Communism and Football (2006) BBC Four

Communism and Football

Communism and Football tells the fascinating story of how the Soviet authorities sought to exercise control over the national sport and use it for their own ends. Throughout the 20th Century, the football grounds of Eastern Europe became battlegrounds as ruthless politicians tried to use football to lend legitimacy to communist rule.In this film, footballers from Russia, Hungary and East Germany recall how the beautiful game was manipulated by ruthless communist leaders during the Cold War. They reveal how the careers of several great footballers from behind the Iron Curtain were destroyed simply because they refused to co-operate with the Eastern Bloc's most brutal totalitarian regimes. Despite the high stakes, many courageous footballers resisted attempts by ruthless leaders from the Eastern Bloc's totalitarian regimes to exploit their sporting celebrity for political gain, with their careers often being destroyed as a result.
Source: BBC