Blood on the Crossbar: The Dictatorship's World Cup

by Rhys Richards

Blood on the The Dictatorship's World Cup is the story of the most controversial football World Cup of all time. When Argentina both hosted and won the World Cup in 1978, just two years after the coup d'etat that ousted Isabel Peró n, it was against the backdrop of a brutal military dictatorship in the country. Under the leadership of General Jorge Videla, up to 30,000 citizens, categorised as subversives, 'disappeared'. Dogged by allegations of bribery, coercion and an historic failed drugs test, this is the story of Argentina's maiden World Cup triumph and the controversy that simmered behind it. This isn't exclusively a tale of footballers and generals, and the risks they took to succeed. It's a story of the Argentinean exiles, Parisian students, brave journalists, the marching mothers of Plaza de Mayo and their missing children - and Dutch stand-up comedians who led international boycotts from thousands of miles away.

Genres: Football, Sports, Soccer, Politics, History

305 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 19, 2022

Reviews

[Charlotte Patterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

An utterly fantastic and well written book, detailing the atrocities, sportswashing, fear and resilience shown in Argentina during the dictatorship and World Cup. Richards documents in great detail and poise the events leading up to the World Cup, the perceptions of others, the horrific torture and propaganda by the government as well as allowing the reader to vicariously experience every World Cup game through his descriptive retelling. A highly recommended read

[Ipswichblade · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting book on the 1978 World Cup, arguably the most corrupt World Cup of all time. No nearer to knowing if the Argentina - Peru match was definitely fixed but seems likely

[Vartanian · Rating 4 out of 5]

کتاب مهمی‌ست روایتی دقیق و زهردار که خود را به ناپدیدشدگان و کشته‌شدگان تقدیم می‌کند.
سالی که ایران برای اولین‌بار به جام جهانی رفته است و آرژانتین پس از چندین کودتا توسط یک خونتا به تصرف یک دیکتاتور نظامی درآمده که با برگزاری جام‌جهانی در این کشور سعی در مشروعیت بخشیدن به حکومتش را دارد.

برای فهم آنچه سالهاست بر سر ما می‌رود، برای فهم این حکومت خونخوارِ دیوخو، می‌توانید این کتاب را به همراه کتاب «سوگنامه‌ی بوئنوس آیرس» و کتاب «به نام ناپدیدشدگان بوئنوس آیرس» اثر لارنس تورنتون نشر خوب، و کتاب «جهان مردگان آرژانتین» اثر دنیل لودل نشر خوب، و کتاب «مرثیه‌ای برای آرژانتین» اثر پاتریس پرون نشر نگاه، بخوانید.

[Derek Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great stuff. Flew through it even though I was working the whole time. I had read some things about the dictatorship in some other books but this was the most in depth. Have a good bit of background about each team and each game too. Not just straight up match reports. I’d recommend to anyone.

[Joe · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really excellent put together book. I really enjoyed this one, a great mixture of football insights and facts added to the political background of Argentina during the1970's. This is highly recommended.

[Ray Smillie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I knew that Argentina wasn't exactly a bastion of democracy but confess to being a naive teenager at the time of the tournament. I was swept up with the confidence of Ally MacLeod, genuinely believing that Scotland had a great chance of winning the World Cup. The Peru debacle followed by the inept display against Iran put us deluded Scots in our place.

Back to the book. Did Argentina cheat when they pumped Peru to win a place in the final. I did smell a rat at the time. Blood on the Crossbar isn't just about football, it is also about the politics surrounding the game. Politics and corruption.

Great book with much food for thought.

[Liron Woodcock-Velleman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brilliant book weaving together the intersection of politics and sport in 1978 Argentina. A fascinating and detailed read through the history. Only reason not 5 star for me was some of it felt like reading an essay not a story and I felt the book could have done with the facts and figures of the World Cup to aid the reader. Teamsheets, scoring charts etc

[Keith Barraclough · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very interesting read. I had forgotten Johan Cruyff missed this World Cup. It gives a different perspective on what football fans like myself remember about this tournament

[Donaldinho14 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Decent read, but didn't tell me too much I didn't already know. Also, one or two silly errors or typos in there.

[Paul Foley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book. A great mix of the politics and the football and how both intertwined before and throughout the tournament. Highly recommended to not only football fans but anyone interested in South American history and politics.