cit. 1 Antonio
editor
of Sport.

273

domination

of the world

persuading

the leading

football.

for

regime

exhibition

behaviour

their

come.

1950s,

its

diplomaticallyWhen the club

matches.

from the Franco

the praise

was soon resounding,

spectacular

led the way in

to visit

Western European club

abroad in the early

began to venture

ambassador

long before

was Real that

It

Spain in the 1940s to play

isolated

more effective

was demonstrated

Spanish club

than any other

as a far

of Real to serve

The potential

to

of things

a prelude

In

July

1952,

Real

del Mundo in Bogota,

won the

spectacularly

Colombia.

A glowing

from the Spanish ambassador-in

Bogota led

Castiella's

as Foreign

predecessor

This was letter

Minister,

reproduced

was proudly

Peguena

prestigious

of the club's

report

to a letter
Alberto

CoDa

visit

to Real from
Martin

in the next issue

Artajo.

of the

Boletin

del Real Madrid CF:

from the
"The behaviour of the components of the Real Madrid party,
in every
has been irreproachable
director
first
to the last player,
that they have left behind, thanks to
aspect, and the impression
impeccable correctness,
their
sporting
gentlemanliness
and
has been practically
perfect. "`s
patriotism,
It
that,

was not only

in the early

ambassadorial
new Estadio

the club's

1950s,

of the few foreign

and was actually

then

visitors
placed

66. Quoted in the Boletin

of the Franco regime.

the biggest

in Europe,

who passed through

on the list

del

behaviour,

overseas

the scene for

was setting

work on behalf
Bernabeu,

exemplary

its

however,

future

Real's

magnificient

was impressing

Madrid in that

of recommended attractions

many

period,
compiled

Real Madrid CF, No. 28, September 1952.

274

by the
the

Ministry

majority

the

of

expected

to

probably

pleasantly

group

small

1950s, but those that

assume that

Franco's

and repression,

capital
therefore

and were

an impressive

such

in the

came to Madrid
to visit

encouraged

to

safe

who visited

heads of state

did were all

is

It

to be shown around

surprised

Very few foreign

construction.

tourists

of

poverty

massive

encounter

67

and Tourism.

Information

of

for

the stadium,

example King Hussein I of Jordan in June 1955 and the Brazilian

President

The Franco
ial

services
1955,

June

Falangist
though

de la

previously

the

won the

won the
for

Paris.

Medalla
none of

club

this

Orden

Latin

Cup,

exploit,

Imperial

del

the

for

the

first

ambassador-

player

the

of

was awarded

de Bilbao

Flechas,

the
even

who had

players
decoration

this

in

time

forerunner

Yugo y de las

had been granted

same trophy

Madrid

for

every

or Athletic

FC Barcelona

68

Real

demonstrated

was clearly

rendered
when the

towards

gratitude

regime's

Cup in

European

seven months later.

Doctor Kubitschek

by the

regime.

The diplomatic
late
It

1950s, with
was not just

Real a legendary
a

style

built

potential

of Real was completely

victory

in the first

the fact

of the five

club
firmly

throughout

five

the world,

on flamboyant

of the European Cup.

editions

consecutive

triumphs

but also

and attractive

in the

realized

which made

the style.

attacking

play,

It

was
led

details
67. For further
of the use of the Estadio Bernabeu as a tourist
by the Ministry
and Tourism, see the Libro
of Information
attraction
del Oro del Real Madrid, Madrid, op. cit.,
p. 337.
68.

For details
of the visits
del Real Madrid CF, No.
repectively.

of Hussein and Kubitschek,

60, July 1955, and No. 67,

275

see the Boletin

February
1956

by the remarkable

Argentine

This spectacular
ambassadorial

star

contributed

the

enormously

the Franco regime.

always immaculately

foreign

press.

Another

dressed

As pointed

to the

diplomatic

was made by the perfectly

and directors,

things-for
Manuel

of play

of Real for

contribution

of the players
correct

Di Stefano.

style

significance

considerable

Alfredo

behavior

by the

out

the

and saying
former

Real

Velazquez:

by the club to dress smartly

"We were instructed
and behave
but especially
for trips
times,
Saporta
at all
abroad.
ourselves
about what we should say to the foreign
even gave us instructions
journalists,
that we have
such as: "the hospitality
platitudes
in your country
has been unforgettable;
and we hope to be
received
is
it
hospitality
to
this
your turn to, visit
when
our
match
able
beautiful
city. "69

was the result

The correctness
by President
It

Saporta.
Foreign

tour
United

towards

contributed
of

of

Francoist
South

States

who arranged,
1 clever

Castiella,

In

Spain.

America,
dollarrto

Saporta
the

with

public

1958,

for

Argentine

over

the encouragement

relations
in

handed

at the club

awareness of Vice-President

an improvement
August

instilled

discipline

and of the diplomatic

was the latter

Minister

possibly
image

Bernabeu,

of the

the

general

example,

a cheque

President

exercises

for

Arturo

of
that

overseas

during

a Real

one thousand
Frondizi

for

the

.y

interview
69. Author's
with Manuel Velazquez.
70. In his interview
with the author, Raimundo Saporta admitted that
He then
these public relations
exercises were of his own'invention.
in their regular
meetings, who
suggested to them to Castiella
Saporta unequivocally
normally reacted to them with enthusiasm.
had no political
that these exercises
pointed out, nonetheless,
motive:
"The objective
was to improve the interof these gestures
image of our club,
to improve
that of
and afterwards
national
As I've
Spain in general.
Real Madrid would have
said before,
kind of government
behaved the same way whatever
had been in
power at that time. "

276

assistance
players

of
were

children's

Manchester

United.

team also

pleased

flag

Saporta,

before

the

country

of

T2 Real

would

have

carried

if

Cup matches,

matches
host

the

out

all

club.

Indeed,

the'same

exercise

at

with

the

Real
the

around
both

carrying

had not prohibited

the UEFA regulations

match

examples,

specific

Real

oranges

a friendly

and politicians

exhibition

the

Spanish

playing

supporters

1961,

December

distributing

to these

out

of

In

before

addition

football

by running
and that

hospital
In

71

victims.
smilingly

photographed

Manchester

world

flood

recent

the

Spanish
by

as admitted
before

European

this.

has been widely

It

the Real Madrid

club

image of Francoist

this, chapter,

nonetheless,

this

sportsman

improved

more difficult
to. improve

relations
runner

respective

influential

countries,

in a concrete

individual

this

with
Lassi

country.

ambassador

diplomatic

It

is

an
and
far
helped

For example,

the

that

ambassadors for

they have been

sense would be to make a grossly

details
71. For further
of the meeting between Saporta and Frondizi,
del Real Madrid CF, No. 98, September 1958, Marca,
Boletin
10 August 1958.
72.
73.

of

and the Roumanian gymnast

served as effective

but to suggest

that

or team has actually

another

Virren

the general

to allege

image of his or their-country.

Nadia Comaneci have undoubtedly

their

simple

that

at the beginning

As stated

is relatively

to prove. that
diplomatic

Spain. 73

Spain,

improving

or team has acted as an effective

the overseas

long-distance

Finnish

it

and outside

immensely towards

contributed

international

excellent

both inside

recognized,

see

interview
Author's
with Raimundo Saporta.
by all of the officials,
This view has been supported
writers
and
journalists,
in this
and in all of the publications,
mentioned
Nobody, of whatever
has attempted
chapter.
political
persuasion,
to
this
contest
view.

277

exaggerated

Real Madrid has played

that

claim

of diplomatic

or strengthening

can be said

is that

diplomatic

specific

made his

Castiella
Community.

impromptu

visit

presented

the

speech
his

which

match

Council-

entry

the

an expensive

only

nine

months

into

the

European

character

of

Economic
to

club

Europe.

speech

Saporta

and then

salver,

this

before

pay a seemingly

by Castiella
of

specific

the

requested

Council

silver

have been written

well

for

used

and afterwards
of

for

success.

being

74 Castiella

headquarters

The general

following

at

Strasbourg,

with

to use the club

partial

Madrid

May 1961,

by Saporta,
in

only

the most that

available,

attempted

Real

attempt

to the

assistants.

by the

first

could

in

occurred

in the establishment

role

evidence

but with

of

to

and unsubstantial

between Spain and some other

purposes,

As admitted

a friendly

links

clearly

example

purposes

a decisive

Castiella

The most blatant

diplomatic

as exaggerated

of the limited

In the light

country.

play

would be just

It

claim.

himself
is

made a
or

best

one of

summed up

extract:

"It is an honour to have been called

to play (sic) in the "European
because this demonstrates
Capital",
that even this Council,
where
Spain is not at the moment represented,
consider us as Europeans. 75
This, visit
fruit

hoped

subsequent

74.

by Real
for

Madrid

by the

approaches

to

Foreign
to

the

Strasbourg,

however,

Minister,

because

community

was turned

did

not

the

yield
his'

everyone

of

down,

due to

the

anti-

interview
in which he admitted
Author's
that
with Raimundo Saporta,
the Strasbourg
but denied that his
visit
was the idea of Castiella,
by the Foreign
Minister
speech was written
or any of his assistants.
Despite
being requested
by Castiella,
to make the journey
Saporta
denied that Real Madrid was willingly
being politically
still
by the Franco regime.
manipulated

75. Quoted in Boletin del Real Madrid

Marca, 17 May 1961.
278

CF, No. 133, June 1961, and in

democrgtic

having

been

less

A slightly
specific

Eisenhower

blatant

diplomatic

example of the Castiella.

of the United

1959.

States

November and December of that

were desperately

even cynical

keen for

During

was planning

"Ike"

that

to stop

off

the

summer, President

his mammoth world

Both Castiella

year.

to use

attempt

can be found in the form of

objectives

to New York in July

visit

possibly

T6

by Castiella.

club's

that

as a blatant,

by members of the Council

recognized

Real for

is even possible

speech of May 1961 was counter-productive,

Saporta's.

stunt

It

of the Franco regime.

nature

tour

of

and Franco himself

in Madrid

for

a few hours,

they hoped, -confirm

which would,
United
that

States

professional
1970s.
diplomatic

decent

football

Furthermore,
objective

met at Kennedy Airport,

76. This possibility

Landau, and Keir

regime. 77

journey
is

when it

team for

It

is strengthened
New York,

account

against,

the visit

by the fact

to be more

Real Madrid

to the United

the United
that

the suspicion

a degree of

appears

taken into

Real to play

did not reach

States

States
that

that'
there

because
until

the early

has a specific
that

the Real party

was

by the Spanish Ambassador Jose Maria

was suggested
Radnedge.

The importance
that Franco
Eisenhower
through
passing

world

the by then world-famous

one and only

summer, especially

was no remotely

that

team made their

particular

77.

of the Franco

approval

a mere coincidence

football

to the watching

to the author

by Julian

Minister
and his Foreign
for a few hours
Madrid

Garcia

gave to
is clearly

demonstrated in the following

FMncisco Franco Salgadothree studies:
Politfca
Araujo, op. cit.,
p. 273; Fernando Maria Casti'ella,
"
de Espa1'a (1898-1960) Madrid, 1960, p. 28; Ricardo de.: 4q
exterior
del franguismo.
Aislamiento,
Cierva, Historia
transformacion,
agonia, Barcelona, 1978, p. 184.

279

de Areilza

and the

visiting

also

and photographed

extensively

Real

team played

three

York,

Philadelphia

the

field

achieving

attractive

were present

at

this

tribute

exciting

tour

fact

to

it

Furthermore,
arrange

the

Arab

policy.
nascent
argued
the

Real

80

Castiella

United
that

has been
the

of

the

visits

club

of

between

Republic
of
Cairo

Spain

of
Real

for

with

some

cabinet

likes

Strasbourg

Madrid

paid

Di

of

visit,
because

Castiella,

Real

features

cultivate

Egypt
Madrid

United

or

did

not,

in

good relations

foreign

Francoist
with

the

and thus

it

could

friendly

diplomatic
Arab

with

links

close

to play

Saporta

requested

of

and Syria,

details
78. For further
of Real Madrid's
Real Madrid CF, No. 109, August 1959,
in
the
79. See the publication
mentioned
has been made in the
80. This allegation
op. cit.,
p. 54.
81. This is the argument of Julian Garci
author in interview.

280

the

because

East,

had a specific
and the

ox/to

then

Eisenhower's

Castiella

that

central
to

of

New

Madrid.

Middle

attempted

Arab

in

alleged

the

was one of

states

Zamalek

Relations

tours

a few hours

Unlike

tour

out

and

by the

a success

by the

in

DC, and afterwards

offered

and Gento. 79

The

tour,

opponents

amateur

Washington

running

flags,

members of

display

influenced

spend

in

be considered

must

whether

to

the

their

Ullastres,

visit.

American

States

Three

match

Santamaria

Eisenhower,
decide

football.

to

their

DC, on each occasion

against

final

Commerce Alberto

on this

and United

Spanish

Real's

Puskas,

American

throughout

matches

victories

spectacular,

Stefano,

them

with

exhibition

the

convincing

fulsome

of

and Washington
both

with

Minister

Republic

matches

be

against

purpose.

91

were

possibly

American tour, see Boletin

del
or Marca, 24-30 July 1959.
previous footnote.
book of Julian Garcia Candau,
Candau,
expressed

to the

by the

strengthened

1961 and then

March

to

new republic,
1964,

Real

advantages

and his

tour

1964,

the

club's

The suspicion
purposes

is further

highest

lapel

awards that

at-the

that

Castiella

was using

by the large

fuelled

three

82

weeks,

Real for

for

On this
a record
to

Di
summer
eight

various

Minister

the Foreign

dictator's

then upon Saporta with

in a specific
El Pardo
similar

awards that

had to

give

la Catlica,

The

out was the Gran

and this

homage to the club

residence

he

were completely

or the DND.

with

he
Franco

in December 1960, and

pomp and ceremony only

gave Castiella

diplomatic

specific

number of awards that

of the club,

de la Orden de Isabel

undoubtedly

their

teams

them gave out

in

summer of

83

bestowed upon Di Stefano

It

between
badges

against.

play

the

of

were more diplomatic

there

from those handed out by the Movimiento

Cruz de Caballero

present,

to

flag

same as with

good professional

colleagues

golden

the

the

in

pitch,

the

In

crowd.

and,

than

bestowed upon the personalities

separate

90,000

Spanish

the

carrying

and Egypt,

and Saporta

Bernabeu

and politicians.

royals

States
regime

celebrated

famous

the

on to

out

latter,

months
of

United

Franco

the

Stefano
of

the

running

first

the

as usual,

and Algeria,

Morocco

of

for

nine

delight

the

team,

country,

again

visited

tours

earlier

Real

the

team to visit

sporting

of

famous

enormous satisfaction

five

months later.

to see how

in North Africa until

did not arrive
football
82. Professional
the mid1970s. The four opponents of Real Madrid on their
1964 tour were
real scored a total
all amateur teams, and consequently
of 26 goals,
and conceded just one
del Real Madrid CF, No. 172, September 1964.
83. Revealed by the Boletin

281

popular

see foreign

governments

bestowing

President

Bernabeu was actually

d'Honneur

by the

upon him,

in

former

a ceremony

Herzog,

MQurice

in

in

Paris

1959

June

for

Youth

Legion

prestigious

and this

by the

attended

Minister

French

to

and also

own award upon the club.

awarded the highly

government

84 was elected

Castiella,

Physical

Council

of

Saporta

was also

"Commission
four

for

was confirmed

Spanish

Ambassador

and Sports

and famous

by

1969 by Gregorio
was logically

used for

to

the

executive

of

President

Legislation",

Madrid was

to the delight

UNESCO.
of

In addition,

that

Council's

he had already

on which

of

of the International

committee

an agency

to be the

Sporting

Castiella

expected,

to

recommence

until

basketball

trip

from

the

realizing

to

Tel

Foreign
that

another

served

Bravo
Aviv

however,

the club

in

November
Saporta

would

upset

1972.

Lopez

and did

stopped,
by a Real
Because

arranged

to be

objectives.

this

Bravo's

not

Madrid
of

the

Arab

lack
to

visit

friends,

by the author,
84. Raimundo Saporta, interviewed
admitted that
had been very pleased to learn about the events in Rome.

282

October

would continue

diplomatic

surprisingly

had been annoyed

Minister,
Real

that

of specific

attainment

in

Secretary

Real member and keen supporter.

therefore,

Saporta,

Lopez

as Foreign

was replaced

Lopez Bravo,

the attempted

The instructions

without

1965, when Saporta;

Education,
chosen

esteem for-Real

years.

The ageing

advice

of the international

in Rome in April

illustrated

It

the

their

the world,

mountaineer.

The extent

for

French

fans across

football

Real Madrid was with

of
Israel
and

Castiella

this

coveted

Real

effects

of

Saporta

to

badge.

lapel

this

In

to Tel

visit

organize

the

Aviv,

trip

to

the

in

Libya,

Minister

requested

Colonel

which

by the Dayan decoration,

badge a journey

that

the

diplomatic

negative

Foreign

young

most irritated

also be awarded the lapel

Mosche Dayan was awarded

to mitigate

order

a basketball

the Arab leader

Gadaafi,

when General

what happened

was exactly

was dutifully

would

undertaken

in June 1973.85

1973, Lopez Bravo requested

In March

initiation
the

of

central

relations

two months.
with

relations

Franco remained
nonetheless
club

the

Real perform

with

He astutely
the Soviets

on the occasion

quarter

as possible
did, being

and their

in power, highly

be established.

finals

realized

86

of their

that,

had been one of

his

beneficial

surprise

Therefore,

Lopez Bravo

first

journey

even more complimentary

full

diplomatic
whilst

relations

could

requested

the

to Odessa to play Dynamo Kiev

visit

for

Minister

were impossible
commercial

of the European Cup, to create

on their

although

satellites

yet

The gradual

regime.

countries

beginning

Bravo,

Lopez

Franco

Bloc

Eastern

the

with
of

priorities

to

service

that

to Moscow in December 1969, when he had been Foreign

visit
only

diplomatic

specific

another

Saporta

as pleasant

in the

an impression

to the Soviet

Union.

This

about the host

country

than

they duly

to Tripoli
85. Raimundo Saporta admitted that the visit
and the awarded
For further
details
to Gadaafi were suggested by Lopez Bravo.
of
del Real Madrid CF, No. 279,
Real's journey to Libya, see: Boletin
August 1973; Marca, 19-27 July, 1964; the El Pas Semanal article
of
Julian Garcia Candau, op. cit,
and his book, op. cit.,
p. 54.
86.

that he gave to the

the priority
Lopez Bravo demonstrated
improvement
Bloc in the
relations
with the Eastern
of commercial
that he wrote for the Spanish edition
of Samuel Pisar,
prologue
Barcelona,
Transacciones
1972.
entre el Este y el Oeste,

283

usual

when questioned

in the match that

all-red

Madrid

being

diplomatic

a general
the
such

about

lack

of

Spanish

to bestow

Sport

and Culture,

the

and

wore an

an unquantifiable
itself

of

Given
that

both

improve
extent,

diplomatic'

Franco's

regime.

the

the

limited

the

Spanish

the

Foreign

Ministry
possibly

be pointed

club
the

the

regard
forming
it

available,

team and Real

Francoist

Spain

consciously
attempted

partial

that

out

with

impedes

football

Francoist

especially

image of

at

arrive

must

national

with

specific

in

documentation

in

to

stage

87 partly

latter

attain

football

evidence,

international

and that

objectives,

it

Affairs,

Foreign

this

of

study,

documentary

explicit

to be used by the

specific

of

chapters

this

to

regime

at

importance

example of Real

clear

Franco

appropriate

diplomatic

Ministry

to

is

It

a conclusion.

helped

by the

an attempt

the

other

must be confirmed
Madrid

in

used

As in

Spain.

87.

sufficiently

team diplomatically

the last

to Odessa constitues

objectives.

conclusion

of

President

for

Minister

the Real Madrid

followed

In addition,

uniform.

This visit

to

anti-Communism

badge upon the Ukranian

lapel

club

latent

his

Bernabeu suppressed

journalists.

by Soviet

to

allowed

attainment

success

for

high"officials
by several
As disclosed
to the author
of the Spanish
the present
Foreign
Ministry,
Spanish
all of them connected
ruling
is
in
there
Workers Party,
Socialist
absolutely
where
no material
the Franco regime's
that concerns
the archives
of the Ministry
for ambassadorial
and diplomatic
of football
manipulation
purposes.

284

of

CHAPTER EIGHT:

in

regionalism
the

doubt

can be little

There

seven

The reason
end of
that

for

this

this

the

against
in

discussed

already

some extent

to

of

the

Two books
Josep

only

aspect
of

the

interests

the

of

football.

appearing

of

All

served

this

regionalist
of

amount
of

between

on the

social

have been written

'

host

of

and Barca:
newspaper

Joan Josep Artells,

Jaume S. Sabartes,

aspect

published

of

football

these

at

the

politicization

other
of

six

aspects

the

regime

to

on the

work

the

publications

creu

and magazine

op. cit.
op. cit.

285

other

have
of

Barca_Barca,

and book

six

aspects

the

specifically
FC Barcelona.
Barca,

by Jaume S. Sabartes,
articles

in

subject,

about

significance

theme,

on this

demonstrated

clearly

and regionalism

and political

cara

is

discussing

material

The majority

Artells,

a whole

regime.

thesis

scarcity

between

concentrated

1.
2.

of

politicization.

connection

this

the

aspect

and

important

most

Spanish

of

regionalist

is

this

the

one of

manipulation

on the

Franco

large

relatively

comparison

constitutes

football

other.

or

The importance
by the

that

between

relationship

political

chapter
is

the

Spain

the

of

thesis

worked

that

Francoist

aspects

FOOTBALL AND REGIONALISM

by Joan

2 along

chapters.

with
The

political

of the two leading

significance

treatment,

partly

because of the absence amongst their

of intellectuals

pe.-ic q&Wcih -d; yine

.

This imbalance
football
was the

club

with

impression,
suggests

is

regime

as did

somewhat

Catalan

club,
to

Basque opposition

general

as Bam

reflected

Catalan

the Basque players

more to demonstrate

counterparts

actually

supporters

of a

impression

deceptive.
to

and,

and in

This

The evidence

available

way managed to
dictatorship

Moreover,

opposition.

more politically
to

opposition

at FC Barcelona,

only

the

the

against

gestures

centralist

Real

extent,

it

a minority

Sociedad,
Franco
the

reflect

as effectively

be argued

could

and did

conscious

Franco

of

FC Barcelona

that

reputation.

a lesser

this

of the question

regime

than

far

did

of whom were

Catalans. 3

There

different

the

were far

their

the

offers

political

as many significant
the

of the question

anti-Francoist

de Bilbao

Athletic

that
out

3.

biggest

the

however,

carried

their

obvious

less

club.

in the treatment

and regionalism

far

to the one at Barca that

similar

about their

Was so eager to write

de

Athletic

has received

and Real Sociedad de San Sebastian,

Bilbao

that

Basque clubs,

is

no doubt

in style

that

the

and objectives

opposition

from that

of

the

Basque

clubs

of FC Barcelona.

was very

It

has

The number of native Catalan players in the FC Barcelona first-team

declined during the Franco years.
As revealed by an
squad gradually
investigation
out by the author
of the archives of the club, carried
during April and May 1986, there were 14 players born in Catalonia
in the Barca squad for season 1939/1940,15
for season 1949/1950,
due to the increase of the squad from 18 to 22 players,
12 in
season 1959/1960, and just seven in season 1960/1970.

286

been alleged
reflection

of

the

difference

opposition

to

the

Franco

of this

to be an important

catalyst

popular

in

least

at

the

slightest

hint

languages

were outlawed

brutally,

while

of

thousands

conflict,

been forced

and the subsequent

into

that

offered

in

the

The militants

in order

to support

Immediately

themselves

often
many of

The leaders

died

or executed

in the

by the

managed to survive

to return
and their

into

and

the war

society

families,

avoiding

activity.

after

clear

attempted

that

and Catalan

1939

had either

imprisoned

the

the

two tongues,

burnt(.

for

destroy,

to

institutions,

official

written

for

support

The Basque

regionalists

exile,

occurred.

attempted

institution

books

purge mostly

any form of political

4.

and Catalan

were systematically

Nationalists.

unequivocally

Basque

came

game became a vehicle

why the

and in

public

of militant

political

to the

opposition

how this

or separatism.

and priceless,

of

why football

to explain

systematically

every

of

style

in M2 "

majority

unnoticed

in

first

in detail

the

of

regionalism

the great

victorious

is

understand

innocuous,

two regions'

Basque and Catalan

Franco

War,

Civil

render

them ancient

for

Because

was partly

'

chapter

to

opposition.

Republic
or

difficult

not

difference

this
the

and then to illustrate

Franco regime,

is

between
regime.

The objective

It

that

occasions

on several

that

his

victory

his

State

in the Civil
was going

This is the view of Juan Pablo Fusi,

expressed to the author.
287

War, Franco made it

to be completely

unitarian

and Manuel Vazquez Montalban,

Speaking in conquered

and centralist.

in 1939, he declared

Barcelona

that:
"Spain is being reorganized
within
a broad totalitarian.
concept...
be respected,
but without
The character
of each region will
to national
unity,
which we desire to be complete, with
prejudice
language, Castilian,
the Spanish
and a single personality,
single
one. "5

It

is

to speak of a "postwar

possible

their

Basques and Catalans,

from that

directed

not exclusively

against

to describe

used by the victors

but rather

general,
Catalan

society,

the Nationalist

against

the Left

all

which had to pay for

their

of "national

concept

in

the

the repression

Basque

of these

occupation.

powerful

agricultural

wealth

not,

in general,

the other

Spanish

consolation

for

5. -Quoted
6.

regions

in Palabras

collective

in

class

offence

Catalonia,

like

industrial

the Basque country

quite

against

Barcelona,

was often

and

and Catalonia

did

to the same extent

as

which was a small

Madrid

regime.

1939, p. 226.,

This was the phrase used by Norman L. Jones in

Catalan
Question
Since the Civil
War", included
Spain In Crisis,
op. cit.

288

more

an army of

capacity

imposed by the centralist

del Caudillo,

or,

regions,

in the 1940s and 1950s,

the repression

expression

of Basque and

sectors

behaving

hunger and misery

suffer

and

because of being

imprecise

two defeated

Because of their
however,

-the

C untry'and

frequently

with

The post-Civil

unity".

the armed police

brutal,

of Spain,

and the working

practically

The repression

accurately,

in the rest
the rojos,

the

in the Basque Country

NationalisS,.

was different

Catalonia

both

against

language. 6

and their

culture

by the victorious

War repression

vendetta"

his
in

"The
article
the collection

Because

this

of

labourers

into

flooded

the

in regions

but politically

ambition,

in Francoist

clandestinely

evolved

efforts

oppositional

Considering

all

it

remained

dances and even

Basketball

also

basketball

teams

football

giant
between

regarded,
regime,

7.

the
in

served

in

as such

were merely

clubs.

a catalyst,

one of

Therefore,

the

the

Basque

and Catalan

football

these

two regions

as the

T carried

over

into

few other

basketball.

but

literature,

repressed.

sporting

because

politically-motivated

official

The basketball

only

one.

major
of

the

antagonism

and Real
club

the

sections

many sporting

for

catalyst

by no means the

mainly

clubs

sport

modes of

language,

whose

Spain,

forces.

Basque and Catalan

the most important

Francoist

of the

that

/ -_- were systematically

was undoubtedly

nature,

political

surprising

for

Extremely

open to these people

tfisdcot, ot ccs}vPes

opposition

regionalist

is hardly

or vehicle

expression

Football

independent

of the above,

to the Franco regime.

songs,

as political,

Basque and Catalan

opposition

flags,

largely

In

opposition

of the exiled

have served as a catalyst

should

and frustrated.

as well

Spain,

themselves

and economic

nationalist

and intellectual,

movements, of a: cultural

not

They found

repressed.

the 1960s and 1970s, Basque and Catalan

but

principally

and Murcia.

and culturally

hungry

a million

of employment opportunities

plenty

with

from,

two regions

Estremadura

Andalucia,

exclusively,

more than

prosperity,

relative

of

Madrid,
the

largely

Franco

sections

of

This view of Real Madrid during the Franco years has been expressed
by practically
ex-official
every Bara supporter,
and ex-player
interviewed
by for example: Manuel
by the author]
and in print
Vazquez Montalban in Politica
y deporte,
Alex J.
op. cit.;
Botines,
Julian Garcia Candau, op. cit.
op. cit.;
289

de Bilbao

Athletic
regionalist
regular

anti-Francoist
gatherings

language

would

be sung,

would

flags

regional
the

and FC Barcelona

of

be spoken

without

and where,

from

would

same as occurred

matches

for

centre,

like

in

Bilbao

the

Generally,

It

songs

outlawed
is

true

that,

and Barcelona,

the

years

however,

was a tolerated

stadium,

forbidden

onwards,

Armada over
8

regional

impunity.

relative

Polic(a

the

where
where

1960s

for

catalyst

became

arrest,

matches

offences.

football

of

of

home matches

sentiment,

late

the

football

by the

flag-flying
the

fear

be waved with
at

arrests

were several

Catalan

or

role

and their

sentiment,
Basque

the

played

centre

basketball

at
the

there

sports

of

regionalist

expression.

of the visits

On the occasion
these two repressed
centralist
reception

regions,

than at football

basketball

arena.

a violent
basketball

tolerated

Real in the two regions

basketball

fighting

Basque and Catalan

regime found a largely

for

matches,

Missiles

invasion

federation,

Raimundo Saporta,

were regularly

9.

the

The hostile
and dramatic

at

of a

thrown at the Real players,

broke out,
in October

and there

was even

1974, which the

over by the Real Madrid Vice-President

presided

a three-month

with

arena. 9 The Real Madrid basketball

8.

outlet.

for

team to

because of the compact nature

at FC Barcelona

punished

contempt

was more ferocious

between the two teams frequently

pitch

basketball

of the Real Madrid

supporters

closure
retaliated

of the Barca
T
in kind

when

As revealed by an examination
of the archives of FC Barcelona,
there
was one arrest made in February 1967, at the basketball
match
against Real Madrid, for the flying
of the sen era, and two in May
1972 during the game with Caja Madrid.
For further
details,
17-27 October 1974.
see El Mundo Deportivo,

290

the Basque or Catalan

for

clubs

visited

for

revenge strike

invasion

the pitch

necessitating

basketball

team coach as a
thus

two months earlier,

of the match. 1

the postponement

In December 1974,

city.

the FC Barelona

Real fans stoned

example,

the capital

imports,

Leon Thompson, one of Bar a's American

incident

This

caused

to declare:

"The local derby matches back home in New York used to get pretty
But that's
tense.
as nothing compared with these Barcelona-Madrid
deaths
be
like
this,
there
If
things
could
well
continue
clashes.
""
knows?
day,
who
one

sentiment
context,

in Francoist

Spain.

of the clubs

Elorriaga

Real Madrid visit

Sestao.

occurred

the first

Mention

the Joventut

The politically-charged

handball,
basketball,

10.
11.
12.
13.

Real

Madrid

both

the role

as catalysts

volleyball

struggle

sports.

for

and handball

history

Spanish

matches

Catalan

at Sant

supremacy

volleyball

and

both

football

and

two giant

clubs

with

between

Indeed,

Real Madrid. 13

sporting

in

case

and Sant

occured

match with

continued

As was the

for

during

popular

than Baia.

extent

an explosive

and FC Barcelona

amateur

invasion

of Barcelona

club

in Spanish basketball

Andreu in November 1968, during

between

be made, in a Basque

also

where a pitch

in the same way but to a lesser

pitch

regionalist

in March 1975,12 and the hugely

have played

invasion

were not the only

repressed

should

Bidasoa,

can be argued that

It

Andreu of Barcelona
sentiment,

for

teams to serve as vehicles

basketball

however,

and FC Barcelona,

de Bilbao

Athletic

the

details,
For further
see As, 2-3 December 1974.
Quoted in Dicen, 3 December 1974.
See, for example, As, 9 December 1975.
details,
For further
16 November 1968.
see El Mundo Deportivo,

291

by invasions

were followed

There
Catalans,
Basque

also

were
which

other

served
the

country,

energetically

fulfilled

this
roller-skate

sports

accentuated

Basque

regular

opportunities

therefore
teams

however,

sports,

in

there
which

frustration

this
sports

example,

regional

de Bilbao
15

In

hockey

for

unique

and Catalans
volleyball

should

which served

El Mundo Deportivo,

could

four

were
de San

Sociedad

All

the

mention
these

of

distinctiveness,
in

explosive

which

context,

16

and
In

of

and Real

cultural

practically

chapter

both

a Catalan

speaking

Basques

sentiment.

and rugby.

and Catalan

14

the

and rowing,

no potentially

Basques

for

function.

were

centralism,

the other

14. See, for

15.

the

about

The context
isolating

were

for

pelota

by Athletic

be made of

These

of

to

particular

as vehicles

should

provided

sports,

sports

promoted

Sebastian,

of angry Barsa supporters.

the
to

languages.

regional
the

two regions,

and

Real

Madrid

clashes
vent

and

with

their

anger

and

and handball.

be established
as catalysts

7 October

not only
for

by

Basque and

1972.

in the Basque
These two sports
were almost exclusively
practised
from the two major Basque clubs always constituted
Country.
Players
in the Spanish national
team, while
the rowers
a majority
pelota
from these two clubs on two occasions,
in 1972 and 1976, constituted
in the Spanish Olympic rowing
team.
a majority

16. Roller-skate
hockey had only been played in Catalonia,
Portugal and
in the parts of South America where there was a sizeable
Catalan
immigrant community.
The Spanish national
team, frequently
"world"
champions, has been composed almost exclusively
of Catalans,
with
in the majority.
Barra players usually
Rugby, however, has not been
having spread across the whole of Spain. Its
confined to Catalonia,
in Catalonia,
though, far exceeds that in any other
popularity
been practically
region. The Spanish team has traditionally
allCatalan.
The team for the friendly
in
match against Argentina
Barcelona in October 1973, for example, was composed entirely
of
Catalans, while the team for the match with West Germany in Madrid
the following
included only one: non-Catalan.
April
292

Catalan

discussing

served

for

is especially

and this

the sentiment

is not,

region.

Football

implicit

forms of rational
sports

has, frequently

of a particular
is being

region

Art,

expression.

can also

to the repressed

literature,

regionalist

for

serve as-catalyst

tolerated

example of these
music,

by

repressed

which are roughly

the only

of course,

region,

are immediately

and languages

forms of expression

opposition
Because of

football

sport,

by

also

regionalist

regime become of immense importance

by the centralist

and other

for

and pride

flags

parties,

and implicit

suppressed,

spectator

but

regime,

of the world.

parts

the case when that

Political

centralism.

Franco

as a vehicle

the most popular

as a vehicle

the

in other

dictatorship

by far

to

opposition

of football

the role

to centralist
being

in

sentiment

tolerated
theatre

sentiment`

and opposition.

In the specific
Spain

outside

In

regions.
traditionally
with

the

and with

have
the

clearly

Soviet

served
supporters
the

club

of international

context

acted
Union,

usually

Moscow teams have become just

as Barra
years.

of

example,

the

for

or Athletic

the

staging

The home matches

exhibitions.

as vehicles

for

as a catalyst
speaking

de Bilbao

of

football,

Georgian

Georgian

Dynamo Tiblisi

a highly-charged
versus

Real

rather

club

than

the

the

violent
Franco

17

17. See, for

example,

World Soccer,

293

Russian,

powerful

and potentially
during

has

nationalism,

dancing

against

Madrid

clubs
repressed

Dynamo Tiblisi

language

pre-match

for

opposition

repressed

Georgian

several

November 1979 and May 1981.

In
Yereven

much the

club

has served

as a vehicle

repressed

Armenian.

Over

incidents

during

visits

the

the

players

have refused

protest

against

continued
be seen in

shortly

Jose

goalkeeper

A brief

mention

the repressed

against
violent,

region

fulfilling

Bratislava
affected

Angel

these repressed

given

to

have

in

19 a tactic

by the

for

Furthermore,

the

several
team in

national

that

celebrated

Ararat

been many violent

Soviet

the

the

and protest

Moscow teams. 18

appear

detail,

expression

there

repression,

should

also

was adopted,

as

de Bilbao

Athletic

be made of Dynamo Zagreb representing

in Yugoslavia,

of Croatia

The struggles
city

of all

have always

for

the dis-

of these regionalist

an opportunity

clubs

been tense and frequently

in the European competitions

participation
regions

20 and of Slogan

in Czechoslovakia

the same role

those of the capital

their

the

Georgia,

Iribar.

Moravians. 2'

while

of

years,

of

Yereven

shall

in

same way as Dynamo Tiblisi

very

to internationally

has
project

themselves.

It

18.

is now necessary

to offer

a detailed

illustration

of the

In July 1969, the stadium

Yereven was closed
for three
of Ararat
invasion
in a match with Dynamo
months following
a violent
pitch
Moscow.
Torpedo Moscow in Yereven were twice
Games against

suspended, in April 1976 and September 1978, because of missile1983, the team coach of
throwing at the visiting
In April
players.
Dynamo Moscow was stoned while leaving the vicinity
of the Yereven
two month closure,
stadium, which provoked a further
and the threat
if further
incidents
violent
of enforced relegation
For
occurred.
further
details
of Ararat Yereven, see World Soccer, August 1969,
and May 1984.
19. See World Soccer, May 1984.
20. For further
details,
see World Soccer, October 1981.
21. See, for further
details,
World Soccer, March 1968, October 1973 and
June 1975.

294

beginning
It

could

in

this

shall

with

Basque

because

clubs

the

that

Osasuna

the

political

be seen in

the

Epilogue

to

in

the

role

a significant

the

by adopting

much the

immediately
and well

changed
supported
in

university

the

importance

division

for

only

the

by staff

during
four

In

addition,

the

Franco

the players`of

22.

23.

policy

rather

than

football.

the

with

the

siding

devotees

the

by Francoists,

Osasuna
years,

to

and clearly

all-Basque
of

As

undoubtedly

however,

period,

be included

should

opposite

in

policy,

Rightist

was a club

playing

a
was

who

player

famous

of

of

the

22

Opus Dei
secondary

first

seasons.

and Real Sociedad

Basque autonomy before

superiority.

dictatorship

player

and students

numerical

Osasuna
from

led

Spain,

Basque

of

transition

Franco

Francoist

Pamplona

of

traditional

As seen in the Introduction

Bilbao

their

thesis,

was a club

club's

Pamplona. 23

sporting

this

movement

Osasuna

case.

club

an all-Basque

During

Navarre.

of

significance

Basque nationalist

non-Basque

in

and regionalism

of

democracy,

very

the

be argued
study

played

with

football

between

relationship

to this

clearly

both

came out in favour

the outbreak

the two clubs,

thesis,

of the Civil

Athletic

of a degree

War.

many of whom had previously

In April
served

de
of
1937,
in the

by an examination
As revealed
of the archives
of El Mundo Deportivo,
the all-Basque
policy
of Osasuna, adopted in 1921, was
player
headed by the
abandoned by the completely
Sew board of directors
Moscardo,
the army Colonel
Juan Antonio
appointee
of General
Solana
in March 1939.
the Osasuna team was composed by a
Thenceforth,
from other
Navarrans
combination
and players
Spanish
of local
regions,
with very few Basque from the provinces
of Guipuzcoa,
Vizcaya
and Alava.
It is estimated
by Juan Jose Castillo,
the veteran
editor
of E1
Mundo Deportivo,
that
approximately
a quarter
of the Osasuna
during
the Franco years were either
supporters
staff
or students
of
the Opus Dei university.

295

Basque militias

defending'

backbone

El Euzkadi

the

of
to

refused

directors,

of the clubs'
died

were in Francoist

The club

4overnor

from the Civil

directors

to gather

seen in Chapter

other

as a kind

of Vizcaya

Three of the

the motives
supporters

football

and repression

of the Civil
amongst

the

Basque

for

team, two
had

perished,
against

it

the

has been alleged

clubs,

for

of Vizcaya,

the major
and

example FC Barcelona

that

of the posr-Civil

that

As

to save Athletic

the game could

drug",

or "social

call

new

in August 1937.25

in helping

bourgeoisie

by a public

prospective

was to ensure

Governor

similarly

extinction

meeting

authorities

soporific

In

Gorrotxategi,

the struggle

province

thesis,

from disappearance

of the austerity

and Patxi

club,

by the

in June 1937.

Davila

saved from post-war

at an extraordinary

of political

de Bilbao

of Spain. 24

part

pro-Republican

and Valencia,

suspicion

or were continuing

of the new Francoist

clearly

Fidel

Azcargorta

in another

was only

and

Basque autonomy and the El Euzkadi

Aitor

prisons,

forces

Nationalist

and Mexico

and many members had either

in the conflict,

motive

for

to the support

addition

to form the

of the Athletic

was viewed with

under General

conquerers

Europe

toured

identity

it

that

came together

Spain.

political

is not surprising

Nationalist

team which

to Francoist

return

Given the clear

it

homeland,

their

and so mitigate
War years.

there

serve
part

Whatever

were enough Athletic

who had supported

Franco

to

24. Information
revealed by an examination of the archives of Athletic
de Bilbao.
in all of the Bilbao newspapers of 11 August
25. This call was published
1937.

296

form

a new board

new directors
export
War.

of

were

mostly

were

In this

national

Falangists,

in the space of three

that

ensuring

club

name.

Propaganda,
Atletico.
According

and
Civil

and Juan

1937.

de Bilbao

was

The objectives

months.

were to build

never

again

of
a new

identify

seek to destroy

criminally

In January

the club

Casajuana

and his

to the official

with

1941, the local

ordered

a change for

regard
Jefatura

to change its
directors

club

board to the

of the new Athletic

can be-found

authorities

was undoubtedly

The

28

An example of the obedience

Francoist

of

Casajuana,

that

2'

the

Echevarr(a

board

"would

the club
forces

during

profile

of Athletic

character

business.
shipbuilders

Antonio

Athletic

reconstituted

in

bankers,
a low

maintained

the anti-patriotic

unity".

back

club

led by the banker Luis

young team, while

with

the

businessmen,

way, the political

the new directors,

itself

the

transformed

completely

local

two Basque

also

Crespo, 27 on

Carlos

and put

who had largely

agents,
There

directors

history

title

to the enforced
Provincial
to

del

de.

the Castilianized

meekly assented
Historia

change of

to the change.

Athletic

Club,

it

the worse:

"Effectively,
1 February 1941 is a sad date for the great Athletic
with regard to the club name, invariably
pride and sensitivity
29
maintained since foundation".

de Bilbao,
26. According to the archives of Athletic
presented themselves at this meeting, only one of
Bengoechea, had previously
served as an Athletic
the years 1929-1934.
de Bilbao archives.
27. Revealed by the Athletic
de Bilbao,
28. According to the archives of Athletic
Casajuana at the first
words of President
regular
board, in September 1937.
newly-constituted
29. Historia
del Athletic
1974, p. 86.
Club, Bilbao,
297

23 persons
whom, Alfredo
director,
during

these were the

meeting of the

Real Sociedad de San Sebastian

Although:
its

For

pro-Republican.
fighting

cross

border

French

the

Spain. 30

Francoist
local

Antonio

Juan

two colleagues,

Francoist

the

against

its

Bilbao

teams in the immediate

in the conflict,

whilst

but-two

all

had survived

and systematic

Athletic
Real

Sociedad,

Generalisimo
the

political

these
inspired

the great

Athletic

successive

climate

the

of

triumphs

mystification.

30. Information

carried

on three

far

revealed

were
This

1940s,

subjected
mystification

by the archives
298

were

from

to

it

is

the

than

more effectively

the

off

occasions,

early

to

an opportunity
majority

who

in the Basque Country.

repression

and dramatically

example,

in an atmosphere of militant

managed to rebuild

de Bilbao

had

young players

with

War, and who saw in football

from which

decent

Some Basque players

to rebuild

These new young teams developed

Falangism

in forming

team remained in Mexico.

of the famous El Euzkadi

the Civil

authorities.

of Real Sociedad for

completely

in

a new board

needed

problems

War years.

Jose Dunabeita

escape the hunger and misery

suffering.

club

to

remain

industrialist

by the

had serious

post-Civil

were forced

The two clubs

the

whilst

preferred

than

rather

exile

rival,

led

businessman,

pro-Franco

The two major Basque clubs

died

into

had been

province,

Onaindia,

and Miguel

Betelu

was

Andoni Nuez, had died

Guipuzcoa

of

conquest

and enter

Like

War directors

one Real director,

example,

leadership

of the club

of the pre-Civil

because the majority

necessary

of

change in the nature

name, a complete

did not have to change

obviously

Copa del

newly-named
1943 to
not

1945.

surprising

application

was largely

of

Given
that

Falangist-

encouraged

by

of Real Sociedad de Sebastian.

the

declarations

October

1942.31

acclaim

by the

an obvious

the

sporting

the
media

the

tall

new generation

that

Echevarria

and physically

as illustrated

in

example

was about

of

title

of

the

centre-forward
of
to

the

"virile,

lead

Spain

furia

Two,

had acquired

Athletic

forward-

"five

artillerymen",

Telmo

Zarra

33

was held

impetuous
into

in

board
team was

the

Chapter

The spectacular

good military

Athletic

Bilbao

powerful
embodiment

local

a prominent

on the

to be the

Press

and courageous

up by

and furious"

a new and glorious

age. 34

The dramatic
the old

Antonio

significance.

as a shining

Lastagaray,

Eduardo

of

which,

political

was given

imperial

The young

32 a concept

espanola,

whilst

Press

who had replaced

Falangist

line

the

to

network

triumphs
of Athletic

of the 1943-1945
de Bilbao

period

supporters'

served
clubs

to revitalize

across

31. In Marca, 29 May 1943, for example Lastagaray was qouted

immediately
1-0 victory
ater Athletic's
over Real Madrid
final,
help in Madrid, that:

the whole

as saying,
in the cup

demonstrates
"Today's
the limitless
victory
potential
of our
We are the authentic
furia
young team.
magnificent
espafiola,
team of courageous,
powerful,
committed,
virile
young players,
lead our
that will
a shining
example of the young generation
Spain to glory. "
new, reborn

defeat Espafiol in their own Sarri stadium

After watching Athletic
on 12th November 1944, Lastagaray was moved to declare to El Mundo
Deportivo:
"Once again, we have demonstrated our virility,
discipline
and
Ours are the kind of young men that Spain will need
courage.
in the battles
that surely lie ahead if we are to fulfill
our
historic
destiny. "
32. For further
details,
see, for example: Marca, 29-31 May 1943,19
June 1945; El Mundo Deportivo,
March 1944,5 June 1944,1-6
5 June
1944,12 November 1944,4 June 1945; ABC, 4 June 1945; Arriba,
2-6
June 1945.
bestowed upon the Athletic
33. This title
forwards by Marca,
was first
30 January 1944, and subsequently
adopted by the Spanish sporting
media as a whole.
34. The most complete examples of the politically
significant
mystification
of Telmo Zarra can be found in an extensive
profile
of
the player in Marca, 7-12 December 1944, and in Arriba,
3-6 June
1945.
299

and even to inspire

of Spain,

Were 196 such supporters

clubs

the subsequent

and hunger.

repression

number of 243 local

record

increase

steadily

in 1968.35

been partly

regarding

the Bilbao

largely

nonetheless

also

an implicit

anti-Francoist

Benito

sporting

Diaz,

Civil

a fraction

when the San Sebastian

been a Republican

Artigas
political

fighter

35. Information
archives.

details
For further
past,
see Francisco

37. LSee Cerecedo) ibid.

at a peak of 293

was noted

would

that

the
has

clubs

Spanish

regions

system.

of the number of supporters'

de Bilbao,

They aroused

suspicions

replaced

pilot

but'was

the suspicion

the Republic

with
of the

coach for

during

of Orange Exporters,
were aroused

Diaz With Salvador

in the conflict.

by an examination
about the
Cerecedo,

r
300

the
and

in May 1949,

gas,
Art

who had

37

Real Sociedad,

despite

him, but he came nowhere near to

surrounding

revealed

was a

arriving

in all

of the Federation

proved to be a useful

suspicions

there

supporters'

who had served

Similar

club

War and

in June 1946, when they engaged as coach

footballer

to France. 36

Civil

in the 1940s and 1950s as a club

character.

authorities

a former

a figure

figure

anti-Francoist

of Athletic

regarded

War as the Sub-Director

had then fled

36.

workers

the Basque Country

outside

Francoist

with

as a potent

Real Sociedad had only

clubs

Athletic

there

and this

it

thesis,

of these

political,
club

By 1947, however,

to this

the proliferation

allegedly

of the

the Franco years,

throughout

Country,

Basque

in existence,

clubs

In the Introduction

for

motive

the

outside

In 1936,

of new ones.

to 78 by 1941, because of the turmoil

fell

that

the formation

of the Athletic

suspicions
surrounding
op. cit. p.

de Bilbao
Benito

Diaz'

the

the achievements

emulating

their

reached
during

1955-1958,

the years

league championship

when they won the cup three

team were due to

Bilbao

Because

the

of

Introduction
that

the

in

Madrid.

in

various

final
38

Spanish

two finalists.
in

played
Bernabeu

of

Real

The Bilbao
held

capital

pleas

the

before
to

according
the

city,

Franco

Franco

regime,

DND had issued

cup finals

years,

and from

in

Madrid

Press-began

competition

the

the issue,

thus

giving

39

however

these
in

out when
final.

cup

in

as seen
in

March

should

take
been

the
1941
place

staged

position

geographical

1948 onwards

Real a crucial
players

The Athletic

businessmen,

but was ultimately

38. Revealed by an examination

39.

the

War had

Civil

the

compaign against

from the Athletic

Zaragoza or Valladolid.
local

broke

a ruling

finals
the

of

were

the

all

Estadio

the 1958 final

was reluctant
forced

for

a neutral

board,

still

to complain

venue,
largely

and

preferably
composed of

to the RFEF about

to do so by the pressure

of the archives

being

home advantage,

Francoist

and the

Madrid.

in the Bernabeu,

included

of

sporting

cities,

During
the

times

undertones

Real

national

every

Football

political

agaist

the

thesis,

this
of

play

nature

centralist

to

period

once.

In June 1958, an argument with

the

Athletic

in the Francoist

and success

peak of popularity

de Bilbao.

Athletic

of neighbours

from the

of the DND.

to request
that
the final
be played
in a
The first
Bilbao
newpapers
neutral
venue was El Correo Espanol on May 22 1958, including
pleases
Angel Carmelo and Jose
from the Athletic
to the same effect
players
Maria Maguregui.
In La Gaceta del Norte of the following
day,
to play the final
there were similar
the capital,
pleas
outside
with
from the Athletic
Piru Gainza,
quotations
captain
and the players
Jesus Garay and Jose Arieta.

301

Press,

players
during

power

the

Franco

passed

period,

the

being

Bilbao

DND, which insisted

upon the final

Athletic

of the Bernabeu or At. letico

the choice
40

Metropolitano.

in order

Bernabeu,

appear quite

clear.

then,

in

allow

a record

There

was a hostile

rival

supporters.

to make the injustice

move to

saw Athletic

30,000

Basque

record

supporters

atmosphere
On

the

to choose the

at

field,

an historic

the

to

coaches

make the

match,

a tough
2-0

upon the club

visited

cheap

victory

trip

and several

match

the

Estadio

board did,

what the Athletic

arrange

of

but gave-

Madrid's

being

This was exactly

an unprecedented

in Madrid,

played

lack
up to

complaint

Press urged Athletic

The Bilbao

41

its

The RFEF, demonstrating

and supporters.

and trains

including

against

the

that

this

to

to Madrid.
fights
six

and

42

between
bookings

European

Champions-Real.

It
dispute

had been alleged

served

on various

occasions

to reawaken the dormant political

1958 cup final

conscience

of the

de Bilbao archives,
40. In the author's
examination of the Athletic
a
letter,
dated 29 May 1958, from the President
of the RFEF was
The letter
acknowledged a correspondence of the previous
uncovered.
about the "neutral"
venue. In the
week from Athletic
complaining
light
"having to
of the DND, the RFEF regretted
of the intransigence
inform your club of the neccessity
the said final
of staging
at
the Estadio Bernabeu or the Estadio Metropolitano,
whichever
either
of the two is more convenient to yourselves".
41. Both of the Bilbao newspaper La aceta del Norte and El Correo
Espanol, upon hearing of the intransigence
of the DND, confirmed in
discussed in the above footnote,
the letter
suggested that Athletic
in the Estadio Bernabeu, in their
should choose to play the final
editions
of 1 June 1958.
de Bilbao archives,
42. According to the Athletic
the club arranged with
the Spanish national
railway company and two separate private
coach
companies a special low price of one hundred pesetas for the
in Madrid.
to the final
Athletic
to travel
An estimated
supporters
20,000 Basque followers
by train,
made the journey to the capital
6,000 by coach, and the remaining 4,000 by private
means.

302

Athletic
also
not

de Bilbao

been claimed
football

only

the

against

supporters,
that

the dispute

caused

the

fans,

to identify

with

Athletic

Francoist

From 1958 onwards,

Hadr; d in

their

outbreaks

of

sporting
there

both

violence

during

major

Basque clubs

of dissent

As seen in Chapter

unpopular

and dictatorial
the majority

Paraguayans,
nationality

who has false

on the basis

in

illegal

Three

of

this
of

signed

documents
of their

entry

thesis,
foreign

parentage.

struggle
team. 44

Franco's

to Real

attitude
frequent

in Basque football

into

to support

general,

45

a joint

on South

has

It
in

their

with

and confrontation

prohibition
of clubs

field.

the

1969-1975,

the

against

players.

to 1973,

and San Sebastian,

on and off

the period

in

more hostile

was a noticeably

43

Basque people

and then

authorities,

to Bilbao

visits

This new spirit

culminated,

and even directors.

players

campaign
Spain

of

because
footballers

Americans,
their

claim

by the

two

foreign
of the DND's
from

1962

mostly
for

Spanish

The two Basque clubs,

who

43. This allegation

has been made to the author by, among other:
Juan
Crespo, veteran
the football
of La Gaceta del Norte;
correspondent
Julio
the former
Lamana, the veteran general
secretary
of Athletic;
Jose Angel Iribar
Athletic
Sez)
and
players
and coaches Inaki
Javier
Clemente.
44. This was claimed to the author by all of the interviewees
in
listed
the footnote
above.
45. In February
1959, for example, the Real Madrid player Francisco
in a stormy match in Athletic's
Gento was felled
by a missile,
In
Estadio
San Mames which saw four bookings and two expulsions.
in Bilbao was suspended for twenty
October 1964, the same fixture
by Athletic
minutes because of a pitch invasion
supporters
Real goal.
Exactly
two years
protesting
offside
about an allegedly
later,
from each side were sent off in another tense
two players
in March 1965. the Real
Athletic-Real
In San Sebastian
clash.
by angry Real Sociedad supporters,
Madrid team coach was attacked
for the team from the Spanish
2-1 victory
after
a controversial
deatils
For further
capital.
of these incidents,
see for example,
Marca,
26 February
El Correo Espafiol and La Gaceta del Norteof
1959,10
October 1964,2
October 1966 and 19 March 1965.
303

had not
of

used foreign
DND import

this

players
ban which

success.

They were naturally

Americans

with

1971,
to

dubious

and especially

their

for

fifty

did

so much to help

angered

sharply

so when both

the

against

step

the Trancoist

famous monarchist
huge scandal
empt Gil

Robles's

of

chances

increased

in

the

of

these

South
1969-

period

DND and the REF turned

de Bilbao

engaging

a blind

its
findings

and Real Sociedad jointly

a leading

lawyer

Jdse Maria

authorities,

politician

about

their

favour

eye

4S

complaints.

unprecedented

in

were obviously

when the number of

documents

In October 1971, Athletic

the

years,

of

the

complicity
by lifting

Gil

same name.
in

the

issue,

to pursue
Robles,

In order

the

their

to prevent

players

case
the

son of

the DND decided

the ban on foreign

took

to prein

June

1973.47

This joint

campaign of the Basque clubs earned them the hostility

46.

de Bilbao and Real Sociedad,

The Presidents
Jose Maria
of Athletic
jointly
Oraa and Jose Luis Orbegozo respectively,
wrote five letters
to the RFEF about the scandal of the South American players,
copies
These letters,
of which are kept in the archives
of Athletic.
dated 17 February 1969,24
August 1969,28
1970, " 12 August
April
in a gradually
1971 and 10 October 1971, complain,
more indignant
tone, about the RFEF's lack of action
with regard to the falselydocumented South American players.
informed
letter
The final
the
lawyer to fight
RFEF about the engagement of a leading
the case.
47. That trepidation
about the investigations
of Gil Robles was one of
the motives of the DND in lifting
the prohibition
players
on foreign
is demonstrated
by the actual
wording of the announcement of the end
in the Boletin
ban, published
de la DND,
Of'icial
of the eleven-year
No. 359, July 1973:
in the light
"It has been decided,
of the wishes of the
majority
of clubs and certain
problems created by a possible
two foreign
evasion of the rules of the old system, to permit
footballers
club rom season 1973/1974 onwards,
per professional
"
whatever their
nationality
or conditions.

304

of all

of the clubs

Madrid,

whose visits

affairs.

48

South American players,

to the Basque Country

the Basques of the Francoist

the illegal

This campaign against

players

broadly
in

nationalism
boards
receptive
(PNV),

the

to the

autonomy. 5

1960s

ideology

was in
It

late

de Bilbao

of Athletic

which

with

coincided

favour

sporting

the

and Real

of
of

the

has been estimated

that

of respect

49

entry' of the South American

resurgence

1970s.
Sociedad

clandestine

a return

the two

and lack

authorities.

gradual

and early

Real

became even more tense

the incompetence

by revealing

clubs

especially

the campaign had served to unite

Nevertheless,

Basque football
for

illegal

with

Basque

The businessmen
were

slowly

half

on the

becoming

Basque Nationalist

to democracy
about

of

more

Party

and regional
of

the

supporters

of

48. In November 1971, or example, the visit

of Real Madrid to Athletic's
in six players booked, one expelled,
Estadio San Mameesresulted
and
for attempting
27 Basque supporters
to invade the field
arrested
and
In the return match in the Estadio
attack the Real players.
by jeering
Bernabeu in March 1972, the Real fans retaliated
the
Athletic
team as they took the field,
and then showering them with
investigations
1973,
January
the
In
as
of Gil Robles
missiles.
began to uncover the illegality
of the documents of many South
including
American players,
those of Real Madrid's Paraguayan
in Bilbao
battle
Athletic-Real
forward Ruben Fleitas,
another fierce
saw four players booked, the Real defender Gregorio Benito laid out
by a bottle,
For further
and another attempted pitch invasion.
details
see Marca, As and La Gaceta del Norte,
of these incidents,
of 1 December 1971,7 March 1972 and 21 January 1973.
49.
50.

Julio
Lamana, Inaki
Sez, Jose
This is the opinion
of Juan Crespo,
Clemente.
Angel Iribar
and Javier
by Juan Crespo, Julio
to the author
Lamana, and the
This was alleged
is
former Real Sociedad President
Jose Luis Orbegozo.
This point
by the large
number of directors
also evidenced
of the two major
its
in
legalization
Basque clubs who became members of the PNV after
de Bilbao
1977: the then President
Jesus Dun"abeita;
the
of Athletic
former Athletic
Jose Antonio
Eguidazu;
President
the Athletic
directors
Aguirre
Iaki
the former
Real
and Jose Maria Gorriz;
Jose Luis Orbegozo;
Sociedad President
the Real Sociedad
director
Jose Lopez Iturbe.

PNV, while

the

of

methods

flag,

national
in

months

followed
the

the

first

the

Bilbao

example.

its

of

Athletic

adopted

the

stoning

In

the

coaches

in

Sociedad
process
at

the

terraces.
the

at
of

in

the

1970s,

early

became centres
in

began
infamous
'3

propaganda

of

From then
of

both

Madrid

partly

the

the

for

the

first

supporters
hooligans,

politically

This

group,

and for

which

1974,

October

for

the

afterwards
the

supporters,

time

Armada. 52

young

most

in

players,
Real

outlawed

first

hooliganism

politically-motivated

day.

stadia

of

de Bilbao

Athletic
Basque

clandestine
1970,

of

1973-1975.

show trials

onwards,

the

were

two stadia

PNV and the

political
in

when leaflets

military

the

of

was responsible,

present

of

out

the

Sociedad

a group

years

travelling

the

December
Burgos

the

the'Real

a catalogue
in

formed

out

Policia

the

Real

of

Furthermore,

name Frente-Norte,
missiles

the

minority

Spain,

supporters

continues

which

in

kind

of

incidents

pro-ETA

with

the

latter

was this

terraces

a scuffle

provoking

later,

radical

throwing

thus

It

bring

to

Athletic

on the

51

and

them supported

of

regime.

who dared

supporters

ikurrina,

the

1971,

January

Three

Basque

of

group

objectives

a quarter

Franco

the

the

with

agreement

approximately

ETA against

of

armed-struggle
radical

in

were broadly

two clubs

these

This

activity.

support

of

distributed

were

more radical

and Real

primary
abertzale

the

accused

on the
targets

for

pro-ETA

by Juan Crespo,
Julio
These estimates
were made to the author
Javier
Clemente and Jose Luis Orbegozo.
Lamana, Jose Angel Iribar,
in the Press,
but
52. This incident
or discussed
reported
was neither
to in the archieves
of Athletic,
as "an unfortunate
was referred
happening
flag
with a forbidden
a group of supporters
regarding
and
Armada".
members of the Policia
53. This was confirmed
to the author by various
Athletic
veteran
Lamana and Juan Crespo.
supporters,
as well as by Julio

51.

306

groupings

that

coalition.

54

is

It

perhaps

not

the

Basque

that

above,

goalkeeper
of

whole
national

was deeply
explains,

Jose
Spain

surprising,

were

because

of

the

began

to

enter

an immensly

both

devout
by the

catalyst

his

Herri

Batasuna
the

outside

carrying

such

for

described

circumstances

to develop

popular

a political
de Bilbao

Athletic
figure

across

magnificent-performance

Catholicism.
Burgos

the

do so was the

to

player

Irfbar,

affected

given

footballers

Angel

team and his

the

flag.

The first

consciousness.

form

made arrests

trying

spectators

ikurrina

the

to

Armada occasionally

discovering
or

propaganda

come together

The Policia

after

stadia

later

would

military

his

Like
trials,

own political

for

the

so many Basques,
which,

the

Iribar

as he himself

development:

"The Burgos trials

in a profound
caused me to think politically,
time in my life.
It seems that these
way, for probably the first
trials
a change in many other Basques as well, in
effected

in the team.
Before,
I had been too wrapped up in
colleagues
football
to politics.
to give much thought
It had obviously
seemed
that we could not speak our mother
wrong to me since childhood
it in the schools.
tongue in the street
But until
the
or learn
Burgos business
I did
The events of
not give it much attention.
December 1970 really
shook me up, because the militAiy
prosecutors
to have the Basqueshung with only
the flimsiest
were trying
of
them a fair
believe
I really
trial.
that
giving
evidence,
without
for the Franco regime,
because
the trials
were counter-productive
to the Basques the real nature
they demonstrated
of Francoist
into
justice,
the ideology
It was
and also gave a glimpse
of ETA.
began to think
then that
I really
about the repression
of Euzkadi,
to me that perhaps one day I could use my fame and
and it occurred
"55
to make a significant
political
gesture.
popularity

Five years

passed until

54. This was confirmed

footnote.
interview
55. Author's

Iribar!

to the author
with

s "significant

by the same sources

Jose Angel Iribar.

307

political

gesture"

as in the above

on the

Basque

Basque

clubs

the

that

In

occurred.

football

Iribar's
the

had only
the

left

two months

ignored

Community,

because
of

majority

great
decided
to his

the

Athletic

team-mates
match,

Iribar

afterwards

served

to

was generally

to

the

and director
realized,

that

for

the

the

Franco

anniversary

of

Albert,

even though

it

the
but

could

death

regime

dictator,

who
from

clemency

execution

of

by a military
Like

torture.

"

executions,

a black

and

of

nontheless
obviously

the
the

same.

armbands
obscure

the
not

for

armband

them to do the
that

the

He explained

regime.

to wear

Press

out to be

Franco

upon the

and persuaded

suspicious

Luis

for

by the

he was going

Granada,

ageing

made under

was enraged

contempt

away to

claimed

commemorate
player

his

Iribar

the

terrorism

of

Basque

58

pleas

and insisted

allegedly

confessions

Basques,

to demonstrate

following

Athletic

of

the

the

of

strength,

57 and the

two clubs.

month,

FRAP and two ETA members convicted

tribunal,

gained

made against

that

of

live,

to

European

Pope and the

three

the

gesture

27th

On the

players

in September 1975, and turned

significant

football.

through

campaign

ferocious,

the

and ikurridas

joint

56 the

American

use at

occurred

gesture

politically

most

South

into

leaflets

political

became more

Madrid

Real

of

increased,

illegal

the

came increasingly

language

number

terraces

against
with

clashes

the

time,

real

had
ex-

motive

be expressed

55 and 56.
56. This was confirmed by the same sources as in footnotes
57. As already seen in footnote 49 of this chapter,
the joint
campaign
towards the DND lifting
of Athletic
and Real Sociedad contributed
the prohibition
of foreign players in June 1973.
on the important
58. As revealed by the archives of the two major Basque clubs, Real
Sociedad adopted a policy of making all official
club announcements
from August 1972 onwards, and Athletic
in both Basque and Castilian
de Bilbao decided to follow suit exactly
a year later.
interview
59. Author's
with Jose Irrbar.

308

in

60

print.

Before

his tacit

offered
Sociedad

Antonio

follow

however,

in

from

team's

their

police,

political

home match
the

Racing dressing-room
conscious

players

were fined

each,

and his

equivalent

Santander

Iribar

Elche.

and the

latter

the Real

Basque

in

the

two months'

a possible

summed up"the

impact

centre-

team-mate

armband

members of

the

gesture
Francoist
the

entered

the two politically-

Four days later,

Aguirre

sum of a hlundred thousand

the considerable

was

conscious

actually

and obliged

"provoking

for

- Three

t remove the armbands.

to almost

join

Socio-Politico,

at half-time

the

politically
to

de

Iribar

success62.

Aguirre,

Valencia,

with

Brigada

without

Athletic

to persuade

attempted

Aitor

persuading

"a PSOE supporter

Sergio

but

suit,

intentions,

his

of

He also

of Rcing de Santander,

forward
Sergio,

Eguidazu

61

approval.
to

players

successful,

for

Jose

President

Bilbao

had informed

Iribar

out the gesture,

carrying

wages, by the Civil

and

pesetas

Governor

of

breach of the peace". 63

of the gesture

in the following

way:

"The gesture was really

even more than I had hoped for,
successful,
The public
despite the Real Sociedad disappointment.
clearly

60. This was alleged to the author by Julio Lamana, Juan Crespo, Inaki
Jose Maria Lorente and Rodolfo
Sez, by the Marca journalists
"Belarmo" and by Juan Jose Castillo,
the veteran editor
of
El

Mundo Deportivo.

interview
61. Author's
with Jose Angel Iribar.
62. Ibid.
63. Although the news of the fining
of Aguirre and Sergio was not
Press, it
or specialist
national
published in the local,
sporting
In
was revealed by Sergio to Don Baln No. 7,18 November 1975.
this interview,
Sergio ironically
added that "the armbands were not
worn out of friendship".

309

the true motive for the armbands, and this hopefully

realized
caused them, both Basque and Spaniard, to think deeply about the
of Euzkadi. "64
repression

black

armband gesture

during

supporters
democracy.
in

football
of

It

years

language.

In

Basque

a full

football

completed

largely

pro-Francoist

to

Civil

War,

political
leaving

circle,

leadership

thesis,

of

players

dictatorship
the

unequivocally

behind

promotion

and politically

of

by Basque
in

favour

of

the

Basque

forty

almost
passive

and

to

one adopted

significance

this

a clear

clubs;

and the

autonomy,

the

way,

football

similar
the

to this

adoption

from

transition

of

preceding

this

the

Basque

be a position

years

to

prelude

two major

democracy,

nation-wide

Basque

the

would

the

was the

by the

position

political

in the Epilogue

illustrated

be fully

As will

years

players

of

and

supporters.

A few words about the lesser

at

this

in

discussed

thesis,

to be,
political
club

of

the

a local

the

version

64. Author's

vast

majority

interview

of

Catalan

the

Real

During
of

with

the

club
in

rivalry

was,

Madrid-Ba
Franco

Catalonia's

period,
six

million

are appropriate
is

FC Barcelona
to

be mentioned

the

Introduction

and indeed

rr9a rivalry,

Jose Angel Iribar.

310

clubs
of

As illustrated

Barcelona

Espanol-FC

football

significance
other

de Barcelona.

significance.
the

political

The first

detail.

be Espanol

should
this

before

point,

Catalan

with

FC Barcelona
inhabitants,

to

continues
a similar
was the

including

the

including

the

of

Spain. 66

composed

of

professionals

of

provinces

of

majority
Espaol,

in

non-Catalan
and skilled

military

personnel.

mostly

anti-Francoist,

67

Lerida

Gerona,
the

immigrants

officials

workers
Broadly

to

the

had a very

contrast,
State

and Tarragona65

from

speaking,

and in favour

posted
other
the

region

Barcelona

regions,
Bara

of a return

from

other

following,

small
in

and also
parts

mostly
temporarily,

policemen
supporters

and
were

to nation-wide

65. That FC Barcelona was, and indeed continues

to be, the effective
is evidenced by the number of Ba'rca
team of Catalonia
national
in
the provinces
club
and
members
of Gerona, Lerida and
supporters
Tarragona, in comparison with the same numbers for the local clubs.
As revealed by an investigation
of the archives
of El Mundo
Deportivo:
carried out by the author in September and October 1984,
in the summer of 1970 there were 73 local FC Barcelona supporters
while there weere only 46 for the local
clubs in Gerona province,
Furthermore,
there were
second division
club, Girona Futbol Club.
4,000 FC Barcelona members in this province,
approximately
almost as
Lerida,
5,788.
Girona's
total
In
the province
membership of
many as
3,500 members
there were 57 Barca supporters
clubs and approximately
of the premier Catalan club, compared with the 4,334 members and 39
Lleida.
In 1970, there
supporters
clubs of the local Uni Esportiva
were 76 Bar;a clubs and an estimated 4,000 members in Tarragona
the Gimnastic de Tarragona club could only boast 27
province,
whilst
local clubs and 3,293 members.
66.

included
lists
The archives
of FC Barcelona
of the club members for
it is an
Although
place of birth.
every year,
although
not their
imprecise
it can be estimated
by means of
method of evaluation,
40% of the surnames were either
that approximately
these lists,
the member was either
meaning that
or half
non-Catalan,
completely
from another
region
or the offspring
an immigrant
of a marriage
between an immigrant
Catalan.
Juan Jose Castillo
and a local
half
that approximately
to
of the 40% were immigrants
estimates
during
Catalonia
the Franco period.

67. The same as at FC Barcelona,

the archives
of the Espanol club,
include lists
The significant
of the club members for every year.
feature of these lists,
during the Franco period as well as during
from dictatorship
War years and the transition
the pre-Civil
to
democracy, is the almost complete absence of Catalan surnames.
Only
5% of the members have had two Catalan surnames, and
approximately
between 15% and 20% one Catalan surname and the other from another
Spanish region.
The names of the other 75% or 80% of Espafiol
members are wholly non-Catalan.

311

democracy
their

and opposed

regionalism.
kind

of

to

all

of

looked

largely

character,

whose supporters

the

while
favour

of

of

Catalan

devotees
in

centralism

supporters

68.

hints

69 The FC Barcelona

"spectre

68
in

pro-Francoist,

majority,

State,

autonomy,

and regional

a centralist,
separatism

upon Bar, ca as a club

dared

to

converse

with
in

were,

in

unitarian
or

the

regarded
own house",

their

followers

Espanol

even

Espanol

70 whilst
a suspect

an outlawed

club
the

as a
Espafiol

political
language.

71

than presenting
In this
an extensive
and exhaustive
case, rather
list
and interviewees
who have made this generallyof publications
to support
held allegation,
this
along with the evidence
allegation,
it seem appropriate
has never been
to point
this
out that
allegation
by supporters
of the Catalan
neither
club nor its
challenged,
in support
be
and that detailed
evidence
opponents,
of it will
in the course of this
chapter.
presented

has been made in the following

69. This allegation
publications;
Artells,
Cerecedo op. cite;
op. cit.,
pp. 24-26; Sabartes, op. cit.,
Manuel Vquez. MDntaln, "Barra, Barga, Barga"
pp. 13,29,34,22;
in Triunfo,
26 October 1969: Julian Garcia Candau, op. cit. p"The
President
current
of Espanol, Antonio Bars, however, claimed that
to that
although their club had a different
conception
of Catalonia
this did not mean to say that
of FC Barcelona and their
supporters,
in opposition
Espanol was completely
to Catalan autonomy.
it must be pointed out that,
from the early 1970's
Nevertheless,
onwards, there have been frequent burnings of the senyera Catalan
flag in the Espanol stadium.
Furthermore,
the Real Madrid
national
team has always enjoyed a far more friendly
there than FC
reception
Barcelona.
70.

This phrase is
Alfredo
Relano
1982.
October

practically
all
above footnote.
71.

taken from the article"Barc$a,

Bar a, Barga" by
Perez de Rosas, E1 Pais Semanal, 12
and Emilio
has been either
This allegation
made or supported

the articles

and all

of the interviews

listed

in

in the

been made or supported

in the articles
Again,
this
claim has either
in Footnote
72.
listed
In addition,
the Espanol
and interviews
1969, Antonio
from 1963 until
Vil-Reyes,
President
the chairman
of
MATESA textile
the fraudulent
company who ended up in Madrid's
Prison,
Carabanchel
7 April
was quoted thus in El_Mundo Deportivo,
1968:

to me that the supporters

"It does not seem at all right
of a
football
to wave a
club should be effectively
certain
permitted
forbidden
flag that is formally
and speak a language that is
language of Spain.
the national
In my opinion,
not Castilian,
in this way"
the game should not be politicized
312

is

It

and FC Barcelona

War victors,

of

superiority

have

however,
their

vast

majority

of

than

Ba_ra

rather
the

traditionally

local

derby

Espanol

the

many of

War, 73 had the

1940,

and battling
they

Furthermore,
struggling

to

In later
celebrate.
maintain
humiliation

club

of

for

the

from

glory

years

their

of

had the

perverse

the

to

to

preferred

for

the

pleasure

Espaol,

finals
of

of

seeing

be

The

neighbours.
see Real

Madrid
in

victories
72

reality.

players
in

Nationalists

Copa del

to

FC

The directors,

the

the

into

have

they

that

and their
wish

Civil

matches

result

modest

Espanol.

winning

way through

derby

this

whom had fought

of

two local

champions,

converted

pleasure

rivals.

by their

often

that

local

with

the

of

The huge

has ensured

their

the

club

losers.

Barte

have

league

was the

the

season,

supporters

as Spanish

Civil

the

been humbled

matches

and supporters,

Espanol

team

games of

The 1940s were

that

considered

has frequently

Barcelons

say

Catalonia

more talented

important

most

in

support

had a far

always

to

no exaggeration

the
in

Generalisimo
1941 and 1947.
FC Barcelona

survive.

years,

there

would be no more triumphs

There would be, however,

enthusiasm
of their

at the club,
powerful

frequent

in addition

neighbours,

defeats

for

Espafiol

of Baca

to the occasional

such as occurred

with

to

to
transfer
the

72. During the Franco years, Espanol made a significant

to
contribution
local
their
Real Madrid winning the league championship by defeating
in April
1958, March, 1962, April
1968, February
Catalan rivals
1969, and April 1975.
73.

by an investigation
As revealed
of the archives
of the club,
op.
Jose Luis Perez and Antonio
two Espaol players,
Martin,
cit.,
were
in
in
fighting
the Nationalist
War,
the
Civil
wounded
army.

313

controversial

signing

of the phenomenal former

Kubala in June 1963.

coach Ladislas

of the famous goalkeeper

June 1969, Barca obtained

Kubala,

by controversially

forward

Marcial

Pina,

The dispute

Ricardo

thus further

of
the

Zamora had done in 1928.7+

In

Espafiol's

signing

and

than

revenge for

partial

player

over the signing

between the two Catalan

Kubala caused even more animosity

transfer

FC Barcelona

the alleged
Spanish

embittering

clubs

"stealing"

of

international
between the two

relations

clubs.?

Sant
in

The other

Catalan

Andreu

Barcelona,

role

the

Real

flying

as catalysts

Franco

regime.

of

scene
of

despite

division,

the

of
the

the

local

that

and Sabadell.

for

repressed

Their

stadia,

language

distribution

outlawed

fact

the

senyera

Both

Catalan
like

and,
of

in

illegal

Catalan

late

political
national

clubs

nationalism

those

the

at
have

they

became tolerated

and FC Barcelona,

Sociedad

speaking
the

first

Spanish

the

minor
to

of

need to be mentioned

that

clubs

of

this
never
have

centres

played
played

de Bilbao,
for

the

and early

pamphlets
flag.

are

and opposition

Athletic

1960s

stage

1970s,

and the

76

details
74. For further
of the Kubala signing controversy,
see
24 June -4 July 1963.
El Mundo Deportivo,
15-28 June 1969 for details
75. See El Mundo Deportivo,
of the Marcial
transfer.
76. This has been alleged to the author by several Sabadell and Sant
in addition
to: Juan Jose Castillo,
Andreu supporters,
Joan Josep
Antonio Hernez, the veteran editor of Sport; Jordi
Artells;
Golobart,
the current President
of the Sant Andreu club, a position
he had occupied since 1975.

314

1941, Sant Andren was ordered

In January
de Propaganda,

to "castilianize"

Their

In addition,

they were the only

change their

colours,

copy of the senyera,

a perfect

to have "a possible

considered
"advised"
and duly

to

immigrant

workers

of Catalan

partly

from the Southern

79

society.

up the local

practically

flag,

stripes,

were
78

significance".

The club was

the same as Real Madrid's

uniform,

half

were immigrants,

or direction

of local

Catalan

and Castilian,

Information
revealed
El Mundo Deportivo.

Catalan

the mainstream
supporters

fans.

players

club

and throughout

by an examination

of

There was

been a homo-

and signings
all

in

between the two groups

team has always

From August 1972 onwards,

made in both Catalan

into

many of whom were helped

at the club,

the Sabadell

in assimilating

of the Sabadell

language by the native

helped by the fact

Spanish regions.

importance

Spanish regions

Approximately

no division

geneous combination

77.

red and yellow

national

club possessed a special

the Franco period

picking

separatist

by the DND to

did so.

The Sabadell

during

traditional

Provincial

to San Andres. TT

to be requested

the Catalan

change to an all-white

title

club

club

because their

by the Jefqtura

the

from other

announcments were
1970s there

the early

archives

of

78. According to the archives of E1 Mundo Deportivo,

the Sant Andreu
from the Catalan regional
football
club received a letter
in August 1939, passing on the request from the DND for
federation,
to be changed, "because it is feared the highest
the offending
strip
sporting
authorities
of the land that your team uniform could have a
" Sant Andreu immediately
significance.
possible separatist
obeyed
before the start of the
the request,
which was never made public,
1939/1940 season.
discussed in the book La historia
79. This subject is fully
del
Barcelona, 1984,,
Centre d'Esports_Sabadell,
in El Mundo
5 February 1974 and 7 August 1977.
Deportivo,

315

Were almost

as many senyeras waving on the Sabadell

Barcelona's

Camp Nou stadium,

ready to wave the flag

It

of opposition

is now appropriate

political

the
in

Athletic

de Bilbao

Sunyol,

favour

died

supporters
for

to

fighting

example,

and the director

the

lost

the

Catalan

during

the

Revents in the defence

Albert

Just

as with

and

President

that

Barcelona

had upon

conflict,

were

imprisoned,
foot.
in

81

April

or

afterwards

left

exile,

for

This is
Nicolau

bear

to

the

of Catalonia

by the

to

return

club

National

Barca

team

a, Catalonia

is

It

in

died

conquerers,

the

that
under

left

FC

the
were

border

French

the

against

members that

War either

crossing

the

of

16,000

Civil

the

mostly

four

only

of

of

outbreak

"purged"

1937 could

for

on
Mexico

military

'2

80. For further

1977.
81.

the

Furthermore,

occupation.

9,500

approximately

Josep

in March 1937,

in
1938.
November
Juan
Yage,
General
the
of
of
army
advances
estimated

As

had clearly

War.

on the Jarama front

life

80

years.

club

The club

Nationalists.

his

Franco

Civil

of the

many Ba_9a directors

Sociedad,

and Real

the

as

as the natives.

during

thesis,

just

illustration

a detailed

Republic

the

of

this

as at FC

apparently

and attonomy

to offer

Introduction

come out

immigrants

of FC Barcelona

significance

seen in

the

with

terraces

details,

see, for

example,

the estimate
of Juan Castillo,
Montal.
Casaus and Agusti

El Mundo Deportivo,
Joan

Josep

7 August

Artells,

82. The four Barca players who returned from Mexico with club
Rosend Calvet in June 1938 were Josep Raich, Josep
sectretary
As will
be
Escol, Antons Pedrol and Domingo Balmanya.
presently
seen, they would be punished by the DND for having taken part in
this politically
venture.
significant

316

In spite

As in the case of Athletic

presented

causes because of its

to permit

of the post-Civil

preservation
completely
Civil

War years

in mind,

textile

to transform

its

in May 1939.84

e3

themselves

political

character.

led to the formation

This board,

Joan Soler,

sources

or

the poverty

with

of

the Franco

drug"

Partly

to assist

contenting

were extremely

thesis,

lay ahead.

decided

political

major

as a "social

in mitigating

or

This would have meant

Three of this

obviously

the new authorities

of the club,

manufacturer

that

of Catalonia

of one of their

to serve

would help

Governor of Barcelona

directors

83.

that

soporific

arguments

of Barcelona

wanted football

members and players,

to disappear.

simply

were

by natural

Given the clear

the new rulers

and, as seen in Chapter

allegedly

political

directors,

authorities

to die

the club

allowing

of active

the club

managed to survive.

the new Francoist

from extinction.

the inhabitants

entertainment
regime

lack

of FC Barcelona,

significance

depriving

of their

in to save it

of stepping

tempted

de Bilbao,

the choice

with

FC Barcelona

these problems,

of all

and misery
with

these

in the

attempting

A public

call

from the

of a new board of

to be headed by the Francoist

was largely

composed of right-wing

in Sabartes,
It was alleged
op. cit.,
p. 17 that the following
in Catalonia
in 1939 were prepared
leading
Francoist
personalities
the Fascist
to see FC Barcelona
Gimenez
cease to exist:
poet Ernesto
in Barcelona
installed
Caballero,
an enthusiastic
supporter
of the
Espanol club;
the editor
Luis Galinsonga,
Barcelona
of the leading
friend
a close personal
newspaper LaVanguardia_Espanola,
of
Franco and another
Juan Fontana Tarrats,
Espafiol
the head
supporter;
Jose Diaz de Gomara, the
of the Falange in Tarragona
province;
Enrique
Genaro de la Riva,
apostolic
administrator
of Barcelona;
a
in the Nationalist
the Civil
War,
army during
volunteer
officer
Moscardo in April
President
1939.
appointed
of Espanol by General
however,
There is no documentary
that any of these personevidence,
to dissuade
the Civil
Governor
from launching
alities
attempted

his campaign, in May 1939, to save the club from extinction.

in El_Mundo_Deportivo,
84. This call was published
on 6 May 1939.

317

businessmen who had previously

Catalan
of

regional

autonomy,

Fran f esc Camdand,

events

Catalan

future

these

conquest

ender
the

the

Lluis

Companys.

director,

different

initiative

businesses

the two obligatory

85

Falangists

by the
horrified

the Nationalist

considered

evil.

of

War, however,

movement, had largely

who generally

of a degree

The revolutionary

of their

to be a lesser

of Catalonia

in favour
the

the Civil

collectivization

The newly-composed
Antonio

Valles

Bapa

and Agapit

and the, army colon@1 Manuel Bravo Moreno, who had fought
command of

General

political

Juan Yage

was back

FC Barcelona

city.

of

at the beginning

anarcho-syndicalist

Bam

board included
Vallmitjana,

supported

the enforced

especially
powerful

and had therfore

afterwards,

in Barcelona

been mildly

in

from

character

in

the

business,
the

invasion

Nationlist
but

with

it

one that

of

a completely

had possessed

in

1936.

The formation

of this

not the end of Bay's

command of the Civil
secretary
having

the

War hero General

tour

from holding
of

board,

however,

was certainly

In June 1939, the new DND, under the

problems.

Rosend Calvet

organized

new right-wing

Mexico,

Jose Moscard
sporting

office

and suspended

suspended the club

for
the

20 years

four

players

for
who

85. This is the view of Agusti Montal, who recounted to the author that
his father,
himself President
of Barr a from 1946 to 1953, was a
supporter of Cambo's Lliga and then of the Republic upon the
War, but changed-his political
outbreak of the Civil
perspective
business was collectivized.
When the Nationalist
when his textile
troops of General Yage entered Barcelona in January 1939, Montal
his father was sad that the experiment in Catalan autonomy
recalled,
had obviously
come to an end, but pleased about the prospect of his
business being returned to him.

318

for

returned
task

two years

the

of

FC Barcelona

young

out in his

As pointed
mission

inaugural

the Catalan

to convert

the

Pineiro,

Enrique

War colleague

Civil

his

Marques

Pineiro

speech,

difficult

championship.

team caused

a club

by Moscard using

resolved

as President

powers to appoint

dictatorial

league

the 1939/1940

team for

performances

Barca had a very

Therefore,

in March 1940, which was promptly

crisis
full

a decent

in fielding

The poor

each. 86

good friend

de la

his

and ex-

Mesa de Asta.

he had a

that

considered

into:

club

in the crown of triumphs of Spanish sport,

"... Henceforth a rosette
demonstrate
to
its
up to what point the
will
contribute
colours
and
invincible
have
Caudillo
Franco
deeds
our
rejuvenated
of
glorious
the heart of Spain, the heart of thousands and thousands of good
feel
in
love and admiration
for
Catalonia,
born
only
who
Spaniards
homeland.
beloved
"8?
destinies
immortal
of
our
the

Pineiro

behaved in the FC Barcelona

speech indicated

in January

the order,

later,

football
alongside

he would.
1941,

from the Jefatura

Barcelona
years

that

Pineiro

commentaries

presidency

He accepted

to change the club

Provincial

the Blue Division

the Nazis on the Russian

as the above

a murmur of protest

name to Club de Ftbol

de Propaganda. 8e

began to promote special

for

without

exactly

radio

Exactly

broadcasts

of Falangists

de

two
of

fighting

front.

the author uncovered the letter,

86. In the archives of FC Barcelona,
signed by Moscardo and dated 6 June 1939, suspending Calvet and the
four players,
"for having been a part of a tour that offered
to the
outside world a negative
view of Spanish sport".
27 March 1940 and in Sabartes, op.
87. Quoted in El Mundo Deportivo,
cit.,
p. 14.
88. Information
revealed by the archives of FC Barcelona.
319

The great
that

In as far

suspicion.
little

as their

more than a winning

from the daily

1940s, with

thoughts
Bam

leadership

regrettable,

but largely

was regarded
only

there

was a small

all

them away
of the

character
supporters

as

the post-Civil

thesis,

the oppositon

reflected
regarded

91

Pineiro

of radical

plans

As seen on various

of the club.

regime was largely

89.

would distract

War

Catalanist

War and the subsequent

of Pineiro's

the repression".

they wished

given

minority

who, in May 1943, upset

the club

and

of any political

in political

to be expected

the Civil

Madrid,

themselves

on football,

by most Catalan

Baarrca-fans who had survived

course of this

were primarily

clear

team that

and all

90

climate.

Nevertheless,

character

Pineiro

supporting

centred

The transformation

grind.

FC Barcelona

political

early

down a job and steering

holding

families,

their

however,

Such supporters,

in the difficult

concerned,

for

89

he reprpesented.

detested

of Barca supporters

majority

to change permanently

its

stormy

by the majority
hoped that

to the Franco

relationship

of Catalans

the radical

with

as "another

section

the

in the

previously

occasions

of FC Barcelona

through

purges,

,
Real
arm of

of Barra

in print
by Sabartes,
This has been alleged
op. cit.,
pp. 14-15,
and
Manuel Vazquez Montalbn,
in interviews
Agustf
with the following;
is
This allegation
Casaus,
Nicolau
Montal,
and Juan Jose Castillo.
borne out by the events of May 1943, to be discussed
also partly
presently.

90. This has been the view of the majority

of veteran FC Barcelona
by the author, and of the four interviewees
interviewed
supporters
mentioned in the above footnote.
"Barra,
91. This phrase is taken from the article
Barra, Barra",
written
by Alfredo Relano and Emilio P4rez de Rosas, op. cit.
That the
looked upon Real Madrid in this way was
majority
of Barca supporters
with old FC Barcelona
alleged to the uthor in many interviews
followers,
in Footnote 93.
listed
and with the four interviewees

320

supporters
to permit

hopes of Pineiro

relations

peaceful

relatively

the cup semi final

biased

allegedly

himself.

with

towards

insults

but also

the

players

and the

When the referee

and threats

the Real Madrid directors,

During

of the Catalan

the anger and frustration

box, with

the presidential

A minority

manner of missiles.

all

club. "

so as

in May 1943, however,

the Real Madrid

pelted

suspended the match,

temporarily

not only

referee

clubs

dashed.

were dramatically

aftermath

the Madrid

with

between the two giant

crowd at the Les Corts stadium

towards

War and its

had been so reduced by the Civil

was directed
being directed

towards Pineiro

93

The DND was just

reappearance
punishment

as horrified

of the spectre

as Pineiro

by this

unexpected

FC Barcelona.

of a politicized

decreed by General Moscardo was not suprisingly

The
very severe:

Barcelona
"To impose upon the Club de Futbol
a fine of two thousand
hundred pesetas for the behaviour
five
of the crowd, which
O%tense
hostility
itself
threats
the
and
against
with
comported
team and the referee,
and also for the disrespectful
and
visiting
inconvenient
of its
section
supporters
way in which a notable
towards
box,
the presidential
directed
themselves
repeatedly
"94
by the highest
authorities.
sporting
occupied

92. Before

the match with

Real Madrid,

if he feared
El Mundo Deportivo
Barga President
was unequivocal:

Pineiro

crowd

was asked by

trouble.

The reply

of

the

days of hostility
towards the team of the
"Those unfortunate
city have long gone, let there be no doubt about that.
capital
The FC Barcelona supporters,
or so called
supporters,
who used
to cause these problems before the "War of Liberation"
seem to
so. "
stay away from our stadium now and thankfully
details,
13 May 1943.
For further
see ElMundoDeportivo,

93.

details
For further
Deportivo,
of the incidents,
see ElMundo
and
These newspaper
Marca, of 15 May 1943.
however,
do not
accounts,
the full
scale of the trouble,
especially
reveal
with regard to the
insults
directed
and the Real directors.
For a more
at Pineiro
op. cit.,
accurate
see Sabartes,
report,
pp. 15-16.

94. Quoted in the Boletin

Oficial

de la DND, No. 4 June 1943.

321

The return
atmosphere,
scoreline
several

match in Madrid

allegations

The

violent
for

acts

this

severely

evidence. 96

by any tangible

that

therefore,

the amount of Ba.

received

details
95. For further
Sabartes. op. cit.,
May 1943.

This

that

indignation

in Les Corts

club

has caused
none of

There were more

in Barcelona,

Real would be punished

when the DND ruled

98

victory

in the result,

by the DND as had been the Catalan

of the-insults

96.

of Real Madrid's

interference

expected

by the amazing

trounced

from the Madrid crowd than had occurred

reason Pineiro

indignant,
half

magnitude

of political

which have been supported

in an even more hostile

place

to Barga being

which contributed
of 11-1.95

took

before-97

as least

combined with

in the return
of the incidents
pp. 16-17, El Mundo Deportivo,

as

He was

Real would be fined

and the humiliation

and

only

the effect

of the 11-1

match, see
and Marca, of 22

have been put into print,

Although
none of these allegations
even
interference
to assure the
claim of political
since 1975, this
has been made to the author
the final
by
passage of Real Madrid into
Manuel Vazquez Montalban,
Alex J. Botines,
the following:
Joan Josep
Artells,
Neither
Agusti
Montal
old Barra supporters.
and several
the official
Casaus, however,
effectively
nor Nicolau
voice of FC
have alleged
interference
in
Barcelona
political
past and present,
As pointed
the result
out by Montal:
or partisan
refereeing:

"What this club complained to the RFEF about at the time, is

that the hostility
of the crowd contributed
and violence
Indeed, one of the many
towards the heavy defeat suffered.
thrown laid out our player Josep Escola, with the
missiles
Whilst Escola was off the pitch being treated
score at 3-0.
for about fifteen
minutes, reducing Barca to ten men, Real
These are the kind of events that
Madrid scored more goals.
make players nervous and force them into mistakes. "
in E1 Mundo Deportivo,
97. Revealed by an interview
23 May, 1943.
98. When the news of the fine on Real Madrid imposed by the DND was made
declared to El Mundo Deportivo,
Pineiro
3 June 1943 that:
public,
"This news does not please me. Although I obviously respect
the DND and its reasons for only fining
Real Madrid half of the
that their punishment should
amount that it fined us, I believe
have been more severe because of the unprecedented
possibly
events in Madrid of ten days ago. "

322

defeat

impetuous

to provoke his

annoyed by this
in-arms
reliable

show of petulance

he decided

that

Barcelona

regime as the delegate

knew that

Vendrell
incidents

for

Public

his

with

its

because of these incidents,

Santiago

obvious

and intolerant,.

Nationalist
of General

invasion
Agustin

political

of Catalonia

served

It

task

the new

of the Ba10

significance.

of Real Madrid

was assumed by

because,

clubs

personality

lieutenant
that

as
was

in the

he has taken part

was expected

Partly

to power almost

his

thesis,

as a volunteer

Munoz Grandes.

FC

because the

His ascendancy

to this

and moreover,

bring

of the bitterness

between the two giant

in the Introduction

and

difficult

this

would be difficult,

mission

colleague-

in La Coruda province.

the presidency

Worsened relations

seen in detail
abrasive

Order

Bernabeu in September 1943.

immediately

for

who had previously

of May 1943 and reawakened all

Real Madrid rivalry,

obedient

and permanently

His choice

Jose Vendrell,

colonel

Moscard was so

an even more dutiful

finally

control.

General

formerly

him with

who could

under -centralist

was the-army

from his

to replace

man, a President

99

resignation.

his

in the army
first

visit

99. As revealed by the archives of both FC Barcelona and

his resignation
Pineiro offered
E1 Mundo Deportivo,
to Moscard on 5
June 1943. El Mundo Deportivo of 16 June announced curtly
that:
"From the beginning of next week onwards, the President
of Club
de Futbol Barcelona will be the honourable Colonel Jose
Vendrell Costa. "
100. This is confirmed by Vendrell's
declaration
to El Mundo
Deportivo 22 June 1943, upon assuming control
at the Catalan club:
"I know that the task assigned to me will not be easy.
The
incidents
of last month have made relations
between
unfortunate
this club and Real Madrid and the sporting
authorities
of the
"
nation difficult.
323

to

the

Les Corts

Catalan

would

stadium

10'

supporters.

Real players.

towards

Barca were fined

Bernabeu and missiles

five

thousand

the amount of the previous

fine,

their-home

Real on neutral

matches against

Acting
organized
the
Barr

on the instructions
a series

of

summer and autumn

temporarily

problems

improved,

had already

reappeaion

matches

1944.

In

but

in

Vice-President

this

the

the

by the DND, double

with

Agusti

between

the

way,

relations

died

of

in

following

having

to play

Francoist

a wealthy

clubs

between

politically

thirty

Vendrell

two rival

Real

in
and

significant

Spain,

and would

years.

and was replaced

Montal,

at the

ground. 102

pattern

itself

In September 1946, Vendrell

the former

and were threatened

established

many occasions

pesetas

1944,

were thrown

of an enraged Moscard. 103

friendly
of

among the

what happened in April

This was exactly

when abuse was directed

incidents

further

provoke

by Moscard with

Francoist

textile

by
101. In the archives of FC Barcelona,
the author,
examined
op. cit.,
from the President
there is a letter
of the RFEF, Javier Barroso
dated 7 April 1944, requesting
Sanchez-Guerra to Vendrell,
the
Barca President to assure that there would be no more incidents
in
the forthcoming
match in Les Corts.
incidents,
102. For further
see El Mundo Depotivo, and Marca, of 22
April 1944, or Sabartes, op. cit.,
For details
yp. 17-18.
of the
fine and the threat,
Oficial
de la DND, No. 15, May
see the Boletin
1944.
103. The autijpr uncovered in the archives of the DND, a letter
from
dated 2 May 1944, in which the
Moscardo to Vendrell,
Delegado_Nacional
expressed his "profound sadness and indignation
that occurred in the Las Cortes stadium of your
at the incidents
Moscardo went on to suggest that Vendrell
club last month".
"organize several exhibition
matches with the Real Madrid club,
in order for relations
between the two most important
sporting
themselves out of the abyss in which they
clubs in Spain to lift
now find themselves".
324

His seven years as Bartaa President

fiftienth

of the club's

celebration

Nicolau

Casaus, the former

as seen in Chapter Four,

been forbidden

had since

In normal circumstances,
also

intelligent,

hardworking
however,

posts
offered

and temporary

Civil

of these

celebrations

Republicans

Esuuerra

was

militant

any sporting

office.

that

responsibilities

festivities

the celebrations

himself

his

upon hearing

had referred

as a symbol of opposition

without

actually

various

to Barra

to centralist

the Franco regime.

the

unoffical

Presidents
for

responsibility
for

problems

caused political
intervened

with

During

the sympathetic

Not surprisingly,

serving

mentioning

the club. 105

within

he had to content

director

because he was-very

candidate,

and popular

who,

in 1939, and

Casaus would have been an FC Barcelona

Governor of Barcelona

inaugurating

in 1949.

by the DND from holding

him over the years.

the anniversary

and by the

team,

had escaped from a death sentence

a presidential

and probably

Franco period,

Catalanist

War. 104

by spectacular

all-Catalan

anniversary

the arrgngement

The man charged with

the Civil

were characterized

due to a remarkable

success on the field,

during

hid himself

who had effectively

manufacturer

that

the club.
Casaus's

The
speech

traditionally

Madrid

dictatorship,

Furthermore,

Casaus had

interview
104. Author's
with his son, Agusti Montal, op. cit.
105. The popularity
of Casaus at the club, and his possible
assent to
in normal circumstances
the presidency
to the author
was affirmed
interviewees:
by the following
Aqusti Montal, the former Barra
players Caries Rexach and Joagvlm Rife, Manuel Vazquez Montbalban,
Juan Jose Castillo,
and by many old FC Barcelona supporters.
325

allegedly

himself.
i

of the Caudillo

smashed up a photograph

According

to

Casaus:

in
be
the context of FC
have
to
"The incidents
seen
of-1949
the undoubted
Barcelona being a very successful
club despite
authorities,
while
of the RFEF and the other Francoist
partiality
beloved Real Madrid had not managed to win a single
by 1949 their
league title
since the Civil War. I think that they were anxious
as head of the
to stop the success of Bar a, and saw my appointment
The Civil
Governor
1949 celebrations
opportunity.
as the perfect
two
threatened
on
exile
charges.
with
me
even
and
summoned me,
he claimed that my inaugural
Firstly,
speech had given a
having
then
accused
of
me
and
message,
anti-centralist
separatist,
in
be
boardroom,
to
the
that
Franco
used
of
up
a
picture
smashed
it
in
less
it
down
taken
had
in
I
and
put
a
simply
reality
when
down
fall
it
because
to
every time that the
used
prominent position
have given me a lot of pleasure
It would really
door was closed.
he accused me of, but I had to act
to have done the things-that
lack
in
In
the
FC
Barcelona.
the
of
end,
of
name
responsibly
let-me
The
him
forced
to
a
warning.
with
anniversary
off
evidence
in
the
culminating
as
planned,
exactly
ahead
went
celebrations
40,000
dancing, on the Les Corts pitch in front of a capacity
"106
Civil
War.
the
biggest
since
the
organized
sardana
crowd, of

Four

storm.

political

world-famous
because

arose

body FIFA.

Aires,
Bernabeu

rules,

the

Marti

recognized
of

Real

was at

the

Both Barca and Real Madrid

forward

that

and approached

by FIFA
Madrid,

and made direct

interview
106. Author's
details
107. For further
El Mundo Deportivo,

the

as Di Stefano's
however,

contact

was not

with

another

River

in

the

Plate

football

club.

so respectful

the Millionarios

club

governing
followed

of

107
of

club

partly

"private"

manufacturer,

proper

the

The problems

by the world
textile

the Catalan

of

were eager to sign

was playing

had been outlawed

Carreto,

centre

Alf redo Di Stefano.

Argentine

phenomenal

procedure

correct

FC Barcelona

Argentine

league

Colombian

the

later,

years

Buenos
Santiago

the

FIFA

of Bogota,

with Nicolau Casaus.

of the Barca approaches to River Plate, see
the
throughouwhole of June and July 1953.
326

thus hoping

to steal

Marti
on
march
1a

What Bernabeu had done nine years

to

an aeroplane

before

Kolowny;

Di St

fano

the two giant

confusion,

to

by Baa

he had actually

of practically
was far
ill

Nevertheless,
arrived

108

in May 1944, when he had sent

up the

arrived.

signed

This was exactly

Luis

remarkable

109

1953, unsure about which of

for.

'Because of this,

the DND were obliged

all

stronger,

from the RFEF,"2

sign

in Spain in August

the RFEF and ultimately

FIFA procedure.
report

arrived

earlier,

Islands

Canary

the boat sent

clubs

In the opinion
FC Barcelona

the

Carreto.

of the neutral

to intervene.

observers,

110

the case of

because of their

having

exactly

followed

the DND after

having

received

a full

at the unexpected

and bizarre

decision

details
108. For further
of Bernabeu, see either
about the efforts
Marca, throughout June and July 1953, or Boletin del Real Madrid
CF, Nos. 25 and 26 July and August 1953.
for the signature
109. The battle
of Molowny marked the beginning
of the
dramatic transfer
war between the two giant clubs, a war that
moment with the Di St4fano affair
and still
reached its most bitter
details
For further
of the Molowny
continues in the present day.
19-27 May 1944.
transfer,
see Marca, and El Mundo Deportivo,
110.

letters
to the RFEF
In the archives
of the RFEF, were uncovered
dated 20 and 22 August
from Real Madrid and FC Barcelona,
for that
to intervene
in the
organization
respectively,
asking
their
own case. As was usual in these cases
affair
whilst
stating
the RFEF passed the problem up to the
between clubs,
of arbitration
DND.

111. This opinion has been expressed,

to the author
not surprisingly,
connected with FC Barcelona mentioned
all of the interviewees
to this chapter.
In addition,
the
already in the footnotes
have
following
alleged that the case of Barca
observers
neutral
was far stronger than the Real: Pablo Porta, the former President
of the RFEF, the former Delegado Nacional de Deportes Benito
Castejon;
Julin Garcia Candau; Miguel Vidal.
112. According to the archives
of the RFEF, this report about the Di
Stefano affair
was sent to the DND on 29 August 1953.

327

by

that

should be shared,

Di Stefano

season by season,

by the two rival

clubs. 113

Carreto

That Marti
in a docile

manner should

in an incident

role

was, for

obvious

recalled

by Nicolau

in

famous

the

terraces

War exiles
in

ambassador
Manuel

Valdes

Carreto

that

Larranaga

the

flag

accusations
Barca

was obviously

Marti

obedient

waver,
of

On this

thus

his

causing

treachery

the

indignant

and collaboration

the

Spanish

exiled
with

of

for

the
to

match

RFEF
f
Mart

Catalans
Franco

begin.

because
the

nonetheless,

Joan Prado

the

of

Catalan

could

a demand,

Spain;

type

and

club

the

to make such

assistant

years,

demanded

before

outside

This

the

President

and angarily

illegal

despatched

Carreto

Falangist

had no right
not

occasion,

be removed

flag

of

playing

FC Barcelona

Franco

the

As

on the

flag.
at

significance

was present,

offending

ambassador

during

political

passive

The episode

Catalan

national

was frequent

and former

Venezuela

The Falangist
senyera

the

and emigrants.

the

of his

same year.

an exiled

a senyera

and France

demonstrates

with

waving

America

clearly

the

tournament,

nationalism

South

ruling

in the Press of the time.

not recounted

defiant

in

in the light

come as no suprise

enthusiastically

matches

unprecedented

Casaus, 114 the Barca team was in Venezuela

UI)

Mundialito

of

this

in Caracas in June of that

reasons,

manifestation

Civil

have accepted

should

to

restrain

to

direct

regime

at

the

President.

n
in
113. The descision
DND,
the
the
Bolet
was published
of
Oficial
la DND, No. 1,26 October 1953 and in Marca, and El Mundo
Deportivo,
of 12 September 1953.
114. Author's
interview
with Nicolau Casaus.
328

de

in comparison

was as nothing

to resign

of most Barr
campaign,

fans that

encouraged

by the

brake to the successes

The interim
of

the

the

symbolic

over-the

FC Barcelona

following
into

115.

to

Di Stefano.
by the

an unstoppable
a record

for

the

to Real

sell
116

ruling

team,

the

it

Madrid

complete

rights

European

a total

the running

DND that

Argentinian

in a

apply

the

of

him

the view

to

took over

injustice

The supposed

inspiring

forced

reasons. 115

political
that

about

by Real Madrid

authorities,

DND assumed gigantic

because

five

club

Presidents

about

angrily

largely

years,

championships,
period

of

contract

against

Real

decision

sporting

of the Catalan

was so indignant

club

Francoist

of ex-Barr

committee

in September.

sharing

had been "stolen"

Di Stefano

however,

the news of the agreement

of them largely

the majority

the presidency,

in Barcelona

of the Barca directors

The angry reaction

Di Stefano.

in Caracas,

Carreto

to the reaction

from Madrid with

1953; when he returned

sharing

of Kart

to the servility

The reaction

took

committed
the

proportions

over

immediately

transformed

of

Cups and the

eight
World

league
Club

Cup in

the

1954-1964.

held
That the majority
of FC Barcelona
supporters
and directors
has been alleged
in print
this
affair
of the Di Stefano
opinion
by Vazquez Montalbn,
Sarbartes,
pp. 59,64,
op. cit.,
op. cit.,
has been alleged
Furthermore,
this
to
op. cit..
and by Cerecdo,
following:
Agustf
in
interviews
Montal,
the
Nicolau
with
author
Juan Jose Castillo,
Casaus, Manuel Vazquez Montalban,
Alex J.
Botines,
and Joan Josep Artells.

by
the

in El Mundo Deportivo,
116. The press reports of the Bam decision,
17
September 1953, for example, do not convey the ambience in which
the decision was taken, because of the fear of breaking the rules
the
of the DND's Comision de Prensa Y Propaganda about reporting
decisions
A fuller
authorities.
sporting
of the Francoist
account
in
found
Sabartes, op. cit.,
be
the
can
of
episode
p. 60. Agusti
to the author that his
Montal, interviewed
recalled
op. cit.,
father,
the chairman of the BarCa committee of ex-Presidents,
was
extremely angry about the DND'srsruling.
329

Of even greater
was the

fact

that

Di

turning

point

in

the

Spain.

Up until

football,
in

the

but

sporting

struggle

the

caused
the

that

of
of

the

the

by the acquisition

Bar

in

beginning

with

December
Moscardo
the

upon visiting

Press. 11e

this
It

118.

1953,
in

Les Corts

has even

DND.
of

Spanish

they

period,

of

were

consciousness

FC Barcelona

always

of

the

be raised.

to

as being

regarded

that

afraid

forward,

in order

would

to weaken

and later

a hostile

being

made in

Moscard

allegation

is

reception
any
the

was so infuriated

exactly

by)the
has been made to the author
This allegation
interviewees:
Joan Josep
Manuel Vazquez Montalbn,
Casaus, and Alex J. Botines.

330

Davila

de Deportes,

without

that

visiting

Sancho

Camp Nou stadia,

reasons,

in the

on many occasions

with

were granted

obvious

this

and the

Nacionales

Delegados

1955,

been alleged

to support

Madrid

RFEF, beginning

the

March

Real

has been alleged

It

increase

was a noticeable

both

and the

for

hostility,

117. The evidence

Footnote-120.
'-

dominated

an injustice

there

towards

a crowd

Presidents

various

of

clubs

of the Argentine

and so committed

RFEF and the

the

Fernandez

mention

of

were

From September 1953 onwards,

leaders

two giant

club. 1"7

the Catalan

hostility

Franco

political

supporters

authorities

sporting

to dominate,

continue

the

Madrid.

affair

strengthened

the

had completely
the

however,

was undoubtedly

between

throughout

and especially

The Francoist

Real

at

FC Barcelona

Real

The Di Stefano

a4,

arrival

afterwards,

shadow of

direction

Stefano's

1953,

Barga fans,

to the aggrieved

significance

by

the same as for

following
Artells,

Nicolau

he had to be restrained

the abuse directed

towards him that

reacting

by the Baraa President

violently

Barcelona

Presidents,

elections

with

vote,

is

affair.
respectful
first

all

Catalan

date onwards,

of this

when neccessary.

tributes

presidential

of the Di Stefano
were markedly

less

120

The

knowledge

Francoist

towards

about

that

such

authorities.

and another
a cautious

In March 1955, for

to

allowed

was the decision

was essentially

to make flattering

of ex-FC

authorities.

of the

Moscard and other

manufacturer,

popular

the sporting

Sans, the winner of the 1953 elections

textile

committee

the Barca directors

taken in spite

Sans. 119

members being

adults

change of attitude

elections,

would infuriate

19,000

towards

and more critical

to hold

to be a consequence

From that

who was careful

ministers

of the club's
considered

the presidental

Nir

in October 1953,

generally

manifestation

elections

taken by the interim

decision

The controversial

Mire

Franfesc

from

121

prosperous

Barra

President

Franco and his

example,

he did his

best

listed
119. This has been alleged by the four interviewees
at the
beginning of the above footnote,
of whom, however, only Casaus, was
Not surprisingly,
the incident
present at that particular
match.
of the match.
was not mentioned in Press reports
by Sabartes,
has been made in print
120. This allegation
op. cit.,
p. 31, and by Vazquez Montalban,
interviewees:
following
Manuel
Joan
Castillo,
Alex J. Botines,
Candau, and, most significently

and to the author

op. cit.,
Vazquez Montalbn,
Juan Jose
Josep Artells,
Julian
Garcia
due to their
close connection

by the

with

Agusti Montal, and Nicolau Casaus.

the Bar ca board of directors,
121. Agusti Montal, recalled
that his father acknowledged to him at the
time that the decision would probably annoy Moscardo, but was
indifferent
about the wishes of the Delgado Nacional because of the
That the committee
outcome of the Di Stefano affair.
unfavourable
election
of ex-Barra Preside is knew that their
arrangements would
not please Moscardo has also been alleged by Sabart6s, op, cit.,
p. 31.

331

to

ingratiate

during

himself

the

Foreign

1958 respectively.

of

the honorary

Camp Nou stadium

the

because

the

of

ingratiate
that

any other

club.

123 Moreover,

defiance

of

the

Di

the

decision

bases

approach

the

Stefano

of

his

insist

partisan

caused

for

problems

that

was provoked

was the

condemnation

from

and the
the

Sans frequently

at

but

of

complained
arrived

During
to
at

the

spirit
the

Marti
of

the

and

Catalan
of
club

One of

his

to

by

agreement

124

affirmation

referees.

and even

the

complete

elections.

treatment

referees125

he was in

presidential

affair,

1950s. 122

regime,

the

authorities

Di Stefano

construct
the

Franco

the

reflected

campaign

Mire

of

exactly

with,

Committee

to
in

Sans almost

popular

election

President,

have

To begin

affair.

the

levels

Inauguration
forced

the

offered

Sans had no option

Miro

that

Vega and

1957,

numbers

membership

highest

would

sporting

upon fair

allegedly

the

Miro

to hold

in

docility

Barca

however,

With

himself

had been

club

in

increase

has been argued,

It

the

Alonso

August

the

of

same occurred

1957 and November

April

in

Sans,

Mire
presidency

which

massive

in

and the

Camilo

General

Castiella,

Furthermore,

himself

Caudillo

'Maria

Fernando

Minister

Moscardo,

visiting
Minister

Interior

of

visits

the

with

with

the

Carreto's

the
eight

need
years

to
as

RFEF about
extreme,

in

details
122. For further
of Franco, see Barnea, No. 88,
of the nomination
_,
20
August
1957.
Deportivo,
Mundo
El
22 August 1957, and
mainly
triumphs of the team led by the Hungarian exile
to the spectacular
Ladislas Kubala, the members of FC Barcelona had increased from
26,459 in January 1950 to 38,966 in January 1957.
123. This is the view of Augusti Montal and Juan Jose Castillo.
124. Mir' Sans expressed his approval of the holding of popular
in El Mundo Deportivo,
27 October 1957.
elections
presidential
125. As revealed by the examination of the archives of FC Barcelona,
Miro Sans sent letters
about specific
complaining
referees to the
RFEF in March 1955, September 1955, May 1956, February 1959 and
February 1960.
332

November

126

abroad.
in

1957,

he frequently

Furthermore,

a bitter

tone,

RFEF import

the

that

suggesting

of

these

without

to

referred

comments

being

from

referees
the

Di

Stefano
by

reproduced

affair

the

Press. 12T

Mire
other

Sans was a politically

folkloric

that

activities

During

the

example,
groups,

ceremony

in

The winning

in this

was celebrated
be a politically

which
there
Catalan
Catalan

the

was under

the

was reproduced
and Castilian,
version,

also

promotion

1957

direct

issue

of

editorial

the

as well
toU

singing

official

control

as the

autfrities.
for

famous

from

the

of

Stadium"

poem Blau

Josep
celebro

the

onwards

Sans proved
promotion

to
of

the celebrations

of songs in
club

magazine

club

President,

in

Baarrca,

in

written

Grana

Mari

L'Orfeo

1957

gradual

began during

with

"Hymn of

a fanciful

attributed

sung by the

his

and

by folklore

The second way in which Mir

of the new stadium,

October

were danced

concerns

two

cultural

Frciaicoist

and cup trophy

President

This

were

songs

in

Camp Nou stadium,

sardanas

league

every

significant

of the inauguration
In

gigantic

way.

language.

the Catalan

Catalan.

of

the

of

Catalan

traditional

while

Gracienc.

1957,

Catalan

several

upon by the

frowned

were

inauguration

of

September

significant

he encouraged

Firstly,

main ways.

.Ba_ryca President

only

de Segarra,

both
a
a name

by Bar9a,
126. Mir Sans issued a note to the Press, which was published
6 November
No. 99,7 November 1957, and by El Mundo Deportivo,
incompetent
1957, in which he denounced the "habitually
and, on
refereeing
which is systematically
partial
occasions,
clearly
football,
the whole Spanish professional
prejudicing
and of which
been the victim".
our club has frequently
127. This has been alleged in print by Sabartes, op. cit.,
p. 42, and to
the author by Augusti Montal, Nicolau Casaus and Juan Jose
Castillo.

333

that

12e

period.

Catalan

Thenceforth,

During

between Barca and Real Madrid

onwards,

violent,

130 partly

of the domestic

Madrid spectacularly

1960 by their

Catalan

popularity
stadium

this

caused

a massive

five

a with

field

and
from 1955
Real

from the competition

in November

due to having

won the

in season 1959/1960.131

March
club

on the

of the new trophy,

editions

who had qualified

rivals,

in

Bar

magazine

the European Cup.

entering

eliminated

highly-acclaimed

evaporated

the

Franco

because of the added incentive

won the first

Spanish league championship

Despite

in

the

became even more impassioned

chamption

being controversially

until

appeared

during

of Mir Sans, the struggle

the presidency

potentially

"Jose"

129

frequency.

ever-increasing

to

Castilianized

always

was almost

Real,

Miro'

The construction

of

victory
1961.
debt,

which

over

in

turn

led

to

Sans'
the
the

new
sale

of

128. See Barsa, No. 94,5

October 1957.
129. The front cover of Barca, No. 118,21 March 1958, for example,
consisted of a photograph of the club's new Hungarian player Zoltan
Czibor holding up a French phrase book clearly
Apprenez Le
entitled
both Miro Sans's policy
Catalan Avec Moi, demonstrating
of
promoting Catalan through Barca and the Francoist
prohibition
on
books being published in Spain.
The front
such tuition
cover of
December 1957, showed the children
No. 211,31
am,
of the
players holding up a banner which read Bon Any 1960., Viscael
from February 1960 onwards, Bar $a contained a
Barra!
Furthermore,
of Cau d'Orella.
regular column with the Catalan title
130. In February 1956, for example, two players from each team were sent
clash at the Les Corts stadium.
off in a stormy Bam-Real
In
November 1957, the first
game between the two giant clubs in the
Nou Camp stadium ended with two Barra players being expelled,
and
the Real team and the allegedly
partisan
referee being pelted with
a hail of missiles.
131. For further
details
of this famous Catalan victory,
see El Mundo
Deportivo,
and Marca, 7-24 November 1960.

334

star

midfider

Internazionale

which followed

textile

Jaume Fuset,

with

Mire Sans enforced

of the team.
another

the shipping

agent

members drawn out of a hat entitled

270 fortunate

only

to

resignation,

defeated

Llaudet,

Enric

manufacturer,

of Real,

deterioration

and the subsequent

of Milan,

In the elections
wealthy

the hero of the defeat

Suarez,

Luis

to vote.

In his

as FC Barcelona

years

six

of defiance

Miro Sans' policies

launched

furthermore,
in football.

Bam

the growing

reflected

to a varying
classes

1961,

began his

Llaudet

the

for

televizing

controversially

132. Author's

the

with

had earlier

entry

the

dispute

in

the

the

RTVE

Baraa-Real

Madrid

system

cameras

to

just

to
of

before

38,000.

compensating

achieve

Manuel Vazquez Montalbn.

335

with

protests,

120,000

he managed
of

reflected,
these middle

of

his

of

crowd

change

and this

matches,

members, in the same

long-standing
spite

capacity

a complete

forbidding

interview

In

in the

132

Camp Nou to broadcast

an expected

reducing

campaigned
for

(RTVE).

television

on entering
thus

Llaudet

highly-

exactly

classes

and ineffectiveness

the docility

September
national

middle

and,

of democracy

a young,

Llaudet

Montal

authorities.

insisted

clubs

and Agusti

Carreto

and folklore,

the lack

of club

majority

the Francoist

Spanish

sporting

language

period,

of the Catalan

the greated

Sans, Marti
extent,

this

vis-a-vis

In

clash,

during

defiance

1960s, who constituted

way as Miro

the Francoist

to Manuel Vazquez Montalbn,

supporter

intensified

Llaudet

campaign against

a powerful

According

politicized

towards

of the Catalan

and the promotion

authorities

President,

by
the

games

threatening
with

Francoist

of further

entry

Spanish national
this

challenged
Cubilla

foreign

Llaudet

arbitration.

135

the failure

adopted after

in favour

important

matches,

the Uruguayan Luis

a fierce

After

was forced

from the other

referees,

debate

of support

issue

clubs. 134

especially

of strongly

of English

idea of Mire
from the other

protesting

in March 1964 and November

by Real Madrid were attributed

the original

to

at the 1963

to back down on this

Miro San's policy

of the importation

by the lack

of the

Llaudet

At the 1964 and 1966 RFEF assemblies,

a motion

isolated

DND ban on the

unpopular

league.

with

defeats

1966 when crucial

by

of the

and demanding the right

of support

partisan

home match

Joao Silveira,

Llaudet

continued

about allegedly

the

in 1963 by signing

prohibition

RFEF assembly however,

the

of

team in the 1962 World Cup in Chile.

them in the national

because of lack

concerned

players,

and the Brazilian

and then

the practices

campaigns against

authorities

sporting

1962,

1963.133

January

of Llaudet's

October

transmission

the

of

prohibition

in

Madrid

Real

in

1962 and Zaragoza

April

similar

Another

play

in

Valencia

against

referees

to partial
Llaudet
for

proposed
the most

Sans, but was again

club

Presidents.

details
133. For further
of these prohibitions
and these threats,
see
26-28 April 1962,7-8
October 1962,20-23
El Mundo Deportivo,
January 1963.
134. For further
details
of this debate, see El Mundo Deportivo,
and
Marca, 13 July 1963.
135. On each occasion,
Llaudet complained by issuing
a note to the
in El Mundo Deportivo,
4 March 1964 and 10
Press, published
November 1966, and writing
to the RFEF. In the course of
a letter
he recommenced the campaign for the
these notes and letters,
importation
of foreign
referees.
336

In

in

attacks

the

DND and the

assemblies
of

the

system

club

adult

the

In

declined

other

club

Presidents

being

to

lack

136
once

again,

proposal.

In

favour

of

of backing

from the other

He organized

democracy by voting.

had a point

With regard

eight-year

old

members demonstrated

however,

this

bulk

of

case,

with
in

the

power

137

At any other

have been taken

stadium,

their
club,

Llaudet

clubs,

of democracy in the game.

would simply

and all

the

continuing

them to continue

permitted

old

These

significant

decision

the

and directors,

in August 1965, to make a politically

48,000 FC Barcelona
club

Barca

in

mostly

that

the name of the club's

decide

the

support

were

a return

because,

nothing

RFEF

the

own Presidents.

their

the

of

popular.

especially

the lack

against

to

system

Annoyed by this
decided,

for

of

several

style

at

motions

favour

launched

dictatorial

the

RFEF President

the

came to

clubs

without

for

voting

how Llaudet

against

and 1966. in

initiatives

democracy"

detail

he proposed

addition,

1963,1965
clubs

in

Barca

magazine

other

"organic

was seen

members voting

progressive
the

club

RFEF.
of

it

Four,

Chapter

support

gesture
a referendum

to

and 46,000 out of

for

football

such a straightforward

by the directors.

Those of Barca,

to prove.

to the language

question,

the magazine Barca continued

details
136. For further
of these motions of Llaudet,
see El Mundo
Deportivo,
July 1965, and 15 July 1966.
and Marca, 14 July 1963,10
137. For further
details,
8-9 and 29-31
August
see El Mundo Deportivo,
1965, and Barca, Nos. 508-511,12
August -2 September 1965.
337

to

play

very

much the

Catalan

promoting
traditional
trophy,

singing
while

memorate

the

continued

and dancing

to

of

displays

were

the

festival
the

13e

presidency.

Miro Cans. 'pol i9y

There

celebrate

folkloric

anniversary

Llaudet

with

and folklore.

culture

an extensive
tenth

the

Llaudet

same way,

during

role

positive

an extremely

winning

of

in

of

of
every
to

was organized

Camp Nou stadium,

In

com-

September

1967.

It

has been alleged

the Francoist

sporting

that

the challenge

authorities

encouraged

to the Franco regime to use the-club's

and diffusion

of their

messages. 139

Camp Nou began to be covered with

militants
syndicalist
the trial

of the Catalan

1963, and during

referendum

138.

139.

140.

stadium
During

political

Communist Party

campaign for

to the

opposition

as a means of expression

the 1960s,

the walls
particularly

of the
by

(PSUC) and the anarchoreached

of the Communist agent Julian

the regime's

by Llaudet

the underground

grafitti,

These graffiti

movement CNT-FAI.
and execution

presented

a "yes"

their

peak during

Grimau in April

vote

in the

of December 1966.140

in
the Cau d'Orella
From March 1965 onwards,
column was written
in November 1965, all
begining
Catalan,
whilst,
of the declarhimself
in regional
were reproduced
and speeches by Llaudet
ations
language.
by
This allegation,
never made in print,
was made to the author
Manuel Vazquez Montalbn
and Joan Josep Artells,
as well as by
highly-politicized
Barca supporters.
several. radical,
Because of the censorship
of the Press
no written
evidence
can be
to the-author
This was alleged
by the
as proof.
offered
in the above footnote,
interv,. ewees mentioned
by
and confirmed
Casaus and Juan Jose Castillo.
Agusti
Montal,
Nicolau

338

Llaudet
in

to

opposition

democratization

of

Real

of

Madrid,
141

players.

the

an agreement

for

earning

Francoist

to build

having

of

spent
failure

this

and was succeeded

between

the

and in

favour

a team to
heavily

by Narcis

supremacy

non-Catalan

de Carreras,
at

the

club

a
and

he resigned

field,

a club

of

the

challenge

on leading

on the

of

language

Catalan

of

factions

various

image

the

in
result

without

of

elections

necessary.

In his

fighter

Presidents,

manufacturer

conscious

politically

of power, Carreras,

period

short

of textile

tradition

a lawyer
proved

Barga leader

and controversial

who broke

the

to be the most
the Civil

since

War

Josep Sunyol.

From 1921 to 1926, Carreras

Cambo, the founder

Franjesc

the Lliga.

party

Carreras

War, but was not purged

any public

or political

persons

prevented

political

past,

141.

system,

game and a promotion

despite

the

FC Barcelona

sporting

however,

Because

1967,

September

being

the

Be failed,

culture.

in

succeeded

secretary

of the centre-right

had supported

the Republic

after
post.

his

as private

and leader

from holding
unlike

had served

to

Catalanist

during

the Civil

because he had not occupied

the conflict

He was not included

on the DND's list

any sporting

due to their

close

friend

office

Nicolau

Casaus.

Nevertheless,

broke the Spanish domestic

transfer
fee record
Llaudet
on three
by bringing
to the Catalan
occasions,
club Jess Pereda in June
in July 1965 and Jose MendonFa in July 1967.
1961, Lucien Muller

339

of

he quickly

upon assuming office

became an object

as he

of suspicion,

himself:

recounted

"I accepted
the presidency,
it
to torpedo
even though they tried
from Madrid.
The President
(Jose Luis
Federation
of the (Football)
Costa) rang to ask me if I was a Falangist,
and I answered that I
that I was of the Lliga. "142
wasn't,

As can be expected
Carreras

questioning,
Francoist

sporting

campaigns

of
in

Catalan

Bara. 143

campaign
in

that

on a Wednesday evening,
the

trip

than

Saturday,
crowd,

would

as usual.
Bam

hail

with

and his

himself
the

trophy

photographs.

of

to

of

the

venue

which

as they

ministers,
medals,

shows

the
clearly

make

on a
of

the

and

on the

presented

up quite

hostility

an angry

The disappointment

missiles.

could

been played

and the

caused

addition,

supporters

final

own

cup final

in

and,

the

of
of

his

1968

the

play

all

promotion

he launched

Catalan

had the

of

faces

of

Bar ca players
in

all

of

the

145

142. Quoted in El Pais

143.

the

the

with

speed

Bernabeu,

fewer

that

won 1-0,

and their

to

Estadio

club's

spite

the

especially

having

been able
In

surprisingly

unprecedented
Franco

'44

himself

Furthermore,

against

meaning

have

ingratiate

He accelerated
above,

Costa's

to

response

a man to

mentioned

magazine

Madrid

Real

against

defiant

authorities.

protest

vociferous

his

was not

Llaudet

the

from

Semanal, 12 October

From 1968 onwards,

approximately
appeared in Catalan.

144. The 1968 final

to be played
145. An example of
"The
article
thesis,
which

1982.

a quarter

of

Barra

magazine

of the Copa del Generalisimo

was the first
ever not
on a Saturday.
such a photograph can be found accompanying the
Politics
by the author of this
of Ftbol"",
written
appeared in History Today (London) August 1985.

340

Quite
Madrid

for

severely

grounds

the dubious

blame for

than with

rather

Real. 147

Carreras

denounced this

a motion

that

Madrid

hooliganism

the anti-Barra

by Llaudet,

this

could

when passed overwhelmingly

statutes
national

sports

The Real
Catalan

motion

victory

competition

Madrid
in

President
the

stadium

at the assembly.

week, he gave vent

should

to all

Santiago
bearing

and proposed

to the assembly

the other

clubs,

latent

be held

Bernabeu
his

While on holiday
of his

with

always

1968,

presented

of March 1941 that

because of the DND ruling

the RFEF,

not be incorporated

still

the

in the Bernabeu when Real

the motions

to be popular

one proved

that

as "ridiculous",

of punishment

Unlike

themselves,

on

neutral

RFEF assembly in July

never again be held

'48

finalist.

the conclusion

with

At the annual

lack

the final

was a

lay

Real,

against

at a supposedly

with

Real

at the

supporters

whatsoever

was played

than as a Real home match,

venue rather

the RFEF to punish

of their

took no action

the final

that

for

called

behaviour

the violent

The RFEF, however,

146

final.

Carreras

understandably,

name,

but even

into

the RFEF

the final

of all

in Madrid. 149

was indignant
and about

about

the

Carreras

in Santa Pola the following

anti-Catalan

sentiments:

"I admire Vila

Reyes (the President
of, the Espafiol club,
and
in the MATESA scandal)
to be embroiled
because of
shortly
simply
the fact
that he presides
over a club in Catalonia
which carries

12 July 1968, and in

146. Carreras made this call in El Mundo Deportivo,
Barra, No. 660.
by the RFEF President Jose Luis Costa
147. This decision
was justified
in Marca, 19 July 1968.
148. For further
details,
23 July
see Marca, or El Mundo Deportivo,
1968.
149. Information
of the archives of the RFEF.
revealed by an examination
in Catalonia
For details
to the obstruction
of the reaction
of
Carreras'motion,
see either Barra, No. 662,26 July 1968, or
24-27 July 1968.
El Mundo Deportivo,

341

And those that say

the name Espanol which is worthy of admiration.
I like her and admire
that I don't like Catalonia
are not correct.
her, in spite of the Catalans. "5
This

was very

outburst
151

supporters.
were

infuriated

belligerent

Carreras

the

with

Carreras

to

great

followers

The FC Barcelona
and looked

1968,

September

popular

to

replied

majority

launch

Bernabeu

Real

however,

Catalans,

and most

to

of

In

a counter-attack.

by coining

his

own

catchprase:

because

"We must struggle

against everybody and against everything,
what we represent. "152
we are the best, and we represent
It

was the almost

reference

made a clear
nonetheless
the Madrid

this

significance

partiality

but was

punishment

from

which had never

of the club,

or even journalist.

became one of the leading

in Catalonia,

of the Francoist

subjects

of

due to the challenging

partly

catchphrase

150. Quoted in Murcia Deportiva,

151.

of Bara,

any possible

by any director

to before

of Manuel Vazquez Montalbn

Carreras's

because it

The phrase opened a new phase in the

significance

and discussion

Furthermore,
alleged

alluded

of Bernabeu,

significance

ambiguous to avoid

of the political

Henceforth,

articles

to the political

sufficiently

been publically

to the attack

response

authorities.

recognition

debate

perfect

and Alex J. Botines. 153

also

referred

sporting

No. 416,27

quite

clearly

to the

authorities.

July

1968.

in print
by Sabartes,
This has been alleged
op.
Barca figures
the author
not only by well-known
Casaus, Manuel Vazquez Montalbn
and Joan Josep
journalists
Jose Maria Lorente,
by Madrid-based
"Belarmo"
and Miguel Vidal.

cit.,
p. 92, and to
such as Nicolau
but also
Artells,
Rodolfo
Belarmino

152. Quoted in Sabartes, op. cit.,

p. 95.
by Manuel Vazquez Montalban in Triunfo,
25 October
153. See the article
1969, and by Alex J. Botines in Dicen, 11 January 1970,9
March
1970 and 6 October 1970, for example.

342

The first
of

recognition

to the debate

major contribution
the

Vazquez

Montalban

article

offered

political
in

significance

a vivid

1969 edition

illustration

of

the

Madrid was welcomed to the Camp Nou since

previous

FC Barcelona

of

October

the

by Carreras's

provoked

of

was made by
154

Triunfo.

hostility

Bernabeu's

with

His
Real

which

outburst

the

of

summer:

"In general,
this
a tolerant
crowd which does not vent its
anger on
Except for one exception:
team.
the visiting
Real Madrid.
The
to Real Madrid in the second half-of
which was dispensed
reception
league was memorable.
A reception
the last
which not even Miguel
(a pro-Real,
Francoist
Catalan
football
Orts himself
radio
in ABC, Madrid)
and columnist
commentator,
would have been able to
ignore.
butane gas sirens,
A constant
shouting,
whistles,
pipes.
The tarring
No way. It is
and feathering
of the madrilenos?
deeper,
to present
which is not restricted
something
concrete
but which rather
goes back to a historic
politics,
consciousness
of
". 155
the evils
of centralism,
Vazquez

Montalban

langauge

at

outlawed

senyera

politically

the

also

Camp Nou,
flags,

conscious

to

referred

the

and of

being
group

the

general

increasing

provocatively
Barya

use of

the

appearance

displayed

Catalan
formally

of

by the

most

supporters:

"This crowd would be unusual at any other ground in Spain, As would

also be unusual those cars which shove to pass through the
impenetratable
mass of human bodies and which, in the back window,

154. Manuel Vazquez Montalbn,

October 1969.0
155. Vazquez Montalbn, ibid.

"Barca,

343

Barca,
J.

Barca! ",
#1

Triunfo,

25

In
the message: "Speak in Catalan".
flutters
the flag of Bam
and that

carry
slowly

the

upon by the
was Agustf

followed,

that

elections

DND permitted

was the

same name, a name which

because

of

its

manufactures.

bourgeois,

a group that

this

solidarity

group by personally
Catalan

Montserrat.

'57

After
embroiled

only

six

the

with

personalities

156. Vazquez Montalbn,

1969 elections

the

being

the political

returned

however,

Montal,

1960s and early

a democratic

towards

1970s.

Montal

at the mountain-top

political

Catalan

defiant

objectives

the

and methods of

monastery

Montal

tc

proved to

the December 1970 protest

of extensive

the

of

and glory.

months as Bar 5a President,

in a controversy

President

of FC Barcelona

sense,

supporting

The winner

vote.

in

insisted

system

1964-1953

was becoming increasingly

in the late

authorities

of leading

157.

in a political

to

members

success

textile

to Carreras

his

former

on the field.

organica

factor

decisive

the presidency

be similar

demonstrated

son of

meant that

the hands of wealthy

Francoist

with

association

This result

283 Ba rga

only

there

him, was forced

frustrations

democracia

the

32 year-old

the

Montal,

Sans before

and Mire

1969 because of further

in October

to resign
In

as both Llaudet

just

Carreras,

many of these cars

"156
of Catalonia.

lock-in
of

found himself

significance,

in the

ibid.

Montal's
for the lock-in
for obvious
did
Although,
support
reasons,
it
to
in
the
by
the former FC
alleged
was
author
print,
not appear
that the majority
President
Barcelona
of the club's
supporters
has
his
This
to the
also been alleged
position.
of
aware
were
Casaus, Manuel Vazquez Montalbn,
Alex J. Botines
author by Nicolau
and Joan Josep Artells.

344

argument involving

bitter
the
most
shape of
the Di Stefano

was in charge

Guruceta

Spanish clubs

giant

of 1953.

affair

Guruceta
neutral
provoked

a violent

reacting

angrily

of injustices

series

invasion

decision,

of every

dubious

Catalan

decision
supporters,

as the latest

club

in a long

by the Francoist

to accept

of public

resignation

order

did extremely

that

Guruceta

suspended him or six

and accordingly

however,

159.

by the furious

upon their

visited

an hour remaining,

This

what they regarded

The RFEF was compelled

158.

between the two

in the opinion

fictitious.

Emilio

sporting

1S9

authories.

problem

With half

to Real which,

158 was clearly

against

since

In June 1970, the Basque referee

in the Camp Nou.

pitch

and Madrid

club

of a tense cup quarter-final

awarded a penalty
observer,

his

by his deficient
little

of the allegedly

to satisfy
pro-Real

action".

had made a bad

months,
16o

"for
This

provoking
suspension,

the demands of Montal

Madrid

for

the

Chairman of the RFEF

to the author are

The neutral
who have made this
claim
observers
Miguel Vidal,
Juan Jose Castillo,
Antonio
Bare,
the following:
Jose Angel Iribar.
Pablo Porta,
by the
The anger of the FC Barcelona
supporters
was best reflected
in
its
issue
No. 760,9
Bar
June 1970,
a,
which,
magazine
indignantly
that:
stated
is mainly
for what happened in the
"Guruceta
responsible
Because the performance
let us say it
of Guruceta,
stadium...
the patience
exhausted
of the supporters
one more time,
who are
injustice
fed
it is suffering
that
up
of
so
much
understandably
from, week after
season. "
week, season after

160. This decision

was published in El Mundo Deportivo,
other newspapers, on 12 June 1970.

345

and Marca, among

referee's
ization

indignation

Catalan

in the Introduction

stated

to do with

had nothing

that

had formed in the late

the injustice'that

alleged

a popular

injustice

pole

most affected

group of intellectual

informally

witessed

of the latter
the Barca
the

for

by the Guruceta
supporters

led by Va01
zquez Montalbn
Universitat

the first

of supporters

Autnoma.

time, an example of

had been denouncing

for

of the Camp Nou crowd in the face

the reaction
demonstrated

of resistance,

As

of Gich would terminate

at Barcelona's

the majority

Furthermore,

years.

Nonetheless,

followers

1960s,

both lecturers

intellectuals

Many of these

Samaranch.

club.

gauche divine

was the so-called

and Josep Termes,

this

their

named Delegado

the dismissal

affair.

the appointment

of FC Barcelona

The section

in September 1970, when

was surprisingly

thesis,

the Guruceta

campaign against

alleged

democrat-

complete

to Juan Antonio

to this

that

expected

supporters

secretary,

in succession

de DeporteS

Nacional

the

began to subside

only

the FC Barcelona

Juan Gich,

for

-and also

RFEF. 161

the

of

afair

Jose Plaza,

committee

to them that

occasionally

violent,

the club

could

of

serve

as

to the Franco regime. 162

limited
161. These demands of Montal, and his disappointment
the
at
in
were expressed through interviews
nature of the RFEF's decision,
Bam,
Nos. 760,761 and 762,9,16
and 23 June 1970, as well as in
8 and 19 June, and Dicen, 10,16,19
El Mundo Deportivo,
and 22
June 1970.
(Barcelona) published
feature on this so162. Tele-Expres,
a special
divine
in
its
gauche
group
edition
of 23 October 1970, in
called
de Carreras,
the law lecturer
son of the former
which Franpesc
Barra President,
commented in the following
way on the Guruceta
affair:
"On the day of the Real Madrid game, the crowd jumped onto the
for an extra-footbalistic
field
reason, the famous penalty. "
346

The political
proportion
from Madrid

to prevent

championship

that. it

the Catalan

changed in the sporting

As-pointed

out

been uncovered
is

quite

to

in

about

that

this

theory

partly

of everybody

few native

Catalan

players

awareness of the player

alleged

anti-Barr

this
the

_ 164.

very

little

of

had

thesis,,.

no evidence

alleged

campaign,
in

164 and
explain

Barca team on the

field.

the important

to FC Barcelona.

at the club,

has

to

evolved

point

order

is

that

this

to the politi-

Llufs

illustrated

Pujol,

one the

the political

when, in December 1972, he was asked about

the

campaign:

"It is very clear that in certain

circles
Barcelona is, week after week, the leader

163.

the league

and made a massive contribution

connected

the campaign

1972, the majority

that

of the costly

however,

thesis,

to, this

or myth existed,

cization

to

theory

failures

in

of power. 163

this

and excuse the frequent'

theory

By around

conclusion

Introduction

the

from regaining

support

probable

With respect

at'the

corridors

of the myth about

club

won in 1960.

last

had arrived

these supporters

it

in strength

to the increase

increased

of the Bar ca supporters

consciousness

the fact that FC

of this present league

in Sabartes,
This opinion
op. cit.,
was expressed
pp. 137-138,
and
in special
by many ordinary
Barga supporters
in
reports
published
1972, and 9 October 1972.
In addition,
17-20 April
Dicen,
this
by several
to the author
FC Barcelona
veteren
view was expressed
Nicolau
Casaus, Agusti
and by Manuel Vazquez Montalban,
supporters,
Montal and Alex J. Botines.
in the
that
The author
such evidence
was contained
expected
having been told
that
this
archives
of FC Barcelona,
was the case
Alex J. Botines
by Manuel Vazquez Montalbn,
and Joan Josep
The widely-held
Artells.
view that Barca had evidence
the
about
sporting
authorities
campaign waged by the Francoist
alleged

against
archives
no such
Nicolau
does not

Upon examining the

the club, however, proved to be a myth.
of the club, in April and May 1986, the'author
uncovered
was then informed by both
evidence, and, furthermore,
Casaus and Agusti Montal that this kind of proof simply
exist.
347

and every kind of hindrance and

in order to put a brake on the forward

is
disturbing,
championship
is being invented
obstacle
march of our club. 19165

importance

The 1973/1974 season was of crucial

bought
player.

for

championship

fourteen

5-0 score-line

a historic

It-was

the Catalan

by Cruyff,

also in this

about FC Barcelona
The creator

being

club

spectacularly

years,
in their

own Estadio

season that

commissioned

in November 1973, to devise

presidential

election

frequently

been alleged

Montal's

re-election

won its

campaign against

as did

this

Lluis

leading

league
Real Madrid

by

Bernabeu on the way.

significant
made its

club"

a slogan

phrase

the goals

first

defeating

of the phrase was the publicist

that

the world's

the politically

"more than a football

FC Barcelona.

and Barca immediately

players,

then undoubtedly

the Dutchman Johann Cruyff,

Inspired

ance.

ban on foreign

its

lited

The DND finally

for

Xavier
for

Agusti

just

of Johann Cruyff.

appear-

Coma, who was

Casacuberta.

contributed

phrase

Montal's
It

has

as much to

166

No. 890,5 December 1972.

165. Quoted in Bam,
in El Pais Semanal, 12
166. This has been alleged by Coma himself
October 1982, by Sabartes, op. cit.,
p. 139, and by Alex J. Botines
in Dicen, 28 November and 2 December 1974.
348

1974, amidst

In April

Ftbol

Club

Barcelona.
Barca's

of

culmination
Catalan

DND to

the

persuaded

folklore

permit

the

167

These

Raimon and Guillermina

Montserrat

168
that

temporarily

was discussed

off

abated.

in dubious

nation

their

and bitterness

that

repressed
from

the

Escola

and moving perormances

Joan Manuel Serrat,

artistes

support

about the alleged

circumstances

the

promoting

for

the club's

culminated

to this

campaign against

1975, however,

exploded

during

to
thesis.

FC Barcelona

Johann Cruyff

in a game at Malaga.

All

the Guruceta

and

political

in the visit

in the Introduction

In February

of

of whom were keen Barca supporters

all

These celebrations

The complaints

Gracienc,

title

original

was dancing

There

Nova Cans o-

its

constituted
of

Montal

celebrations,

to

revert

policy

culture.

Motta,

to the Press

to

title

celebrations

songs from L'Orfeo

from the immensely popular

significance.

club

long-standing

and popular

de Dansa Popular,

had confessed

of the league

all

of

was sent

the indig-

affair

came to

167. In the archives of FC Barcelona,

there is
examined by the author,
dated 20 April 1974, from Montal to the RFEF
the copy of a letter,
the latter
President Jose Luis Perez Paya, informing
of "the
title.
unanimous desire of this club to revert to our original
of
Montal went on to request that Perez Pay'
F6tbol Club Barcelona".
"kindly
the
especially
arrange with the neccessary authorities,
Provincial
de
Delecacion Nacional de Deportes and the Jefatura
Propaganda, that this club be known by its original
title
from the
commencement of season 1974/75 onwards. " Perez Pay granted this
institutions
two
tha
persuaded
mentioned above to
and
request,
the example of Barca, both
Following
accept the name change.
de Bilbao and Sprting de Gijn revereted
to their
Athletic
in
the summer of 1974.
foreign-influenced
names
original,
168. See, for example, the interview
No. 830,12
with Motta in Ba,
October 1971, the interview
1974,
with Serrat in Dicen, 30 April
and with Raimon, 3 May 1974.
349

again. 169" Montal

the surface

note which condemned "the

Club

Barcelona

vast

campaign unleashed
it

that

and everything

a typically

responded with

While the whole of Spain,

during

autumn of 1975, was contemplating

no doubt about the political

because Montal

expressed

with

of Franco

the dictator,

without

usual

in the
there

of FC Barcelona,

position

his

the Futbol

'To

illness

the long

was absolutely

himself

against

represents".

a future

aggressive

clarity:

"If you ask me if I like it that FC Barcelona is considered

a
democratic club, I will
tell you yes.
FC Barcelona is a reflection
(Catalonia),
of the town and of the country
of the currents
which
"171
are democratic and liberal.

The great
majority

of

optimism,

majority
Catalans,

anxious

were

was little

future.
reflected

172

supporters,

the

for

death

waiting

the

same as the
of

to commence down the road that

to democracy and regional

there

Barca

of

autonomy.

When this

sadness at the Catalan

As on many previous
the sentiments

club,

occasions,

of the supporters

the

dictator

would lead
death

but

Montal

great
with

to a return

finally-occurred,

rather

hope for

almost

perfectly

in the unequivocal

the

telegram

169. For details

to the Malaga aff air,
of the reaction
see Dicen,
El Mundo Deportivo and Bar a, from 16-26 February 1975.
170. This note, was published
in Dicen and El Mundo Deportivo
on 16
No. 1005,18
February 1975.
February 1975, and in Bam,
171. Quoted in Barca, No. 1039,14 October 1975.
172. This has been -alleged to the author by many veteran FC Barcelona
Agusti Montal and NicolaICasaus,,
as well as by the
supporters,
former Barca players Carles Rexach and Joaquim Rife.
That there
was little
sadness at the Catalan club upon the death of Franco is
also demonstrated by the fact that the magazine Barca'was
the only Spanish publication
practically
of that--we-7e--kwhich did not
carry a reverential
photograh of the dictator
on its front cover,
choosing instead one of theAnew Head of State,
King Juan Carlos.
350

that

the man who would hopefully

he sent to King Juan Carlos,

preside

of democracy:

over the reintroduction

"Excmo. Sr. Marques de Mond6jar,

Civil
House of His Royal Highiness
de la Zarzuela,
Palacio
Madrid.
the Prince
In these
of Spain,
historic
transcendental
moments, I beg you to pass on to his Royal
the testimony
Highness
adhesion
of personal
of our club,
casting
and democratic
of pacific
coexistence
which your
votes for a future
Agustin
Montal,
President,
Fd'tbol Club
Royal Highness
represents.
"173
Barcelona.

The history

of the political

the Franco years

space in this

thesis

beginning

of this

San Sebastian
regime just

chapter,

completely

as effectively

fully

illustrated

FC Barcelona
Celta
during

that

being,

Athletic

in November 1975.

in the Epilogue

reflected

as well

the Franco period,

transition

from dictatorship

Catalan

had an important

role

opposition.

obviously

did not

as shall

be

which now follows,

as clubs

de Vigo which had possessed no meaningful

out at the

to the Franco

football

thesis

the Francoist

and Real Sociedad de

On the contrary,

to this

and the Basque clubs,

of many more

as pointed

Basque opposition

of Spanish

More

than to the

club

against

de Bilbao

as FC Barcelona

significance

terminate

telegram.

to the Catalan

the truth

the general

reflected

The regionalist

this

and gestures

controversies
despite

authorities,

sporting

with

because Barca was at the centre

significant

politically

conclusion

has been dedicated

Basque clubs,

two major

at its

arrived

during

of FC Barcelona

significance

such as Valencia

political
to play

both
and

significance
in the

to democracy.

173. Reproduced in Bam,

Barcelona, No. 1045,25
November 1975, and in
El Mundo Deportivo
and Dicen, on'21 November 1975.
351

CHAPTERNINE: EPILOGUE: FOOTBALLDURING

THE TRANSITION FROM DICTATORSHIP TO DEMOCRACY

This

to illustrate

has attempted

study

life

in general

reflected

Spanish

continued

to be a reflection

during

during

1980 than it

had done in the previous

changing

forty

personalities

Spain were King Juan Carlos

and Adolfo

of the majority

a limited

of Spaniards

degree of regional

autonomy,

years.

in the political
Suarez,

transformation

the President

the king,

or overlord,

was Benito

the role

of Suarez was played

presided

over the transition

sport

in general.

along

with

his

for
into

As seen in the Introduction

good friend

competent

and respected

appointed

to be the last

Juan Antonio

sports

Delegado Nacional

with

of Spanish football
it

could be said

Castejon

was, the

that

an who

to democracy in Spanish
to this

thesis,

Samaranch, a rare

administrator

352

whilst

Porta.

from dictatorship

to translate

reality.

Castejon,

by Pablo

of

of the

democracy,

a pluralist

in the transformation

Speaking metaphorically,

from

from 1976 to

years

Government from 1976 to 1981, both of whom were determined

the desire

The game

the transition

more in the four

to democracy,

the Franco period.

of the country

dictatorship

The most important

the many ways in which football

in Francoist
de Deportes

he was,

example of a
Spain.

He was

in September

task of dissolving

1976, with'the

the Falangist

remained at the helm of Spanish

of Suarez as the ideal

supervised

the transformation

long-sightedness

organizational

opinion

the

of

2 the

footballers,

3 partly
popular

was twice

re-elected

to

from

the

retire
socialist

in March 1977,

five

months later,
institution

a testimony
who himself

the

the

Franco

because

of

to

from

of office.

It kell

remain

the

still

to the
from

retired

in

remaining

in

to Porta

being

power

for

a record

nine

Presidents

for

more than

of

of

compelled

a decree

various

from

sports

two four-year

the democratic

He

years.

and was only

1984 because

terms

principles

of

1.

details,
For further
November 1979.

2.

in Garcia Candau, op. cit.,

This view of Porta has been expressed
both sporting
all
of the Press,
pp. 82-84. in practically
and
decree
his term of office
the
curtailing
government
when
general,
in March 1984.
was published

3.

This criticism
mostly came from Marca, and, to a far lesser extent,
As, for concrete examples, see Marca, 30 October 1977.28
June
February 1983,10
1978,2 October, 1981,17
April,
1983.

see the special

353

feature

criticism

was

the

to apply

and obedient

Porta

1977 and 1981,

the

and

vociferous

Catalan,

November

preventing

officials

Despite

in

and,

many short-lived

as President

in

presidency

the

years.
his

unopposed,

government

federations

of

last

was the

journalists,

sports

efficient

most

during

RFEF Presidents
Madrid,

of

majority

Porta

Castejon,

way to

a similar

sufficiently

of Castejon,

Castejn

in June 1981.

life

In

democracy.,

The latter
sport,

by the

regarded

firstly,

and secondly,

as the supreme organ of Spanish

remains

from

of the DND into,

de Deportes.

permanent Consejo Superior

public

man to implement

de Deportes,

General

the Direction

because of being

sport

government

DND, and thereafter

on Castejn

in As, 7-11

despite,

to

aspects

the

Introduction,

reduce

the

significance

As shall

be seen

combined

to

with

assist

important

the

in

had existed

that

in

the

in

of

aspects
in this

thesis.
about

Spain's

the

of

Porta

also

politicizing

during

the

Franco

years.
largely

circumstances

de-politicizing

regionalist

the

game,

aspect.

be to illustrate

will

enthusiasm,

past.

various

Epilogue,

this

with

Falangist

during

the fate

to democracy of each of the seven

in the Franco

of football

this

Before

out

football

the

Epilogue

of the politicization

of

mission

from dictatorship

the transition

discussion

of

his

exception

The method of this

his

Spanish

course

Porta

he carried

task

in

as seen

attempted

and this

football,

to

Castejon

systematic

approach

is

adopted,

of the 1982 World Cup finals

staging

isolated

period

a brief
tournament

is necessary.

The World Cup finals

motor of change,
forced

suggested,

undoubtedly

in order

because,

to change many of its

frequently

4.

mainly

tournament

former

both before

as a catalyst

it,

the RFEF was

to stage

incompetent

and after

to change
One example of the RFEF having
in
World Cup finals
was the appointment,
for the first
time in
officer,
relations
organization.

354

served

ways. 4

It

the tournament,

was
that

the

its
former
ways for the
February
1980, of a public
the history
of the

or

World Cup would have been staged

been a dictatorship.

Spain had still

approximately
supporters

Spain for

failure

on the fields

not unfavourable.

is

It

aspect,

the

Fascist

period,

it
in

very

politics

thesis,

Fascist

Falangist

5.

6.

the
team, the

to the watching

influence

much the

that

that

over

Spanish

With

regard

the

influence

world

was

largely
in

general

in

the

Franco

of

the

Movimiento.

was made in
allegation
during
the immediately
for example
defects,
ational
system to cope with the one
journalists
and the lack of
See, for example,
manifest.

the

the

Franco
from

from

Two of

this

in

and football
period

first

disappeared

Chapter

in

only

to

disappeared

sport

could

football's

game during

quickly

As illustrated

football

This
both

of

in

existed

this

DND, a mere department

therefore,

1976.

same way as it

and society.
influence

fate

the

since

was institutionalized

1976 onwards,

and despite

the

and

of the Spanish national

examine

politicization

must be stated

Spanish

particular

to

now necesssary
of

football

for

these problems
journalists

the finals,

if

problems

'

aspects

seven

Despite

given by the Spanish hosts

impression

overall

organizational

footballers,

who visited

embarrassing

foreign

one million

fewer

with

through

the

From

be completely

de-

practically
every Spanish publication
the tournament,
after
when the organizthe inadequacy
transport
of the public
million
visiting
supporters
and
translators
competent
available,
were
As, 13 July and 4 August 1982, or

15 July 1982.
has also been
This allegation
El Mundo Deportivo,
of his interviewees,
made to the author by the majority
especially
by overseas sports journalists
such as Brian Glanville
of the Sunday
Times, David Lacey of The Guardian, Keir Radnedge of World Soccer,
organization
of the
and Jaques Ferran of L' Equipe the near-perfect
tournament in the Argentina
of General Videla four years earlier.
This was the opinion
of the
out that
above, who pointed
shortcomings.
organizational

journalists
four visiting
Spanish hospitality
partly

355

mentioned
mitigated

the

fascistified
for

of the country's

by the majority

immediate

completely

because of this

Partly
dismal

critical

in September 1976.

immeasurably

more respected
( reform-minded

aperturista

and the institutional

By the

beginning

in

the

direction

of

the

pillars

of
of

of

) with

of Spanish

1977,

Francoism,
both

it

the

In March

dissolved

by the Suarez government.

of sports

administration

7.

8.

9.

Benito

clear

and the

this

Castejn,
more
of the DND

that

Spain

consequent

was heading

dismantling

was by no means a smooth

Movimiento

and the

A temporary

was to create

Ros was

sport.

democracy

process.

Games, Pelayo

Press, 9 was also

was quite

even if

Ros. 8

because of the

and partly

to the dissolution

regard

was the

Tomas Pelayo

Olympic

by the sporting

pluralist

1977,

campaign,

The
a freedom

the Franco years,

His successor,

future

eager to assert

de Deportes

at the Montreal

Spanish performance

dismissed

during

Delgado Nacional

incompetent

allegedly

denied to it

Press.?

sporting

extensive

of the contempt of the Press,

object

of expression

of the DND, a move which was campaigned

the abolition

with

DND were

solution

the new Direcion

to the problem
General

de

in
This campaign was headed by Don Balon and Sport,, both published
For concrete examples, see Don Bal6n, No. 23,7 March
Barcelona.
June 1976, No. 38,22
1976, No. 27,6 April 1976, No. 35,1
June
1976, No. 57,3 November 1976, and Sport, 8 June 1976,23
August
1976,8
December 1976 and 27 January 1977.
into question in all of the
The competence of Pelayo Ros was called
in the above footnote dated before his dismissal
in
articles
September 1976.
demonstrated when Castejon's
This respect was fully
appointment was
See, for example, As, 10 September 1976, and
announced.
Sport and Dicen, on 11 September 1976.
El Mundo Deportivo,
The
by Don Balon, No. 50,16
warmest welcome for Castejon was offered
September 1976.

356

Deportes,

taking

over
it

DND, and placing

1977,

August
structure

Consejo

Superior

Ministry

the

Spanish

in

sport

de Deportes

distinct

attitude

staff

them that

Spanish

dynamic leadership.

he achieved

Fascist

Chapter
this

catalyst

for

surrounding
largely

In

administrative

Castejon

of the

to establish

from that

by either

which had
the

replacing

from Pelayo Ros, or by convincing

of flexible,

reform-minded

and

"

was limited
virulent

1970s, apart

football.

As seen in

nationalism.

in Italy,

used as a

The rhetoric
less

of the team to impress

tournament

framework,

team being

football

team became noticeably

because of the failure

blow to what

a powerful

from the institutional

to the national

and aggressive

the national

European Championship

dealt

remained in Spanish

influence

Two, by the early

influence

the

permanent

at the new institution

The demise of the DND obviously

little

Office.

required

the

of

under the auspices

needed a new kind

sport

'

of Benito

he had inherited

that

Falangist

a democracy,

was the task

It

the

about

was created,

at the DND, and this

existed

debate

President's

the

of

functions

and the

offices

control

an extensive

of Culture.

completely

the

staff,

under

after

for

the

potent

after

1976,

at the 1980

and most disappointingly,

as

10. This debate found echo in practically

all Spanish publications
of
Press.
The debate
August 1977, not just in the specialist
sporting
in
17
August
September
As,
1977.
fully
treated
-5
was most
interview
he replaced 24 of
11. As revealed by author's
with Castej6n,
the CSD's permanent staff of 93 during the period 1977-1979, "those
days
the
that
of cracking the whip at the
accept
not
who could
finished"
clubs were completely
and the offending
sports federations

357

team at the 1982 World Cup finals.

the host
potent

and politically

steady

decline

in

players

Don Baln

into

Burgos

that
club,

there

Three,
during

the
only

the

footballers

was always

Franco

one professional
the

of

suffered

during

Antonio

Fascist

Fuerza

influence

the transition

The same as in every

hooliganism

has increased

Connections

between this

hooliganism

been widely

accepted. 16

The now defunct

minority

of

Maria

Nozal

Nueva party.

in Spanish

and ultra-right-wing

of

the

14

football
to
football

country,

in Spain in the last

dramatically

by

revealed,

from dictatorship

footballing

other

steeply.

footballers

the

player,

democracy.

declined

A May 1977 inquest

of

in one sense Fascist

increased

a sizeable

years.

sympathies

political

was a supporter

Nevertheless,
has actually

the formerly

myth of the furia_espafiola

significant

the number of Falangist

Chapter

Falangist

however,

Furthermore,

from 1976 onwards. 13

In addition,
As seen

12

ten years. 15
groupings

Fuerza Nueva and its

have

successor

for victory
like
Ultra-nationalistic
such as "we battled
phrases
in the face of all
team triumphed
true Spaniards"
or "the national
in
can",
which had, as illustrated
adversity,
as only Spaniards
been systematically
thesis,
Chapter
Two of this
employed by the
faded away in the
the Franco years,
Press during
gradually
sporting
disappeared
by
1980.
had
1970s,
completely
and
early
been employed,
in part
due
13. Since 1976, this
phrase has very rarely
disappointing
to the consistently
team.
performances
of the national
May 1977.
14. See Don Baln, No. 86,30
in Spain in 1977, but
did not exist
hooliganism
15. Organized
football
in the words of Jose Barrionuevo,
into,
itself
has since converted
Spanish Minister
the current
of the Interior,
quoted in AS, 29 April
1987, "a very worrying
order".
of public
problem
to some extent
in
have been discussed
16. These connections
or other
Spanish publication,
in
practically
every contemporary
especially
by Real Madrid's
the wake of the serious
Ultra
problems
provoked
Sur
&tadio
hooligans
Bernabeu during
the April
the
1987 European
at
Cup
For a detailed
Bayern Munich.
against
semi final
expose of these
connections,
April
see As, 27-1 May 1987, or World Soccer.
1987.
12.

358

both

Nacional,

the'Frente

led by the demagogic former

the example of the British

appear to have followed

Pinar,

in-building

The two hooligan

influence

are

de Madrid,

visiting

foreign
in

response

to

and of
these

respectively.

Catalan

1e

the

in
unpopular

Madrid

Norte

biggest

Madrid

specialized

Boixos Nois and the Herri

Bilbao

Real

Sur of

which

teams

the

with

groupings

groups,

factions

Fascist or neo-Fascist

Fascist

attacking

and sub-

or

Frente

reo-Fascist

Atlgtico

supporters

Basque

have

of

of

and Catalan
emerged

at FC Barcelona

clubs.

'?

the

and Athletic

influenced

by radical

in Spanish football,

therefore,

Both groups are heavily

and Basque nationalism.

Front

supporters.

and the

there

Blas

-National

the many groups

within

young football

violent

Ultra

the

Atletico

Partly

influence

up a significant

groups of the potentially

Falangist

de

19

influence

history
17. The most vicious hooligan
attack in Spanish football
was
FC Barcelona
by the Ultra Sur against the visiting
perpetrated
by
1984,
Ba_rca winning the
in
September
provoked
partly
supporters
hospital,
half of
Catalan supporters
were admitted too
match 3-0.16
in the stoning of one of their coaches.
The visit
whom were injured
for a cup match with Real
de Bilbao supporters
of the Athletic
Madrid in February 1985 produced numerous fights
and the blocking
of
The Ultra Sur
the Paseo de la Castellana.
the famous thoroughfare
joined
forces
to
Atletico
Frente
combat supporters
the
and
In
February
1987,
team.
these
national
visiting
a
accompanying
brawls
followers
forces
with
countless
of the
provoked
combined
treatment.
England team, three of whom needed hospital
18.
19.

during
the football
The Boixos Nois group came into
existence
season
Norte approximately
1981/1982,
a year later.
and Herri
in El Mundo_Deportivo,
10 February
in detail
1986,
As illustrated
in favour
the Boixos Nois regularly
chant slogans
of the neoLliure.
The Herri
faction
Ter
Norte group at
terrorist,
a
separatist
in
favour
heard
be
frequently
Bilbao
chanting
of ETA, for
can
Valladolid
1987, the
the match against
on 7 March,
example during
home game since the death in Algeria
first
Athletic
of the ETA
Domingo.
leader
Txomin Iturbe

359

in the form of these politically

continues

during

framework

the institutional

long after

accompanied it,

of some debate whether

utilization
holidays

public

Arias

scheduled

did

insisted

Navarro,

of the

in

the death of Franco were,

reduced.

This proved

televized

football

subjected
control

political

Madrid-FC
to

to the same kind

Suarez,

the
of
match

1 May and

In

this

way,

the

on the first
extent,

May

partially

example of. using

from 1977 onwards,

of liberal

in the other

as existed

May Day

Friday

because,

soporific,

the

Barcelona

(RTVE). 2

such blatant

The

government

to an incalculable

to be the last

as a political

during

short-lived

Real

manipulation

disappeared.

who took to the streets

Day after

RTVE was formally

the

television

and students

game's

Adolfo

forward

brought

national

the

matches

upon the

3 May 1976 being

numbers of workers

democratic

the second aspect

immediately.

Movimiento

the

by Spanish

transmitted

which

has completely

football

terminate

not
of

for

influence

and mystification

Spain,

soporific,

televized

of

Minister-Secretary
Carlos

Francoist

as a political

regime

blatant

in

football

of

politicization
by the

groups,

have disappeared.

is a matter

It

imposed this

that

and the rhetoric

the Franco period,

hooligan

significant

guidelines

and

Western pluralist

democracies.

Nevertheless,
Felipe

Gonzalez

it

has been alleged

has possibly

20. The fullest

account
cit.,
pp. 51-52.

revived

that
the

of these events

360

the

socialist

tradition

is offered

of

government

of

RTVE transmitting

in Garcia

Candau, op.

football

matches on politically

example,

that

it

between

match

broadcast

and Austria

by RTVE, thus
of

the

Gonzalez

claimed

that

22 June

1986,

would

was more than a mere coincidence

Spain

commemorations

knowing

The suspicion
football
during
days

the

fancied
symbol
of

the

before

were

certainly

set

in

the

the

election

The impressive
did

flashed

scorer

nothing

of

slogan

their

the

on to
fifth

damage the

Continued

of

the

Mexico.

Mexico.

With

credibility

fist

clenched

together

highlyand red

this

rose

instead
with

the

Down The Right

team in
of

three

70% of

screens

Advancing

national

RTVE's

only

team defeat

goal,

23

by an occurrence

television

Spanish

"T. o

of

the

as

team

national
in

the
also

elections

when an estimated

PSOE's

is

It

been manipulating

national

the

performance
to

in

elections,

style,

Spanish

was fuelled

tournament

watching

general

may have

purposes

general

cavalier

the

22

Cup quarter-finals

government

Cup finals
the

same day

1985 and

away from

death.

fourth

the

World

the

political

was "accidentally"
name of

on the
in

for

date

the

a friendly

attention

Franco's

for

claimed,

20 November

distract
of

anniversary

that

excitedly

Denmark

government's
Road".

for

1976 World

remaining

Spaniards

tenth

that

coverage

to

is

It

that

for

was arranged

contributing

be playing

probably

dates. 21

significant

Mexico

vote-catching

slogan.

21. This allegation,

which has never been put into print,
was made to
Jose Maria Lorente and Rodolfo
the author by the Marca journalists
Belarmino "Belarmo" interview.
22. It should be pointed out that there were precious few other dates
when this match could have been played, because most of the other
the traditional
Wednesday nights,
night for international
matches in
Europe, in the autumn of 1985 were occupied by games of the Spanish
teams in the European club competitions.
23. This allegation
was also made by the Marca pair,
op. cit.

361

The third

lack

the complete

period,

the aspect

seen in Chapter Four of this

unpopular

with

the great
half

approximately

st profound

of football

majority

directors.

are at least

as democratic

clubs,

with

the result

has the right

every

to football

and in
at the

member, male and female

four

for

years

supporters

the club

alike,

President,

in practically

every

country.

By 1976, the demand for

huge and vociferous.

25

It

the return

This

"If
the
sectors,
capaign

of democracy to football

has been alleged

24. This expectation

was best expressed
Don Baln, No. 36,8 June 1976:
25.

federations

democracy has been restored

every adult

to vote at least

which is denied

a right

that

level

into

converted

football

regional

that

24

West European counterparts,

as their

Furthermore,

many cases more so.

expected

of football.

by now, been completely

In 1988, the RFEF and various

As

and with

and local

regional

to the world

return

have,

These expectations
reality.

was widely

of democracy at national,

would be accompanied by its

1976.

of democracy was
supporters,

It

the game, is

changes since

lack

this

thesis,

of the club

the re-establishment

other

democracy throughout

of authentic

has undergone the.

that

in the Franco

of football

of the politicization

aspect

that,

by Agusti

was

because of the

Montal,

interviewed

is experiencing
in various
a democratization
country
that
this
then it is logical
should reach football.
by the Barcelona
Publications
was spearheaded

by

"

Barrabs.
Don Balon, Sport, Dicen and the short-lived
El Mundo Deportivo,
towards
and As, were luke-warm in their attitude
in the few articles
the return of democracy to football,
that
whilst
for example 15 September 1976, the
Marca, dedicated to the subject,
to raise
accused of "attempting
would-be reformers were myopically
the level of political
content in Spanish sport to an intolerable
ironic
bizarre
height",
accusation
and
a
given Marca's history,
discussed in the Introduction
of this thesis.
362

campaign in favour

strength

of this

without

adjectives"

of Benito

appointment

step

but

that

he took

was to decree

federations
after
winter

that

of

all

road,
the

at least

every

President

the earlier

in September 1976,

just

his

Spanish

of

one month
of

the

within

These elections

himself.

RFEF Presidents,

was the

27

sport".

various

six

The first

taking

after

office,

sports

months, -and there-

duly

took place

was alleged

power by skilfully

in the
that

arranging

28

unopposed in December 1976.

both of the general

in the anti-

priorities

in some cases it

managed to retain

was elected

was a demonstration

one of

elections

years.

of the election

Pablo Porta

that

of 1977, although

and spring

the conditions

four

Nevertheless,

the whole of the Franco period.

Presidents

face
would have to

the incumbent

unlike

declared

down this

26

was made by the Movimiento

democratization

complete

of "democracy

the well-received

as Delegado_Nacibnal

had characterized

immediately

Castejn

to change until

ironically,

that

style

the arrival

inevitable.

was really

Castejn

that,

an appointment

"gradual

not begin

did

the situation

democratic

to football

of reform,

His victory

esteem in which he was held,

and of the general

belief

that

he

26. This allegation

was made to the author, with the use of hindsight,
interviewees:
by the following
Julian Garcia Candau, Agust ( Montal,
Nicolau Casaus, Manuel Vazquez Montalban, and Pablo Porta.
27. Quoted in an interview
September 1976.
with Don Balon, No. 50,16
for example in Barrabs, No. 223, '6 January 1977,
28. It was alleged,
in the recent
that Miguel Garcia Redondo partially
owed his victory
federation
at the Spanish handball
presidential
to his
elections
limiting
to the Presidents
the franchise
and Vice-Presidents-of
the
from the election
the players and referees.
various clubs, excluding

363

Barcelona,

Athletic

democratic

clubs,

Porta

in detail

as illustrated

1977, Porta

executive

democratic

of Porta

commission,
Gregorio
this

for

to democracy.

the future

franchise

more extensive
29

than had

In addition,

he planned

federation.

unanimously

were almost

to the demand for

of Porta

clubs

new

These

accepted

Paunero,

the return

at the annual

to draft

of internal

in January

was to establish,

under the chairmanship

1977, a

of RFEF and Real Madrid

proposals

for

reform.

member of at least

four

years,

three

the President,

and directors.

years

standing

would vote,

who would afterwards

This proposal

was criticised

Vice-

Three

commission recommended a system in which every

club

for

voted

1977.30

democracy at the football

months later,

most

Four,

for

rules

norms to be adopted by the regional

The response

President

a far

with

RFEF assembly in July

President

FC

of the members of the

and of all

the December 1976 elections.

proposals

special

in Chapter

drafted

he personally

year,

committee,
for

existed

the three

up to the image of a convert

lived

of the RFEF President

election

Indeed,

in office.

In March of that

reform

and Real Sociedad,

de Bilbao

to continue

During

democracy in football,

campaign for

about his

Was genuine

at least

choose his

adult
every

own Vice-

by certain

29. According to the archives of the RFEF, Porta created a form of

50%
in
of the votes were allocated
to the
which
electoral
college,
professional
clubs, 30% to the local amateur clubs, organized into
federations,
the regional
and 15% each to the players and the
referees.
30. For details
of this assembly, see any of the specialist
sports
newspapers, 14-16 July 1977.

364

the democratic

with

War. 31

Civil

Press,

of the sporting

sections

favourably

norms which existed

at the football

these criticisms,

the proposals

Despite

by practically
at the July

accepted
presidential

in

democracy
for

year
of

the

that

to

regard

was completely

footballers.
power
forty

almost

31.

of

the

for

the re-establishment

the

The speed

consequence

the

of

clubs

campaign

for

reform.

With

however,
during

an improvement

in

status

level.

football

the

unequal

significant

the

Both

they

of

of

players

different.

was the

national

RFEF nor

politicization,

consequence,
the

at

powerful

by the

to history.

did

the

the
clubs
the

practically

quo that

poor,

Franco

years,

and the
working

RFEF

conditions
in

everything

had existed

for

years.

grievances,

For
No.

In

the

democratic-

same way as it

the

of

from

lose

to maintain

The obvious
major

received

had much to

the

their

aspect

treatment

situation

obviously
of

by embracing

year

game was partly

leadership

the

fourth

the

patronized
the

lose

the

of

very

and the "organic

was consigned

democracy

of

re-establishment

neither

had much to

in

football,

democratization

this

fact

Spanish

to vote

was the important

therefore,

were received

200 members whose names had been

approximately
able

the

and were overwhelmingly

recommenced at the clubs,

drawn out of a hat being

before

clubs

Thenceforth,

1977 RFEF assembly.

system of only

1977,

of the clubs,

all

elections

democracy"

compared the proposals

who unfavourably

details
232,11

way for

the footballers

discussed

in detail

of Spain to resolve
in Chapter

Five of this

April
see Dicen,
of these criticisms,
1977 and Don Baln,
No. 79,11
April

365

their

seven

thesis,

1977, Barrabs
April
1977.

was to form an independent

fessional
Spanish

had made several

attempts

of the clubs

opposition

however,

1976 onward,

partly

climate.

The-first
took place

union

Chapter

tentative
in Madrid

Eight,

arranged

this

sporting

in January

from

goal

The
1968

From

authorities.

became

to unite

and challenging

towards

step

done. 32

the implacable

of the footballers

political

the formation

of a trade

1976, when Jose Angel Iribar,

black

de Bilbao

of the Athletic

organizer

toward

and the Francoist

because of the exciting

stronger,

had already

had come up against

the desire

as the pro-

or association,

countries

but on every occasion

onwards,

union

of most others

players
players

trade

armbands gesture

a meeting

of the captains

start,

the Association

the

discussed

in

of the 54 professional

teams.

Despite

promising

(AFE) did not come into

Footballers

delay had two major

two-year
put every
players

this

possible

themselves

"conditioned

obstacle

causes.

One of the objectives

Firstly,

until

December 1977.

the clubs

in the path of the players.

were extremely

to be docile,

existence

of Spanish

passive

unquestioning

due to having
robots

for

and the RFEF

33

Secondly,

the

been

so many years".

of the AFE was to demonstrate

This

34

that

to form a united and lasting

32. The French footballers
were the first
In 1968 the Dutch players followed suit in 1970, the
trade union.
in 1975 and the Portuguese in
West Germans in 1971, the British
1976.
33. For example, many clubs prevented their
players from attending,
during the period 1976-1977, the meetings that eventually
culminated
in the formation of the AFE, claiming
that they were needed for
insignificant
friendly
training
even before completely
matches.
34. These are the words of Carles Rexach to the author.

366

were intelligent

footballers
their

and demands.

opinions

Press into

their

to gain respect

easier

The three

conditions.

number of enquiries

discovered,

quickly

retention

when a player's

contract

had expired

the clubs

to keep ahead with

whole of Spain by resorting

The French footballers

America,

the biggest

right

had been several

brief

in Argentina

players'

problems

in the

1979.

how desperate

they had become.

the football

clubs

several

in 1969
in South

strikes

in 1971.

demonstrated

with

three

been on strike

of the Spanish players

Apart

from these

was unprecedented,

The sporting
notable

and

authorities,

exceptions,

35. See, for example, Dicen, 8 October 1976 and 11 May 1977, or
1976 and No. 86,30
May 1977.
Don Balon, No. 30 27 April,
36.

of

and to compel

in January

action

had unsuccessfully

and the Press,

working

the AFE shocked the

the action

few examples,

was

and the RFEF, little

of these

In frustration,

to strike

occurring

in their

abolished,

of the clubs

the settlement

of 1977 and 1978.

it

that

payments of wages and bonuses.

their

because of the intransigence

was made towards

however,

to have the clubs'

system,

and 1971, and there

out by the

of the AFE were to obtain

objectives

concrete
security

negotiations

the players

carried

improvement

than a material

to the social

progress

for

new respect

affiliation

Largely

for

of respect

views. 35

political

The Spanish footballers

far

of this

A sign

by the AFE was the high

achieved

`deserving

professionals,

"

to the rule
to the strike
The exception
of hostile
reaction
were
Madrid daily
Don Baln and the centre-left
Pafs and
newspapertEl
16.
For concrete
Diario
examples,
see any of these publications
1979.
from 12 January
to 7 February

367

hostility,

with

reacted

just

as hostile,

that

and this

their

grievances

to

were conceded
footballers
Western

were
Europe:

movement after

the

From the

AFE.

to

recognized

showmen as during

expiry

of

the

Franco

protesting

37.

locking

in some other

of

September

1981,

any meaningful

the

colleagues

security

system:

workers,

Spanish

throughout
freedom

labour
than

rather

April

reforms

1984 onwards,

a proper

that

so rigid

as their

contract;

them as professional

and consequently

of unpaid players

social

their

of

contract
as artists

or

years.

The problem of the-debting

resolved,

autumn

the

in

before

same rights

affiliation

RFEF remained

players

necessary

to enjoy'the

the

had to

the mere undertaking

with

and the

clubs
by the

1984 were
the

why the footballers

explains

weeks on strike

strikes

1982 and September

which

of

controversial

would be

of supporters

would be examined. 30

The intransigence
further

the majority

largely

three

to work after

return

that

however,

They did not expect,

had. expected. 37

which the players

an attitude

clubs,

there

however,

are still

themselves
dramatic

several

in their

way. 39

has still

examples each season

dressing

Despite

not been,

this

room or
remaining

had expected
was alleged
That the players
such a reaction
Bilbao
by Caries
Rexach, by the former Athletic_de
author
by Luis Aragones,
Clemente,
Jose Angel Iribar
and Javier
Real Madrid
de Madrid player,
Atletico
and by the former
Manuel Velazquez.

to the
players
the former
player

to the author their

38. Luis Aragones and Manuel Velazquez recalled
disappointment
of the majority
of supporters, and
at the attitudes
favourable,
been
then
had
this
perhaps the
that,
attitude
added
footballers
morale which would
would have received a boost to their
have helped them to prolong the strike.
39. See, for example, As, 8 October 1985, for details
of the lock-in
dressing-room
players of second division
protest of the disgruntled,
club Jerez.
368

however,

problem,
improve

their

political

level.

The fifth
in

presence

1970s,

but

were

The country
instead,

footballing

Ministry

can be said

a full

final

been the most important

into

completely
dictatorship
in-the

late

"anti-

about the fate

1976 of

since

Spain.

ostracized

and isolated,

but

member of both the European Economic

alliance.

of the Real Madrid

-aspect of politicization

from

football

the

years,

in Francoist

of advantage

significance

Franco

of football

now has neither

any kind

successes

The regionalist

and

in the 1950s.

diplomatically

on the contrary,

to extract

social

to an

transition

converted

Community and of the NATO military

attempt

the

struggle.

and coaches,

Spanish

the Hungarians

is no longer

Spanish Foreign

the

entered
not

the

players

of the politicization

aspect

that

during

during

certainly

way, little

In a similar

is

hard

of

has been raised

European

Yugoslavs

like

Communist symbols"

the sixth

East

significance

Several

they

years

struggle

of

of politicization
the

of

any remaining

to democracy.

years

to

managed considerably

40

aspect
Spain

ten

through

of the players

consciousness

unprecedented

lost

these

of

have

Spain

of

conditions

working

consequence

major

footballers

the

In consequence,

the necessity

aspect during

nor desire

to

from the numerous international

club

or of the national

of Spanish football,
isolated

the

in this

thesis,

the transition

team.

the seventh

and

has undoubtedly
from dictatorship

has been made in Garcia Candnau, op, cit.

40. This allegation
P. 87, and
to the author by Caries Rexach, Luis Aragones and Manuel Velazquez.
369

to democracy.

of Franco would reduce this

between
proportions

than

during

giant

have

never

further

in

tension

supporters

of
for

support

the

the

football

during

arena for

Chapter

Basque

to claim

the expression

had been plenty

even before

Basque

this

it

these

years

is

to the events

during

away

political
the

two

addition,

players

and

demonstrating

clearly

should

43

as illustrated

incidents

,
their

Spanish
as an important

The principle
in Chapter

and gestures

in

Eight,

football

As remarked at the conclusion

and gestures

the transition

that

have served

sentiment.

that,

of regionalist

incidents

by the

In

was inevitable

of regionalist
claim

fiercer
between

42

present.

created

clubs

the death of the dictator.

Eight,

at

the passing,

autonomy.

that

the past eleven

argument to support
there

of

than

even

Relations

years.

has been

two major

cause

Franco

been worse

football

is possible

It

the

has assumed

Madrid

that

41 the rivalry,

tension,

regionalist

and Real

FC Barcelona

clubs

of many who thought

To the surprise

should

from dictatorship

be seen as a prelude
to democracy.

41. Caries Rexach, Agusti Montal and Nicolau Casaus and most people
connected with FC Barcelona expected that this tension would
Manuel Vazquez Montalban
decrease with the death of the dictator.
journalist,
however, claimed
late
Dicen
the
Alex
J.
Botines,
and
that this was an unrealistic
given the stormy history
expectation,
War Barca-Real Madrid relations
and the amount of
of pre-Civil
dictatorship
years of centralist
antagon si that forty
regionalist
had stored up.
42.

43.

is
by
fact
demonstrated
the
that,
1981,
This state
affairs
since
of
the President
of both giant
clubs have consistently
and directors
by
in
to
the
the
their
attend
refusing
match
counterparts
snubbed
to greet each other
at the annual
and by refusing
opposing
stadium,
is the unprecedented
in July.
Further
RFEF assemblies
evidence
by Bam
1979, which
"transfer
on Real in February
war" declared
at the time of writing.
still
continues
by Manuel Vazquez Montalbn,
This claim has been made to the author
Julian
Garcia Candau and Alex J. Botines,
and in Vicente
Marco,
1981, -. pp. 203-205.
Madrid,
del deporte,
Historias

370

of

The second
explosion
in

of

Valencia,
these
the

This

to be finally

expected

for

support

the

re-establishment

their

support

whilst

the

for

football

to

remain

Franco,

the

in

of

national

democracy

of
with

so by means of

the

clubs

their

gestures

Galicia,
life

of

in

from

apart
regional

clubs

their

open with

these

formerly

in

aspects

come out

two causes
did

supporters

all

veritable
principally

extent

to

and players

these

a lesser

of

1975,

after

affected

death

permitted

The directors

autonomy.

for

the

concerns

occurred

explosion

long-awaited

the

claim

and to

was impossible

and it
After

process.

that

and Catalonia,

and Andaluia.

regions,

this

support

sentiment

regionalist

Basque Country

the

to

arguement

and regional

largely

demonstrated

and-. comments,
flags

outlawed

and

songs.

is safe to argue that

It

political

forces

disaffected

regions

politicizing

or clandestine

had gradually
major

football

events

that

the political

come to realize
clubs

of their

contributed
significance

and the February

themselves.
the regionalist

existence,

the social
regions.

most to these
of Bam

1975 controversial

in football-of-the

as inevitable

was just

regionalist

exile

the involvement

During

as the clubs
the'long

parties

political

were-the
expulsion

of-the

years

of

and politicians
importance'of

and political
In a Catalan

context,

activists

the

the two

recognizing

June, 1970. Gurucetascandal

of Johann-, Cruyff.

in a brief
interview
44. This is evidenced by Josep Tarradellas,
that:
9 February 1979, declaring
E1 Mundo Doportivo,
__

44

With

with

'even though I know-next

"I have always been a Barca supporter,
I think
that I. have always,
to nothing
deep,
about football.
down, been aware of the social.
and political"significance
of
just
Bam,
as they say, more-than
of it being,
But: I
a club.
significance
remember being reminded of this
in
when reading,
in Saint Martin
le Beau,: about the popular
exile
to-.
reaction
"
the Guruceta
scandals.
and Cruyff

371

armbands protest

to be expected

that

one of the first

would be to the football

were often

Camp Nou in

Javier

ArzalluS

clubs

and

1aki

Sabadell

expressions

of regionalist

1960s and early

years,

for

Catalan
'the

situation,
continued

sentiment,

1970s. 46

and Jordi

Carlos

Garaicoechea,

enjoyed

the ambience

whilst

or Real Sociedad home match. 4

as a focus

and Sant Andreu clubs

from clandestinety,

a warm welcome at Barca's

Esnaola have frequently

to the Catalan

was only

made by these

Both Josep Terradellas

post-Franco

de Bilbao

have served

With reference

the black

memory, it

visits

or emerging

should not be assumed from the above,

It

late

from exile
stadium.

immediate

in their

publicized

to be found receiving

and Athletic

of either

three

the

fresh

still

events

upon. returning

politicians.,

. occurrence'was

of September 1975.

With these recent

Pujol

the significant

to the Basque situation,

regard

however, 'that

only

these

or Basque sentiment.
home matches of both

the

to serve as collective

as they had begun-to

In the Basque context,

do in the.

mention

should

45. For a complete report on the presence of these political

personNo. 284,4
stadia of Spain, see Don'Bal6n,
alities
at the football
details
dramatic
March 1981. For specific
of Josep. Tarradella's
appearance at the Bar a-Real Madrid game of January 1980, see
24 January 1980, and
El Mundo Deportivo
and'Dicen,
World Soccer, March 1980.
the President
46. As testified
to the author by Jordi Golobart,
of: the
forbidden
Sant Andreu club since 1975, the return to the previously
in
the
1976
team
summer
uniform
of
was-yellow
senyera red and
extremely popular with the supporters. - In the Mords of Golobart,
"during the transition
years, our home games, were a festival
of red
both on the field
For the
and on the terraces".,
and yellow stripes,
of the post-Franco
situation
political
significance
at the Sabadell
del
Centre d' Esports Sabadell,
historia
book
La
the
club, see
7 August 1977, or Sport 29
Deportivo,
Barcelona, 1984 and El MMundo
February 1980.
372

be made of

again

is

Pamplona

which

in

role

significant

fact

the

debate

the

the

has,

Osasuna

that

over

the, region

whether
be part

should

capital,

for

directors,

their

or

not. 47

return

to

the

all-Basque

player

policy

that.

War,

and the

team has,

in

consequence,

the

Civil

mixture

of

regions,

with

the

Basque

causing

violent

smaller

Basque

acted
in

extent

and Alava.

flag

during

Sestao
for

as arenas

to

proportion

the
their

In the same way as it

Athletic

de Bilbao

Osasuna

and,:

the

less

Madrid.

expression

of-Basque.

for

in

As,

The
have
a lesser

sentiment"to

not be assumed that

26 April

4'

of. supporters.,;,

and Real Sociedad have, served

This was alleged

12 January
1984.

by

by

example,

only. FCBarcelona,

as_a, focus
r';; ..,,.

47.

of

Osasuna

unequivocally,

visitsofReal.

number

provinces

sympathies

of, Vitoria,,

should

the

be a

Spanish

Basque

of

to

before-

to

other

and Alaves

reduced

autonomous

maintained

the, other

of.

refused

continued

section

Navarre,

have

part,

theirrpolitical

ikurrifia,

that

incidents

A large

48

demonstrated

have

clubs,

from

no players

of

Basque

and imports-from

players

practically

however,

supporters,

also

Navarrese

Vizcaya

Guipzcoa,

waving

local

the

of

region

The club

1975,
,.
-,played

since

1983 and, in

Don-Balon,,

for, Catalan
.,

No.. 431,

for example,:; in, season: 1987/88,, the. Osasuna

48. At the time of writing,
15 were from Navarre province,
first
team squad of 23 players,
five
from Madrid, one from Cadiz, two from England, and none from the
other Basque provinces.
in
Pamplona
to
October 1986, their
Madrid
49. During the visit
Real
of
their Spanish
team coach was stoned before the game, and later
by a, missile
international
from the
Ricardo Gallego was hospitalized
for a cup match in February 1987,
When Real next visited,
crowd.
the referee came close to abandoning the match because of the
For further
details,
unprecedented number of missiles.
see Marca
and As, of 6 October 1986 and 26 February 1987.

373

and Basque nationalist

between football

connection
to these

moved towards

been traditionally
in contrast

regarded

to local

Ramos Costa,

Socialista

dialect

blue

in October

and ordered

in both Castilian

to be written

flag,

red,

1975,

of

Ramos Costa

the monthly

club

and the Valencian

In August 1977, he introduced

regional

was

of the Partit

and supporter

upon assuming office,

promises

election

copy of the Valencia

traditional

businessman

having

club of the region,

change of posture

President,

Immediately

of Catalan. 51

edge, for

This

the Valencia

image, after

as the non-valencianista

successful

de Valencia.

magazine Mestalla

to democracy,

a regionalist

Levante. 5

rivals

out one of his

carried

exact

adopting

due to the ascendancy to club

Antoni

the

1975 has been confined

since

from dictatorship

the transition

gradually

largely

and regionalism

be supposed that

two regions.

During
club

sentiment,

it

should

neither

that

a shirt

and yellow

stripes

was an
with

use in matches when the team had to change out of its

all-white

This new shirt

stripe.

reception

because of its

the first

time in a league match against

significance

political

a hostile

received
when it

Real Madrid

was worn for

in the Estadio

Bernabeu. 52

Three other
transition

clubs

from dictatorship

details,
50. For further
February 1980.
51.
52.

had a regionalist

significance

to democracy,

see a special

from No. 164,

See Mestalla,
details
For further
of this
1977.
October
The political
in Garcia Candau,
discussed

a significance

report

December 1975
hostile
recep
significance
op. cit.,
pp.

374

during

in Don Baln,

the

that

was

No. 230 17

onwards.
tion, see Marca and As, 23
of this reception
was also
25/26.

in

reflected,
of

same way as that

the

a team uniform

particular

of

the

the

Valencia

and design

same colours

de Vigo; 53 Real

Celta

region:

of

Betis

the

of
of

by the

club,

flag

Seville;

wearing
that

of

54 Las

Palmas. 55

is appropriate

It
political
the
of

gauche divine
should

provoked

intellectual

to follow.

The Catalan

supporters

by these

developed
positive

into,

Franco
of

articles

the

the club

with

The death

period.

about what the role

by' the

club's

of Barca

to democracy that

from dictatorship,

was

56

club

President

course of 1976 and 1977, that

desired

the

avalanche

a veritable

be in the transition

expected

however, to examine in detail

during

projection

regionalist

dictator

stage,

from 1975 onwards of FC Barcelona,

significance

sharpest
the

at this

Agusti
he largely

intellectuals.

role

demonstrated,

in

the role

for

accepted

He was-eager-to

in his own words,

and influential

Montal

the club

see FC Barcelona

"more than a club". -by playing

in political

the

events. -; Montal,

fully
a-

himself

53. For further

details,
see Don Baln, No. 232,23 December 1979.
Real
Betis,
54. For details
the
of
significance
see
regionalist
of
Don Balon, No. 230,17 February 1980 and As, 10 November 1980.
details
55. See Garcia Candau, op. cit.,
p. 26 for further
about the
of the Las Palmas club.
regionalist
significance
56. Three of the most significant
appeared in the
of these articles
"El
Christmas special edition
of Bar9a,. No.. 1049, -23 December 1915:
by Joan Antont_Gonzalez
Barra, bandera democrtica deCa7talunya,
by Josep Ramoneda;
Ca-Tsarnovas;"El Bar a-y el futuro democratico"
in Catalan "Futbol i politica".
The
Armand Caraben's article
1050,30
No.
December 1975,
Barra,
following
of
week's edition
futbol"by
"PolitecaTy,
Manuel Vzquez
the
containe,
article
Montalban, the undisputed leader of the gauche divine group, and
there commenced a three-part
three weeks later
series of articles,
beginning in Barca, No. 1053 20 January 1976, by Joan Josep Artelle
Club
Democracia
deporte".
Barcelona:
"Ftbol
y
entitled
375

founder

formed or reconstituted
stage

Catalan

the policy

He also continued

increasing

the use of the Catalan

national

In February
consciousness
Cruyff

flag,

1977, a controversy

of the Barra

was expelled

against

for

Malaga, on this

produced a pitch

dubious

invasion

Cruyff

received

a verdict

which provoked

media. 58

Montal

57.

launched

which

referee

a harsh
an outraged
a bitter

raised

to new heights.

further,

scoreboard.
the

Antonio

three-match
response
attack

the political

Dutch star

for, a' second 'time

Johann

in a match

The sending-off

to the one during

of June 1970, in which Castilian

attacked.

electronic

in the Camp Nou.

similar

of

in'the'"Cmp-Nou.

reasons

occasion

to

free

completely

number of senyeras,

occurred

supporters

tendencies

predecessors-in

a wholly'Catalan

which appeared

newly-

in the` club' magazine Barca,

increasing
the
complemented

scoreboard

allowed

political

ofthis

language

and, in December 1976, installed

Catalan

of all

parties

charge. 57

This

party,

immense Palau Blauarana

in the club's

rallies

i"Unix

Conaeraincia

member of Pujol's

the Guruceta

Melero

affair

was violently

suspension

from the RFEF,

from the whole Catalan

on'the

"dictatorial

the PalauBlaugrana
In June 1976, for example,
was used for the
Catalunya,
inaugural
at which
assembly of the PartitSocialistade
Torres-were
Rexach and Antoni
Caries
the Barca players
present,
and
de Catalunva
L'Assemblea
by the broad-based
to
two monfhs later
i
Libertat,
launch its campaign Per L'Amnistia
a meeting
which
-la
Agustr'
featured
speeches from both the then Barra President

Niiccollau Casaus.
For further
Montal and the future Vice-President
No.
Don
Balon,
details
`"39, June'1976,
and No.
of these events, see
'=
45,10 August 1976.
v
58.

'and
Cruyff
details
the
For further
. the reaction
expulsion
of
of
from 7 to 18
Catalan
and Sport,
media, see El Mundo Deportivo
1977.
February

376

the

for

methods" of the RFEF, and called

Montal's
the

was cynically

of

more strongly

and the
Catalan

by demanding

autonomous

himself

presidential

in Chapters

1977,

July
the

lack

Partit

Socialista

Catalan

This

allegation

the

of

away from

was made even

the

annual

club

Autonomy

of-Catalonia's
of

objective

attention

delighted

Montal

in January

with

a clear

Generalitat,

the

1978.

Montal

Statute
traditional

significance:

political

was prevented

the Franco years:

Antoni

de Catalunya,

militant

from holding

Ferran

declined

to

There were two

Esguerra_Republicana

Catalanist

Unificat

the real

of success on the field,

Three and Eight,

during

that

body. 61

re-election

candidates

office

60

restoration

governing

for

Casaus, the former

field.

re-establishment

Because of this
present

in

when,

RFEF was to distract

on the

Barra

subsequent

at the time

suggested

on the

attack

failures

assembly

the RFEF

of

Pablo Porta. 59

President

It

the resignation

Arino,

Nicolau
who, as seen

any sporting

a member of the

whose candidature

was supported

February 1977, as
59. Agusti Montal was quoted in Don Balon, No. 72,21
of the suspension
about the RFEF, in the light
saying the following
of Cruyf f:
for
has
happened,
"The principal
what
responsible
persons
what
is happening and what can happen are the leaders of the RFEF.
The structure
of Spanish football
-have'to be radically
changed
and brought up to date with the growing democratization
of the
country. "
in
Lorente
Marca, 11 February
by
Maria
60. This allegation
Jose
was made
1977, and by his colleague Antonio Valencia in the same newspaper
ten days later.
61.

in
Marca 27 July 1977 -'by Jose
This allegation
was affirmed
Lorente,
President
unpopular
who spoke of "an increasingly
in order
to cover-up
for-the
to political
stunts
resorting
for the past three years".
trophies

377

Maria
who is
lack of

by the
adopt

an all-Catalan

clubs.

62

Josep

Lluis

Vizcaya

the

of

majority

of

Nunez,

and in the sporting

and Nnez"s subsequent

factors

practical

sporting

Barcelona

members. 64

In spite
a far

of his

low political

and of having
although

by accusing
consistently

without

allegations.

65

1979: a "transfer
the bizarre

Real Madrid
benefited

He then proceeded
war" on Real,

situation

62. For further

details
of this
proposals of each candidate,
Sport from 16 December 1977
63. See interviews
with Nnez in
1978, in El Mundo Deportivo,
and in Sport 2 January 1978.
64.

in

Madrid

and Casaus,

to claim

considerations

of having

been. "Franco's

with

This

that
the FC

to be

the RFEF,
these

in February

from May 1980 onwards,

automatically

to raise

reached
by 20%

presidential
election
campaign and the
El Mundo Deportiyo,
see either
Diceg or
to 10 January 1978.
Dicen, 17 December 1977 and 4 January
23 December 1977, and 7 January 1978,

Nu ez in Dicen,

378
t-

the

team"

by Agusti
has been made to the author
This allegation
Montal,
Nicolau
Rexach and Juan Jose Castillo;
Casaus, Cartes
and in
Barcelona
the presidential
after
sport
newspapers
elections,
10 January 1977,5-8
December 1981 and 27-30 May 1985.

65. See interview

in

Nildez immediately

to support

evidence

with

Nfiez proved

than Montal.,

to declare,

of Barca agreeing

born

of power. 63

corridors

due to dominating

which,

was

actually
Real

put

Basque

The winner

however,

profile,

any concrete

offering

to

political

Barca President

more controversial

began his reign

both Montal

outweigh

the

of

to

in December 1981 and May'

re-election

1985, has caused many, including

that

millionaire

promised

who aggressively

and who proposed

was elected.

construction

a self-made

shade both on the field

result,

to

similar

however,

two,

these

intellectuals,

divine

policy

player

Neither

province,

gauche

29 January

1978.

the
i. e.

8-

made to

any offer
of

the

low-in

then have failed

Throughout
there

between the style

This

the

club's

Catalans

players

touch

their

with

Practically
level

or

to use

all
other,

their

did

high

players,

them learnt

and they

the

not

and the

supporters
of

remained

share

The Basque

supporters.

contrast

in the Bar ca team,

possibly

were

profile

the Basque players

the

and this

1980s and since

Basque

community

difficult

and popularity

in Chapter

just

Basque
as, - shall
to-further

Eight,

and that

of

during

as clear

to be

meant

political

in, contrast,

willing,

all

aspirations.
were

of

completely

the
in

as a whole.
language
shortly

to

one

be seen,..:

the 'cause

of

gesture

made a political

than the black

in, December 1976,

demonstrated:

was clearly

that

Basque

derby match in San Sebastian,

transmitted.

and Athletic

when

produced even more

armbands gestureof-September-1975.

Spain by RTVE, the Real Sociedad

66.

giant

Rt

This willingness

the local

two

There continued

autonomy.

controversy

the

of FC Barcelona

to democracy.

from dictatorship

very few native

as seen in detail

the Franco period,

the two major Basque clubs.

the transition

the early

because

to improve.

substantially

was a huge contrast

Largely

between

relations

of Spain reached an unprecedented

clubs

that

Nunez,

and provocative

aggressive

by Real-66

any player

about

any club

-to-the

de Bilbao

Before
whole of

players

ran out

This 20% extra

promise by Nez caused Ba rqa to sign-up'many..
in the first
team by the
overpriced
players
who were not required
seasons playing
coach,
and so spent several
only, a handful
of
the clearest
examples being Jesus Landburu,
competitive
matches,
Marcos Alonso,
Urbann Ortega and. Raul- Amarilla..
'.:

379

ikurrifia

together

holding

the still-outlawed

capacity

crowd.

The armed police

the stadium

During

them from doing so.

prevented
microphones

down, in order

had to be turned

in favour

of an amnesty for

heard in homes and bars across

The ikurrifia
idea of the Athletic
significant
completely

personal

international
his

had been
HASI,

which

later
of

national

goalkeeper's

by the

requested

which
team in

manager

political

stance.

Ladislas
7

to

views,

political

national

was alleged

largest

According

member,

that

to
to

in'the
to

maximum attention

69 or

Kubala

Basque

the

overlook

Irrbar,

never
that

refuse

to

to

the

himself,

because
neither

party
Batasuna
continue
Bilbao,

of
of

the
his=
these

67. For a full

account of the event, see Garcia Candau, op. cit.,
pp. 30-32.
interview
68. Information
revealed during author's
with Jose Angel
Iribar.
69. This was alleged in As, 19 September 1976,, and inDon Baln, No. 54 13 October 1976.
70. This allegation
was made in Dicen, 20 October 1976.

380

made

Iribar

nationalist)
Herri

49

record

RFEF had requested

Irrbar

The most

was a'

at the time either

component

draw

' however,

`"

had played'a

Iribar

(radical

abertzale

was the

team, but mysteriously

the national

he was a prominent
order

from being

prisoners

Jose Angel Iribar.

of Iribar,

By June 1975,

became the

the crowd's

armbands gesture,

goalkeeper
gesture

It

appearance.

coalition,
the

one.

matches for

fiftieth

the earlier

de Bilbao

and controversial

the television

to prevent

Basque political

'

physically,

match,

on

Spain. 67

like

gesture,

the same time

exactly

the'same

the

of

to impound

-'attempted

of Real Sociedad

but officials

terraces,

to the delight

actually

present

in the same way as they were doing'at

the flag,

chants

flag,

in

is correct:

allegations

"

.:

for. the fiftieth

"I failed
to play for the national
time in in the
-.
latter
By 1976, it had
of 1975 because I was injured.
part
to me that it would be a highly,
effective
occurred
gesture
against
invitations
the Spanish State to turn down all
of Kubala's
to make
believe
I
farewell
that the gesture
fiftieth
appearance.
a
and
was
drawn
because
to the cause of
attention
was
nationwide
a success,
Basque autonomy and an amnesty for political
But to
prisoners.
that this was requested
of me by HASI is completely
suggest
wrong,
just
that
the-RFEF., expelled
as it is wrong to allege
me from the
It was completely
team.
my own decision,
national
and one that
I
71
by no means regret".
1 2,

The impact of Iribar's

jeers

he used to receive

that

cheers

boycott

throughout
for

and, in Madrid and SevillL

throwing.

72

It

is not only

Spain'gradually',

example,

Iribar,

however,

to democracy.
connecting

stadia

the appearance of the Athletic

at, Iribar

to

today,
de Bilbao-

fa;

who has received

during

with

turned

with-, the Athletic

Chants of "Viva

the Basque clubs

and,

abuse: and even missile-

directed;

still,

the Basque Country

abuse in the Spanish

dictatorship

greeted

outside

The applause

team of which he is now coach. 73

motivated

(crudely

is

A degree of hostility

when he travels
reserve

was enormous..

the transition

from

Espana! " and "Etarras!

ETA terrorism)

de. Bilbao

teams, accompanied by the waving of hundreds

politically

"

have frequently

and Real-Sociedad.

of Spanish flags

-,

and'even,

interview
71. Author's
with Jose Angel Irrbar.
72. Irihar
to the author that he has been struck by missiles
recalled
in, Madrid, Sevilla,.
thrown from the crowd on four occasions,
Burgos
and Santander.
interview
73. Author's
with Irrbar.

381

in

stated
of

burning

the

on occasions,

hooligans,

young

travelling

successful

Irrbar,

Clemente

political

is

have

yet

of

gained

Euzkadi".

to

account

75
for

our
is

violence

of

de Bilbao
of

has nevertheless

team goalkeeper.

In

Real

Athletic's

Madrid,

on

the

freedom

from

Basque

injustice",

Spanish

State",

he has frequently

76;

the

his
ex-

"we Basques

that

". the

an integral

used' racial,

victories.

,_

is

but

of
that

' the

Unlike

Party,

declared

"Navarre

and that

bard-fought

1986.

to

Nationalist

has, boldly,
the

1981

Clemente,

higher-than-that

remained

from

the. Basque. clubs

of, Javier

coach

Clemente

addition,

by groups,

attacks

surrounding

declarations

a supporter

national

mother

tension

controversial
Athletic

profile

not

Sur of

as already

_.,

significant

by the

highly

been violent

also
Ultra

the

4-, Furthermore,

supporters.

politically

was fuelled

ikurrina.?

have

especially

Basque

This

the

there

Epilogue,

this

of

part

explanations

;, -',

r_

74. As revealed to the author by Javier Clemente, whilst

he'was the
..
before an October 1982 game
de Bilbao coach, he noticed,
Athletic
that an ikurrina
was-being symbolically
away to Racing de Santander,
He attempted to intervene,
burned on the terraces.
along with
but the national
police refused: to allow him
several of his players,
to enter onto the terraces.
interview
from
75. Those quotations
taken
an
with Clemente. in
are
December 1985.
Cambio 16 No. 731,2
76.

in
After
the decisive
away to Valencia
victory
their
Spanish
would retain
meant that Athletic
that:
Clemente was quoted as saying
"We won because we are Basques, a special

April'1984,
championship

which
crown,

people".

had
beaten
Athletic
FC Barcelona in a
The following
month, after
Bilbao
the
team had achieved the
that
final,
violent
meaning
cup
league and cup "double", -he declared to the Press. that:
prestigious
"We Basques are a tough people.
with superioropponents
against
triumph. "

For details
of Clemente's declarations,
1984.
5-6
May
23
As,
April
and
see
382

We know how to struggle

resources*'and
eventually

and-thereaction

to them,

The politically-motivated
and Clemente,

Iribar

defensive

of their
of this

the 1982 World Cup finals

It

is necessary

ship

respect

lack

a certain

for

Athletic

the Spanish

of

The majority

when the Basque dominated

to make any impact

league

of appreciation

tactics.

over-physical

failed

Spanish

as the host

team at

tournament.

stage to arrive

at this

during

football

of Spanish

politicization

the Basque teams,

domination

complete

was lost

team unexpectedly

national

by a general

and occasionally
however,

respect,

offset

1980s, despite

in the early

championship

towards

was partly

and Real Sociedad's

de Bilbao

hostility

about the

at a conclusion

the transition

from dictator-

to democracy.

changes that

The radical
1975 reflect

Football

system.

manipulated

as a political

and Fascist

influence

hooliganism

groups,

democratized
level,

and club

four

the players

previously

to them.

no longer

converted

into

victories

of the Spanish

regional
during

aspect

the Spanish
for

after

whilst

working

between

years

eight

football

Spanish

the fundamental

"anti-Communist

both at

of struggle
rights

and coaches

and respect
in Spain are

teams are not now used in an attempt

was clearly

of the politicization
responsible

383

for

capturing

and

and the international

symbols",

position

and the

classes,

the connection

East Europe players

since

society

the death of Franco,

since

image and diplomatic

the transition,

football

systematically

has disappeared.

have gained

denied

the poor overseas

for

in the game, except

institutional
strikes,

is no longer

soporific

and ultra-Right

has been completely

Spanish

changes to the whole of Spanish

the radical

Spanish political

have transformed

of

the country.

to improve
The

the most important

one

the newspaper headlines

and contributing
ators.

Football

expression

to keeping
continues

of regionalist

ance of Spanish football

foreseeable

future

mainly

the stadia

filled

with

to serve as an important
sentiment,
appears likely
with

regard

politicization.

384

and indeed

impassioned

to this

for

arena

the political

to be maintained
particular

spectthe
signific-

in the
aspect

of

APPENDIX OF AUTHOR'S INTERVIEWS:

Date

Name

Place

Luis Aragones
Joan Josep Artells
Antonio Bars
Rodolfo Belarmo
Alex J. Botines
Paul Breitner
Nicolau Casaus
Javier Castedo
Benito Castejd
Juan Jose Castillo
Javier Clemente
Enrique Collar
Juan Crespo
Ferdinand Daucik
Julio De Miguel
Sheelagh Ellwood
Jacques Ferran
Juan Pablo Fusi
Jose Maria Garcia
Julian Garcia Candau
Enrique Gil de la Vega,
Jordi Golobart
Brian Glanville
Antonio Hernez
Jose Angel Iribar
Sandor Kocsis
Ladislao
Kubala
David Lacey
Julio Lamana
Jose Maria Lorente

Madrid
Barcelona
Barcelona
Madrid
Barcelona
Paris
Barcelona
Madrid
Madrid
Barcelona
Bilbao
Madrid
Bilbao
Barcelona
Valencia
Madrid
Saint Etienne
Madrid
Madrid
Madrid
Madrid
Barcelona
London
Barcelona
Bilbao
Barcelona
Barcelona
Paris
Bilbao
Madrid

22 November 1986
23 May 1986
10 May 1986
3 May 1986
10 October 1984
19 June 1984
21 May 1986
21 November 1986
7 January 1986
3 September 1984
2 June 1986
22 November 1986
30 June 1986
14 April
1985
28 September 1985
23 April 1985
8 June 1984
22 October 1984
9 February 1986
22 July 1986
28 November 1985
27 May 1987
12 August 1984
10 October 1984
1 July 1986
12 April 1985
14 April 1985
27 June 1984
1 July 1986
3 May 1986

Jose

Madrid

11 December

London
Madrid

22 August 1984
20 January 1986

Luis

Karin

David Miller
Luis Molowny

385

1986

APPENDIX OF AUTHOR'S INTERVIEWS:

Name

Place

Date

i
Agust
Montal
Robin Mortensen
Manuel Orantes
Jose Luis Orbegozo
Jesus Pereda
Jose Luis Perez Pay
Pablo Porta
Matias Prats
Keir Radnedge
Caries Rexach
Joaquim Rife
Sir Stanley Rous
Iaki Sez
Raimundo Saporta
Juan Jose Totono
Manuel Vz5uez Montalba
Manuel Velazquez
Miguel Vidal
Sir Kenneth Volstenholme

Barcelona
Barcelona
Madrid
San Sebastian
Barcelona
Madrid
Barcelona
Madrid
London
Barcelona
Barcelona
London
Bilbao
Madrid
Madrid
Barcelona
Madrid
Madrid
London

30
24
4
28
26
17
4
10
26
3
25
29
29
23
13
21
17
27
11

386

April
1986
May 1987
November 1986
June 1986
May 1987
February 1987
May 1986'November 1986
January 1984
May 1986
May 1987
June 1985
June 1986
October 1986
December 1986
May 1986
February 1986
October 1984
August 1987

BIBLIOGRAPHY
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For complete list
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2. Unpublished

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see Appendix.

documents

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various Delecados Nacionales,
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mpico
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E1 Heraldo de Aragn, Zaragoza

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El Mercurio,
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El Pais, Madrid
Pueblo, Madrid
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The Times, London
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Madrid
'Nola!,
Intervi,
Barcelona
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Triunfo,
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390

known, had a far

image than its

more Catalan

between the supporters

of the two clubs

of the Barra followers

were Catalan

the Espanol

whilst

autonomy,

supporters

who favoured

immigrants

to Catalonia

officials,

and even a good number of policemen

none of the Espanol

Practically

the very club

and a provocation

to the native

was widely
slight

In this

way, the political

was important

rivalry

considerably
In April

towards

contributed

battle

1912, a pitched

the two rival

matches for

clubs

led

1921, March 1923, October

The hostility
more ferocity
towards

Espanol.

General

Miguel

closed

and it
a

authorities

violent

derby matches. '

local

and supporters
these

suspending

clashes

and

of
derby

in October

occurred

1927, May 1924 and March 1935.

actual

however,

Primo de Rivera,
stadium

the centralist

the military
for

6.
7.

This gulf has been best illustrated

See Artells,
op. cit.
p. 27.

8.

This view
interview
author in
Montalban

six

was

of Castilian

manifestations

In June 1925 during

Bar a's Les Corts

of the century,

between the players

of the Barra supporters,

towards

speak Catalan,

the many violent

Similarly

personnel.?

and military

of the FC Barcelona-Espanol

beginning

to the local

two years.

men, state

Catalans. 9

context

from the very

middle-class

both
been
had
as
chosen
name

that

thought

majority

regional

professional

members could

club

The great

were mostly

regions,

The gulf

rival.

was huge. 6

speakers

from other

local

governor

directed

with
thaa

centralism

dictatorship

of

of Barcelona

months because the crowd had

by Artells,

op.

cit.,

p.

25-28.

has been expressed by Artells,

op. cit.,
and in an
This view has also been expressed to the
with the author.
for example with Manuel Vazquez
many other interviews,
and Alex J. Botines.
17