Football in the Sun and Shadow Author:Eduardo Galeano "At the end of the sixties, the poet Jorge Enrique Adoum returned to Ecuador after a long absence. As soon as he arrived, he performed an obligatory ritual in the city of Quito: he went to the stadium to see the Aucas play. It was an important match and the stands were packed. Before the kick-off there was a minute of silence for the mother of r... more »eferee who had died that morning. Everyone stood, everyone was silent. Then someone made a speech praising the dedication of this exemplary sportsman who was going to officiate, performing his duty even in the most difficult of circumstances. At the centre of the field, his head bowed, the man in black acknowledge the sustained applause of the crowd. Adoum blinked, he pinched himself: he couldn't believe it. What country was he in? So much had changed. Before, people's only concern for the refree was to call him a son of a bitch. And the match began. At 15 minutes, Aucas scored and the stadium exploded. But the referee disallowed the goal due to an offside, and the thoughts of the crowd turned immediately to his deceased mother" `Orphan son of a bitch!` roared the stands."« less
Great history of football, told by colorful anectodes from the famous Galeano. From Pele, to Beckenbauer, to Yashin who drank before the games, it's all there.