“In 1934 came a real
propaganda triumph. Italy not only staged the World Cup, but won it. The Duce
himself attended the final, and handed out the medals to his victorious
team…sporting achievements contributed much to the government’s general
popularity and the Fascists knew it…The regime helped sport, and sport helped
the regime.”
Clark, Martin: Modern Italy 1871-1995, Second Edition,
(Longman, 1996), p.244
The second ever FIFA World Cup took place in Italy, twelve
years after Benito Mussolini had become Prime Minister of the country and nine
years after he had decided to abandon all pretence of democracy and establish
his dictatorship. Who would have thought that FIFA might award a World Cup to a
country ruled by a questionable, undemocratic regime? The hosts went on to win
the tournament (and would do so again in the 1938 edition) in what was seen as
a triumph for Italian fascism but the sense that Mussolini and the PNF’s
orchestration of the tournament went beyond propaganda and posturing has
somewhat tainted the Italian victory over the years.
In fairness to FIFA the bidding process in 1934 did not come
with the glitz and glamour of today’s laminated dossiers and corporate videos
and, following the difficulties of attracting European teams to the first
tournament in Uruguay, there was an inevitability about the second edition of
the World Cup taking place in Europe. After eight meetings of FIFA’s executive
committee it was decided that Italy would host the tournament over Sweden.
Mussolini did not hide his ambition to use this as an opportunity to promote
fascism to the wider world with the unambiguously named Stadio Nazionale del
PNF (National Stadium of the National Fascist Party) in Rome selected to host
several of the games, including the final, and the regime’s propaganda machine
under Achille Starace making it virtually impossible for the people of Italy to
avoid the unfolding events.
Italy may not have even competed in the tournament despite
being awarded the hosting privileges. The 1934 World Cup was the first and only
time that the host nation was required to qualify for the final tournament which
Italy duly did with a straightforward 4-0 win over Greece although their
opponents’ refusal to play a return fixture somewhat aided their progression.
The qualifying field was also weakened by the continued refusal of England,
Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland to take part in a tournament that they saw
as beneath them and the reigning champions, Uruguay, withdrawing in protest
against the European teams who had refused to attend their inaugural
tournament. This undoubtedly assisted the hosts in their route to the final and
eventual glory.
However, the Italian side of the 1930s were a footballing force
to be reckoned with having won the bronze medal at the 1928 Olympics and
impressed in several friendly internationals against top European opposition.
This was further proved in their opening 7-1 victory against the USA. But their
quarter-final meeting with Spain proved to be far less straightforward and
would raise questions regarding Mussolini’s influence on the tournament’s
referees. The 1-1 draw between the two sides saw several players injured on
both sides and Italy’s equaliser disallowed before referee Louis Baert reversed
his decision amidst protests from the Italian players. The replay,
astonishingly by today’s standards played the next day, saw three more Spanish
players taken off injured in a 1-0 win for Italy. Add in a disallowed Spanish
goal in either game and Italy’s ‘home advantage’ becomes increasingly
suspicious.
Whilst their 1-0 semi-final win over pre-tournament
favourites Austria passed with relatively little controversy the same could not
be said for the game between Czechoslovakia and Germany which was refereed by
the Italian Rinaldo Barlassina. With the Czechs seen as the preferable draw for
the hosts in the final Barlassina’s favourable treatment aided their progress
with Germany left to face Austria in the third place play-off. The referee for
the final was the Swedish Ivan Eklind who had also officiated Italy’s
semi-final and whilst the game was not marred by any notable incidents subsequent
reports have suggested Eklind’s decisions tended to favour the hosts. These
rumours are not helped by the presence of Louis Baert as assistant referee
despite his questionable performance in the quarter-final.
Prior to the tournament Mussolini had commissioned the Coppa
Del Duce trophy which he had stated he would only award to a team wearing
Italian shirts. He was able to deliver on this promise, as well as handing out
the official trophy and medals, as Italy beat Czechoslovakia 2-1 after extra time
to win the final of their home tournament. Allegations that Mussolini had handpicked
the referees for certain games may be exaggerated but the pressure on match
officials to deliver the desired result for the regime in front of tens of
thousands of fans, PNF workers and, often, Il Duce himself must have been
immense. Before the games leading up to the final Mussolini visited the Italian
team in a bid to raise morale and remind them of their duty to their country.
Ahead of the final there was no such visit and instead rumours persist of his
presence at a private dinner engagement with none other than Ivan Eklind. Credit
must go to the Italian team who defeated some of Europe’s finest teams on their
way to glory but it’s hard to ignore the role of Mussolini and the PNF in
getting them there. Perhaps the Coppa Del Duce was the more fitting reward for
their efforts.
No comments:
Post a Comment