As the global sporting world faces one corruption scandal after another, former Manchester United star Eric Cantona presents the stories of five football heroes whose social conscience led them to challenge unjust regimes, join opposition movements and lead the fight for democracy and human rights. Football Rebels looks at a side of football that does not always make the headlines.
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In 1973, General Augusto Pinochet took control of Chile in a bloody coup that toppled the elected government of Salvador Allende.
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"When the ball rolls wide of the post .... you can cry about that ... But when you lose your freedom, do you cry ... or fight?
Nunca Mas ... "Never again"... How many times have we said those words? And how many times have beasts returned? Never forget. Never forget the lessons of history."
- Eric Cantona
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It was the start of a repressive 17-year rule, which was characterised by systematic suppression and control in all areas of society – even in sport.
But many resisted, including footballer Carlos Caszely, who paid a high price for saying ‘no’ to dictatorship.
His mother was arrested and tortured for her son’s political views and in 1973 his support for murdered president Salvador Allende led to his persecution by General Pinochet’s regime.
He says: "I think they were making me pay for it. Pay for it with what was dearest to me - my mother ... Just because I said no to dictatorship ... I said no to dictatorship on every level: no to dictatorship, no to torture .... So they made me pay for that with what they did to my mother."
"Ever since I was a little boy and I started walking, holding my father's hand, in the district where people play against a wall, against a tree, against a mound, against a big stone, against your opponent, with a football, a plastic ball, a rag ball, a paper ball, even a tin can, if there's nothing else ..."
Editor's note: We no longer have rights to show this episode on our website.
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