While talking to a friend about dictatorships within sport, I started researching the many ways dictators have used football as a political device and how it often ends in failure. Here are some links that shine a light on those male ego trips.

FC Olt Scornicesti: The dictator’s hometown team disbanded after bloody revolution (BBC Sport)

Writer: Emanuel Rosu

Romanian dictator Nicolae Ceausescu was born in Scornicesti and under his rule, he wanted the local team FC Olt Scornicesti to emulate Steaua Bucharest’s European success after the team won the 1984 European Cup. However, the bloody revolution of December 1989 led to Ceausescu’s execution and, with it, the decline of his childhood home and its football team.

The story of Real Madrid and the Franco regime (These Football Times)

Writer: Nick Fitzgerald

Real Madrid is well known as “General Franco’s team” and that favouritism went a long way to alienating a lot of Spanish clubs during his regime. But there were also controversies with transfers such as Alfredo Di Stéfano’s move from Millonarios to Real Madrid in 1953, and an intense rivalry with Barcelona. In Nick’s words, Real Madrid were a diplomatic and political tool for the dictator, in more ways than one.

How the Syrian government brought soccer into campaign of oppression (ESPN)

Writer: Steve Fainaru

Backed by FIFA’s tacit support, Bashar al-Assad’s government in Syria has woven soccer into its grisly campaign of oppression, tearing apart a generation of players.

A boy called Mussolini (Wikipedia)

This isn’t an essay but I found out about Romano Floriani Mussolini, a right back who plays for Lazio and the great-grandson of Benito Mussolini. Fans went as far as chanting “Mussolini” and giving fascist salutes when he scored on loan for SS Juve Stabia in 2024.

Update: Romano made his Serie A debut for Cremonese on Friday

Is Arkadag the world’s greatest football team? [archived link] (The Economist)

Arkadag are undoubtedly the greatest club in Turkmen history but you might be surprised to know that they’ve only existed for two years. The reason they’re so great is because of their controversial 61-game unbeaten run. To find out why there’s controversy surrounding their dominance, you’ll have to enter a world of murky footballing governance, dubious refereeing, and presidential extravagance.

(You can also read more via The Guardian [archived link])

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