Original subtitles

[piano playing] dd

dd

- Our sport has a bright future ahead, every day in

countries around the world, new federations

spring up. However, without strong ties

between them, football in different nations will

lack organization.

Perhaps we need a central

governing body for our wonderful game. Will you

do me the honor, my dear Mr. Frederick Wall of

agreeing to a meeting between your association

and our group at your convenience.

Yours sincerely, Carl Anton Hirschmann.

[inspirational music] dd

dd

[crowd chatter]

[cheering]

- Excuse me, Lord Wall?

- I'm not fortunate enough to be a Lord yet, but I am

indeed Frederick Wall and to whom do I have the honor?

- Pleased to meet you sir. Positively delighted.

- Ah, you're French.

- Misure Guerin is the unofficial representative

of our little association.

Mr. Heckenburg is German,

I am Carl Hirschmann.

I wrote to you several times from the Netherlands.

- Are you paralyzed man, for pity sake kick the ball!

Gentlemen, how do you propose to score if you never shoot?

- Allow me to introduce Lord Kinnaird,

president of our venerable football association.

- What are you afraid of it's not a bomb!

- He is a Lord.

- Gentleman I've told you a thousand times to shoot first!

Shoot!

Football may be a gentleman's game but it is a mans sport.

[whistle blows]

Gentleman.

- Mr. Wall, where are you going?

- Mr. Wall a moment ple-

- Our boys are two goals down gentleman.

There are things much more important than life and death,

there's football,

and at half time things are deadly serious.

- We will try to be brief.

What did you think of our proposition?

- Proposition? -Yes.

- Well perhaps -Listen,

our group of European Nations will set up this federation.

You may have invented the game,

defined the rules which govern it

- That's very kind of you Sir, to recognize our small part.

So what is it exactly that you want?

- Either to join our federations,

and of course Lord Kinnaird becomes our president,

or we'll exclude you from

all the international matches we organized.

- Robert please!

- That's alright my good man.

I'm curious to know, what international matches

as you say, England might be excluded from.

Cups? Tournaments?

Championships? Friendly games?

- We, We don't know yet.

- What rules do you intend to add to the thirteen which

already exist?

And where, pray tell, will these international matches be played?

On the sugar beet fields on the other side of the channel?

Our association

has just celebrated its fortieth year anniversary.

Your so-called federation, doesn't even exist yet.

So, why not come back in forty years times when you've

got things up and running and we'll discuss it then.

Misure.

- Gentleman you must gain possession of that ball,

retain possession of that ball and then shoot.

- What did those bastard frogs want?

- Oh nothing important Sir.

-Indulge my curiosity Wall.

- They want to run the world of football Sir, in place of us.

[chuckles]

- How ridiculous.

What do foreigners understand of our beautiful game?

- And consequently our association

is unable to acknowledge your so-called federation.

Jackass! Gentleman,

are we going to let this bastard Lord dictate his law?

- No! No! -Definitely not.

Schneider, what do you think?

- Switzerland won't stand for it.

- Muhlinghaus? Kahn?

- Belgium refuses.

- Sylow?

- In the name of the Danish people, a thousand times, no.

- What does Madrid say, my dear Andre?

- That their damned island can sink into oblivion.

Spain will never capitulate.

- Curse the English man.

[Cheers]

And long live Europe.

- Damn Admiral Nelson.

[indistinct yelling]

Gentleman! Gentleman!

Gentleman!

Some decorum please.

May I remind you that this is an official meeting.

- My friends, Hirschmann is right, as usual.

Just write that,

on this day, May twenty first,

at number 229 Rue Saint-Honore a Paris

Our federation unanimously decided that,

that we decide all the rules of football everywhere.

[laughing]

That We organize all the matches of football everywhere.

That we do everything-

- Alright, Robert, Robert I'm not going to write that.

- Why not?

- For the first article, We should write that our

federations recognize each other as the only ones authorized to

govern the sport of football in their respective countries.

And were the only ones qualified to oversee any

international relations in regards to football.

- Hm. Well said my friend.

That's our first article.

That will knock those Brits on their English asses!

- Yes! Yes!

[laughing]

- Robert, please.

- Sorry Carl.

- And who will be the president.

I mean, we need a president.

- Ah!

[indistinct chatter]

- Thank you. Thank you my friends.

- To President Guerin.

- We need a Secretary General too.

- Since you are the first to ask, you'll be the too.

[applause]

- Bravo!

- But above all, what will we call our federation?

- I know. The English of the uh, football association will be

the Federation Internationale de Football Association

- FIFA.

- My friends

we are Fl FA.

- FIFA!

- FIFA!

- You are the president now.

- Yes, but only because I was the least drunk.

[clink of glasses]

- Being FIFA's president means nothing.

Nothing good will come. No glory, no money.

- That is not true Robert and you know this.

You're going to have to start taking your job seriously.

- Shall I ask her to join us?

- Are you crazy?

- I think I'll do it.

- No Robert.

- I'll do it now.

- No, sit down, now!

- Follow me.

- Robert. Do not, Robert!

- Alright! Alright! Give us two glasses of Kin kina please.

[sighs]

- Robert, I love football.

- So do I.

- And I believe in this.

I believe that the whole world

should play football by the same rules and regulations.

Every nation.

- Yes.

- And I believe that our federation is the only one

who can get this done.

- I swear that, if we all set our mind to it we'll achieve

something and even the English will end up joining us.

-International Football League.

- Yes.

With whoever wants to play.

Whoever Carl.

That's my dream.

- That is our dream.

[Exciting music]

(music) (music)

[traffic sounds]

- Not to offend our French counterparts,

but just like Julius Caesar our team came, saw and conquered in

the final of the Paris Olympic games Uruguay beat Switzerland

by three goals to zero, an overwhelming victory.

- But England wasn't there!

- Uruguay is now proud to be one of the best in world football,

winning against Yugoslavia seven, zero against the

United States of America three, zero.

- But Argentina wasn't there!

[indistinct chatter]

Argentina wasn't there.

- This Olympic crown, our glorious team, La Celeste,

does not play ball, it toys with it.

- It played without the best, without the rest of the world.

- Sir, your disrespect for Uruguay is an outrage,

leave this conference at once.

- Sir, esteem for the Celeste is

equal to my contempt for its victory!.

- How dare you, I forbid you-

- And I forbid you from forbidding me anything.

Please let me speak. [indistinct chatter]

- What does an international tournament mean

without the presence of all nations?

Nothing.

It means nothing at all.

- Thank you sir, now-

- I'm not finished, Olympic football is to the best

of my knowledge, not open to professional-

- Who's in charge here? Please remove this-

- You're best players are not even Uruguayan by blood.

They are Bolivian, Colombian or maybe even Mexican.

But they are not Uruguayan.

- You have gone way too far sir.

You will have to face the consequences-

- And you will have to face yourself.

Your Olympic crown, dishonors the spirit of football.

Now, I have finished.

- Who the hell is that?

- Jules Rimet, he's the president of some federation

that nobody even knows.

- What got into you my friend?

I have never seen you in such a state.

Have you lost your mind?

- It was perfect.

Tomorrow all the press will be talking about FIFA.

- I hope so my dear Delaunay.

- Yeah, cause no one knows us now, that's for sure.

- We've been around for twenty years,

but the world of football is still at war.

- How can yesterday's enemies play football on the same fields

that they were fighting over not so long ago?

- Football is on the road to ruin.

- If Latin America continues like that, yeah sure.

- They are way ahead of us.

Their teams are organized by real, national federations.

They have the best trainers, first rate facilities.

- South American football will be soon entirely professional.

- For better or for worse.

- Amateur football, ancient history.

- The time is now my friends to seize the moments and,

and create something.

- But what?

You said yourself it's as if we don't exist.

- A world championship.

- A world?

- All that's yet to be invented gentleman...

- He's mad.

- No, he's a visionary.

We will never be taken seriously

unless we organize a competition like that.

- Exactly.

- Mr. Rimet?

A gentleman in there told me to give you this.

- Thank you.

[car running]

-"Uruguay triumphs at Paris Olympics". My dear Seeldrayers,

I thought that after yesterday,

the press would have written something.

Thank you darling.

- But there is nothing. There is not one word.

- So you're giving UP?

- We don't exist my friends.

- Oh, don't you have any guts man?

- My guts are with my compatriots

in the trenches of the great war.

- So react god dammit!

Less than a week ago you were raising mountains.

Set off on a mission around Europe, rally the other nations,

important ones at that who can't wait to replace those

English bastards.

We will make this happen.

If you don't do it for the world championship, for football, for

the French team or for yourself, at least do it for Carl.

And for them.

- Hello, divine, huh?

- Oh exquisite my dear.

- Hello Annette.

- Carl.

- The postman delivered this.

And the senders name, its Bueno or Bono.

- Is that from Buero?

- Enrique Bureo?

- Thank you.

- Ambassador of Uruguay posted to Brussels.

- Where did you come across him Jules?

- This man has a lot of money.

He handles colossal funds for Latin American tycoons.

[violin music]

(music) (music)

- I know you don't approve the way we function,

but you spoke your mind and I like that.

- Really Misure Bureo?

- We have considerable financial resources in Uruguay,

We have our Olympic title, but it's just the beginning.

- An appetizer?

- Exactly. We'll chosen but not enough to whet one's appetite.

"And?

- In five year's time, Uruguay will celebrate its hundredth

anniversary and we would like to mark the occasion by organizing

the first world football championship.

- Hm, I see.

But an event like that, cost a fortune.

- Yes, but we are prepared to pay.

- FIFA is poor.

But that doesn't mean we will sell

the one treasure we possess: honor.

- Please, don't misunderstand me.

We don't want to buy anything.

Let's just say

we would be especially honored to host this competition.

We have unlimited funds Mr. Rimet, unlimited.

You need the money. We need the world championship.

Let's do business.

- Will you finance the travel costs of all the teams?

And the referees?

- Absolutely.

- Do you give me your word that you won't try to cheat or

influence the referee's decisions?

- I do.

- Hmm, and uh,

will you pay our federation a percentage on each ticket sold?

- One thing at a time Mr. Rimet, one thing at a time.

But I promise you on my honor, that in five years' time,

the first world championship will be played in Montevideo,

in a brand new Stadium.

- A stadium?

With how many seats?

- One hundred thousand my friend.

One hundred thousand!

- Gentleman, the first world championship will take place in

1930 in a country yet to be determined.

Each future championship will be held

in a different country every four years.

All the members of our federation and all sports men,

both amateur and professional may compete in this tournament

without distinction of color or class.

Gentleman our twenty three members have voted,

the first World Cup will be held in

Uruguay!

[applause]

[exciting music] dd

dd

[indistinct chatter]

- May I say young lady,

that all this, makes absolutely no moral sense.

What's the use of organizing the World Cup in the America's,

in a country no one's heard of, which is a stranger to modernity

and Why not at the tip of Africa

with the Zulu's while we're at it.

- Why not, indeed?

Who knows the Zulu's may be excellent football players.

Maybe they just don't know it yet.

- Well young lady, the natives of Africa are

stupid and undisciplined.

It's just their nature.

How could they possibly be expected to appreciate

the certainties of a game invented by the Whites?

- My girl, are you having a pleasant evening?

- Ah, Misure Rimet, this young person is your daughter?

- Indeed she is.

- Ah, well I'm sorry to say she understands nothing

about the game of football.

She's under the impression that Negroes could compete

with Whites at the sport.

- Really?

- Yes, you should send her back to sewing

and the art of good housekeeping

her pretty head will be filled with less nonsense.

- I beg your pardon?

- Negroes, playing football?

Ah, why not women while we're at it!

Hell that would be quite amusing, ah?

Quite amusing.

- Annette, you silly girl, some people,

they look nice in a way,

they can sound pleasing to the ear but on the inside they're,

how do we, how do we say my dean"

- Rotten. To the core.

- Come on darling.

[suspenseful music] dd

dd

[Speaking Spanish]

- You're an artist and I'm sure you can understand.

- An artist must eat too and not once a day,

but twice, to suffice.

Oh my God, I've rhymed.

[laughing]

- Painter, sculptor and poet.

Listen our, it's um, it's...

- A noble cause!

- Noble cause.

- Noble-shnoble, it is work.

It is canvas, charcoal, imagination and inspiration.

Working for glory may warm the cockles of my heart

but it will not fill my belly.

[suspenseful music]

- I'm begging you!

With that your belly will be well served.

- Well, well if you could manage just a tad more

I could even add a bit of gristle.

Oh, thank you.

- You won't get a penny more.

Bon Ape tit Lafleur!

- Merci.

[inspirational music] dd

dd

[telephone rings]

- For Montevideo please,

- Yes Sir, right.

- Is the Centenario Stadium ready?

Yes of course.

What question is that?

- Oh, muchas gracias Bureo.

- All that's missing are the players.

- We embark the Romanians?

'Yes!

- And the Belgians.

'Yes!

- And we pick up the Brazilian when We stop in Rio.

'Yes!

- And what about the playing field?

- The grass?

- The grass.

- You are kidding Jules.

We are growing it. A real English lawn, I assure you.

- Splendid. And accommodations?

- The hotels for the delegations are ready, everything is fixed.

Listen to me Jules, and I give you my word.

If the World Cup were played tomorrow

the only thing that you would be missing, is the ball!

- Oh, muchas gracias Enrique!

See you in two weeks!

- We have done it!

- Two weeks!

- Perfect!

- Gracias! Gracias Enrique!

[exciting music] dd

dd

[whistle blowing]

dd

[boat horn blowing]

- Get into position.

Oh, Sir...

- Sorry, I'm so sorry.

- Have a seat.

Ah, Annette, hello.

- Please just a little bit closer.

- Seasick?

- No.

- Please smile.

Alright and remember, you're making history.

[camera flash]

[jazz music] dd

dd

- You are not going to dance?

- For the past two days, you've hardly spoken.

Cooped up in your cabin like a bear with a sore head.

What's wrong?

- I had a Wire from France,

the press don't give us much a chance,

for once, they may be right.

- Come on that's not it.

Tell me.

- The crisis in America will hit Europe

It does not seem appropriate spending money

to play football on the other side of the world.

- When have dreams ever been appropriate?

You're not stealing anything from anyone.

And it's not by worrying yourself sick

that you'll change anything.

You have the right to make your dream come true.

And that's an order Misure.

- How did you get so smart?

- I don't know, I suppose my mother had excellent genes.

Tomorrow's another day Papa, tomorrow's another day.

[suspenseful music] dd

dd

[exciting music] dd

dd

[hammering]

[sawing]

[exciting music] dd

dd

[clapping]

dd

[applause]

[children playing]

[applause]

[door creaks]

- We've lost everything.

- Will this misery never end?

The depression is devastating.

And somebody will be meant to take the blame.

Either the Jews or the Communists.

Or maybe the Gypsy's.

- Jules,

I should've warned you about the stock market investments,

I, I couldn't.

- Carl,

- I thought I was doing the right thing, but I- I Wasn't.

- Mussolini: Italy's a force to be reckoned with!

- It was an honest mistake.

No one blames you.

- Jules, everything is here.

All the bank statements, the accounts, nothing is missing.

You can check if you'd like.

- You are not quitting.

You can't.

The federation needs you.

I need you.

Carl, we made a good team.

- Yeah, and I thank you for that

and I thank you for everything that you've done,

for the federation, and for me.

And kiss Annette goodbye please.

[melancholy music] dd

dd

- As for me dear colleagues,

I can assure you that Germany is opposed to any idea of war.

- How can you be so sure Mr. Shricker?

I mean has the Chancellor confided in you?

- Well, I have not been so privileged.

- Who ever fought a war with ideas? But with guns, artillery-

- Jules please.

- Germany has never felt better.

The Olympic Games are a huge success.

Unemployment has all but disappeared

because everyone is working.

- In factory to re-arm Germany,

my dear Secretary General, so that one day, BOOM!

- Well, at least we should have nothing to fear,

now our headquarters are in Zurich.

- Thank God, Switzerland is neutral.

- Yes, stuck between Hitler and Mussolini.

Who are as thick as thieves...

Right Barassi?

- Careful.

- I'm sure our president is joking, eh?

- Why?

The fascist doctrines are complete opposites of

our federations.

- Gentleman please.

- Are they not Mr. Seeldrayers?

- Last week when Hitler refused to shake Jesse Owens hand,

it was as if he were publicly declaring to the whole world-

- A hand shake,

a mere error of protocol.

- Gentlemen, shall we get back to business?

- Mussolini saved the last World Cup,

but it was not for football,

it was a weapon of mass propaganda.

- You can say what you like, but Italy won the World Cup!

- No sir, Italy did not win the World Cup.

You appropriated-

- This is absolutely disgrace

- Be quiet!

Both of you.

Are you mad?

War hasn't even been declared

and you're already at each other's throats.

Look at you.

Oh your federations a fine thing.

But what about your ideals?

Brotherhood amongst peoples. The spirit of the sport.

Has all that been forgotten?

[door slams]

- Annette!

Annette, wait.

Annette please.

I went too far. I can't keep up.

- Of course you can.

-I'm thinking about resigning as president.

- You'll never do that.

- How do you know?

- Because I have never, ever seen you give up.

Not on anything, nor on anyone.

- We will see about that.

Maybe this damn war will never even start.

- What's more,

in two years time, the World Cup will be held in France.

[melancholy music] dd

dd

- That's all?

Nothing about the game?

- Of course the papers aren't talking about it.

The last thing the Nazi's need

is anything that models their propaganda.

- And they still played?

- Oh they played.

They could barely stand but they played.

They played to honor the colors of F-C Start.

- My Red Stars played them in a friendly game before the war.

- Yeah, well there was nothing friendly about this game.

They say it was like some mythical match,

as if God himself had laced up his boots.

- Did they Win?

- The Reich's honor was at stake.

The Ukrainians had to lose.

Otherwise there will be more deportations and torture.

And then a bullet in the back of the head

for each member of the team.

- The death match.

- On one side, highly trained German officers.

On the other these poor

starving Ukrainian prisoners they'd taken out of a factory.

And in the middle

a corrupted referee following the German's orders.

- They played fake passes left and right.

The Germans were out of their league.

Completely surpassed by the Ukrainians.

But every ball played to the Germans, hit the dust.

- They could've stayed alive.

Just before the end of the match they were leading five, three.

A Ukrainian defender picked up a ball and took out three Germans.

Then he got rid of the goalie

and stood in front of the open goal.

He could've scored a six for the Ukraine, right?

Instead he stopped.

He looked the goal keeper in the eye

and kicked the ball back to his own side.

- And the Ukrainians?

They laughed like children.

- The death match.

We weren't there.

We weren't there.

[suspenseful music] dd

dd

[dreary music] dd

dd

- Well my dear Barassi,

have you finally given back that World Cup.

Thank you.

- I did not steal it.

This is the Jules Rimet cup!

[laughing]

- Let's just say you borrowed it.

- Exactly.

It was not safe in Italy during the war, so

I placed it in a shoe box and I put it under my bed and

I slept with it for ten years.

- Oh la la la,

you rascal you.

- Mr. Rimet?

Mr. Jules Rimet?

- And Doctor Barassi at your service.

- Dottore.

-I'm Mr. Brown,

and this is Mr Pickle and here Mr Jackson.

We represent his majesty's football association.

- Oh, we're delighted to have you.

- Yes, indeed.

- Yeah, what can I do for you?

- Actually we just wanted to pay our respects.

- And ask if you'd do us the honor

of attending a match against Spain tomorrow.

- We'll be there gentleman of course.

- I hope that for your first World Cup you'll play better

than yesterday.

- Yes, yes the U-S-S team, how do the American's say, "creamed?"

- Creamed, yes creamed,

creamed.

- If the Yanks hadn't played with British subjects,

we would've won that match hands down.

- Oh of course.

- We'll make sure to work on Spanish, don't you worry.

- The honor of England is at stake.

- Yeah, after all, uh,

you invented football.

Well, let's see you tomorrow then gentlemen.

- And thank you very much for your participation in our

little competition.

- Thank you,

come on Misure Barassi.

- Yeah of course.

[announcement horn]

- Well my girl,

what do you think of that, Maracana,

two hundred thousand spectators.

- And English all the time speak about Wembley.

- No, not anymore my friend,

not anymore.

- Today is Brazil's day.

- Careful, Mr. Barassi,

one never knows.

[Chuckles]

- Remind me, who's that man in the brown suit?

- Joao Havelange

he used to be on the Brazilian swimming team, no he's

a lawyer or a company director or something of the sort.

[band plays anthem]

[applause]

[applause]

[suspenseful music] dd

dd

[whistle blows]

[slow suspenseful music] dd

dd

- Until the end of his presidency, two years ago,

I accompanied my father on all his journeys.

I saw him invent the world the cup.

I saw him transform football.

And it was this passion that carried him along an exceptional

destiny for over thirty three years.

His sole regret, and I can share this with you now,

is to have never been a great footballer himself.

And yet he was the only man who made the world cup a reality,

five times in a row.

Rest in peace Papa.

I love you.

[suspenseful music] dd

dd

[cheering]

[applause]

[upbeat music] dd

dd

[cheering]

[upbeat music] dd

dd

- Welcome aboard.

Welcome.

Welcome aboard Mr. Havelange.

[plane flying through air]

- Satisfy my curiosity.

I've heard tell that you're considering joining us at FIFA.

Not happy at I-O-C?

We'll if I were you old boy I'd wait another few years

before leaving the Olympic Committee.

- Why, don't think a Brazilian could do the job?

- Possibly not. You see our

world just isn't ready for those who were born less fortunate.

- So Rous may I remind you.

- Sir Stanley actually.

- May I remind you that We have just won the World Cup,

for the second time.

- Of course,

but with a genius like Pele, it's only natural.

In two year's time, the next cup will be held in England.

And we,

the inventors of this sport will at last Win the trophy.

- I'm sure you will, Mr. President.

[upbeat music]

d I was born with a plastic spoon in my mouth, d

[crowd yelling]

[crowd chatter]

[announcer in background]

- England the world champion!

[peaceful music] dd

dd

[stadium crowd applause]

[indistinct chatter]

Gentleman...

- Mr. Sougou,

I hope everything is satisfactory, the hotel.

- Delightful, you're spoiling us.

- No, no, no it's nothing.

And Why not?

- Could be a historic day for you.

- If Brazil wins today for the third time,

the Jules Rimet trophy will be ours forever. Miss please,

- Enjoy the match.

- Camera two, pan to your right.

- Got it.

[whistle blows]

[upbeat music with drums] dd

dd

[crowd applause]

dd

[whistle blows]

- Great game.

- Victory belongs to those who know how to seize it.

You know Mr. Sougou, this year, the only African country

to be in the finals was Morocco.

- Ihean

- This could all change, it must change.

I have great ambitions for Africa.

Trust me.

[inspirational music] dd

dd

- Mr. Rous one vote,

Mr. Rous one vote,

Mr. Rous one vote,

Mr. Havelange one vote,

Mr. Havelange one vote,

Mr. Rous one vote,

Mr. Havelange one vote,

Mr. Havelange one vote,

Mr. Havelange one vote.

[bell rings]

With sixty eight votes to forty two,

Mr. Havelange is elected FIFA president!

[inspirational music] [applause]

dd

- President, my congratulations.

- You're pleased Mr. Sougou?

- I am always pleased in a democracy,

-and I will not forget.

- Of that I am certain, Mr. President.

- Well, I accept my defeat.

'MY sympathies.

But it must be some comfort at least to know that you will be

honorary President for life.

- Possibly.

Pity it wasn't a fair fight.

- Now, listen.

I took the rest of the world seriously.

I've traveled to over one hundred countries

and now some of these nations, they show their,

they show their gratitude.

- Hm, the Africans.

- Amongst others.

- Those people will never understand subtleties

of football.

My only consolation is knowing that your African friends

will betray you in the end.

Just as they betrayed me.

By granting them power Havelange,

you've opened Pandora's box.

- Rous,

the future of our sport lies in Africa,

and in Asia and America and if you cannot see that,

I cannot help you.

- Thank you Dassler.

-I've been offered a job in Zurich.

Football could you believe it? I'm taking up football.

[clink of glasses]

- No more watches.

- Does it pay well?

- Depends on my results.

- Can't be any harder than the watches, now could it?

It'll be alright.

[indistinct chatter]

- Good morning Mr. President.

[phone rings]

- Hello, yes this is the FIFA headquarters.

[door shuts]

- The executive committee did not elect me

to promote stagnation.

Our accounts are disastrous!

We need funds gentleman. So find them.

We need ideas. So be creative!

The world is expanding, the power is shifting,

so this is our chance, seize it.

So I don't care if you call on Brezhnev, Castro or Mao,

I don't care.

But I will have results and I want them fast. That is all.

Oh, I almost forgot.

A certain Blatter will be joining us,

where are you Hatter'?

There is Blatter.

Blatter will be number twelve in our little group.

He is apparently good at finding money.

Let us hope so.

[melancholy music] dd

dd

[intense music] dd

dd

[stadium crowd cheering]

- We're pathetic.

President asked us to find sponsors.

Nothing.

- What about the English breweries?

- Not interested.

No partnerships.

People do love football thought don't they?

- The hooligans aren't doing much for our image.

Advertisers are wary.

- Hooligans are consumers, same as everyone else.

Brewers don't give a damn.

- Hey, I didn't think Johnson would be here...

[indistinct chatter]

- Friend of yours?

- He's an executive at Coca-Cola.

Met him at a conference a while back.

- Think he might be interested?

- Nah, they're not football fans. They get the Olympics though.

Where are you going?

- Can't hurt to try.

[indistinct chatter]

[phone ringing]

- It's Mr. Blatter.

Mr. Havelange?

- Five minutes.

- He'll call you back in five minutes.

- And he said yes? Just like that?

- Absolutely Sir.

He wants an exclusive partnership with FIFA.

I'm meeting his staff next week.

- So he knew about football?

- Not really. He saw the match. But, uh,

didn't understand the offside rule.

- But he's interested none the less?

- Well, if we can increase the sales,

I gave him a figure.

- One we can meet?

- I hope so Sir.

- May God hear you Blatter.

[suspenseful piano music] dd

dd

- How long have you known President Havelange?

- I met him at the FIFA elections last year.

He thinks we should work together.

- Ah, he's a wise man,

but I'm afraid this may not be the best of times.

- How is that?

- There's tremendous tension, between Moscow and Washington.

The African nations may boycott the Montreal games.

- And? -It could cause the America and

it's allies to pull out of Moscow.

- What's that got to do with FIFA?

- Well it's a domino effect.

It carries over to football, Argentina will be a fiasco,

we'll be out of business.

- I don't believe that.

- Why not?

- The Olympics are political.

The World Cup is people.

If a president prevents his team

from participating in the World Cup, he'll be out of business.

- Other than the official ball, what does Adidas have to offer?

- The truth is our company has virtually

no liquid essence left, but we do have something invaluable.

The public loves us.

We have balls, jerseys, track suits, socks, shoes.

- How much would we need, I mean for Argentina to equip the

players, referees, trainers, staff.

- Ten thousand articles at least.

But this is only the start.

We have big plans for FIFA.

[trunk slams]

- If you'd care to step into my office.

- Why do you want to do business with us?

- I believe in your federation

and I know you will return the favor one day.

All I want is one thing in return.

I want you make our ball the star of the next world cup.

My dear Sepp, let me introduce you to Tango.

If that ball becomes the star, FIFA and Adidas will sign the

biggest deal the worlds ever seen.

- I hope the president likes it.

- He'll like it.

[bongo drums playing] dd

- Minister, how do you do?

dd

- How are things going with Coca-cola?

- Well.

- I need this contract under any condition.

Is that clear?

- It is, Mr. President.

The Africans are Waiting for us to take a stand on Apartheid.

- We already took a stand

twelve years ago when we suspended South Africa.

What more do they want?

The South Africans they tell me,

keep politics out of sport. It's impossible.

Politics and sport are inseparable.

[applause]

- Thank you. Thank you.

Thank you.

Let's take a short break and then

Welcome Mr. Joseph Blatter,

FIFA director of technical development programs.

- Excuse me, I thought President Havelange was coming'? -No,

he had to leave this morning.

- It's a shame that the President couldn't make it.

- His schedule is already backlogged.

- I have faith in our president.

But so far it's just words, words, words.

Yet to see anything more concrete.

- Mr. Sol- -Mr. Blatter,

I like you.

Truly, but you should understand that Africa has changed,

we expect more, much more now.

If you want our loyalty, you're going to have to earn it.

- We want to work with you. Set up development programs.

Do more than simply supply sports equipment.

We will honor our promises to you.

Gentlemen, gentlemen.

In the name of FIFA,

I'd like to thank you for your kind invitation.

[applause]

[upbeat music] dd

dd

- Oh, my dear friend.

You in revolution changes nothing.

We will not go back on our decision.

South Africa will not be welcome back into FIFA until it

has settled the issue of apartheid.

Exactly.

My respects.

- These people, as if the world all were black and white.

- About Argentina Sir...

- The Argentine Mundial will be a great opportunity

for all of Latin America.

Now, the press on and on about dictatorships and political

prisoners and so on.

But as soon as the game clicks off, things change.

- Sponsors are nervous.

- They'll be fine.

- There are human rights violations

involved if it exposed.

- These events that take place so far from Europe.

Now the intellectuals can protest as much as they'd like

with their banners and their tracks and speeches.

But, then what? Nothing is forgotten.

Those are the people, those.

And amongst them who knows, communists, fascists, who cares?

But during the World Cup, they only dream of one thing,

that ball.

And only that ball, because

football brings consolation to all tragedies and sorrows.

Now, the people they need hope they need heroes to survive.

Muhammad Ali, Jesse Owens, not to mention Pele.

These people have done more for the black cause

than any politician.

And the World Cups we organize do more for World Peace

than any U.N. resolution.

Trust me.

- Hey!

- Oh.

- Uncle that's cheating.

- Cheating, well that's a big word.

Listen,

imagine there is a cloud, here above your football field.

And here is God. And God intervenes and

pop, there's a goal.

Is that cheating?

- But you're not God.

- You think so? Go along.

[slow jazz music]

- The Argentinean people right now,

they need reasons to rejoice, they need reasons to hope,

they need good music and actually see.

Argentineans need papelitos.

We will cover them with papelitos.

[inspirational music] dd

dd

[cheering]

dd

[whistle blows]

[inspirational music] dd

dd

[bird chirping]

[indistinct chatter]

- You never tire do you?

- We need European trainers to teach their key instructors,

otherwise there's simply no point.

-I'm exhausted.

We just left Japan for Christ sake,

We organized the World Cup for juniors, we found

this new God to worship that's an amazing little Maradona

and now we are back in Africa.

- You should be concentrating on Women's teams.

- How about taking a break, you're burning yourself out.

- When the World Cup is held here, in U-S-A, in Asia-

Woah,

then I'll take a break.

[whistle blows]

- They are going to name you Secretary General of FIFA.

- Who told you that?

- The president.

You are going to be a number two

in the biggest football organization in the world.

[inspirational music] dd

dd

- Good morning Mr. Blatter.

- Good morning.

So this is it... I think you deserve it.

- Th an k you Vittorio.

[knocking]

- Come in.

- Ah, Blatter.

I've been waiting for you.

I'll be with you in a moment.

So, what's happening with the development programs for Africa?

- Uh, we're snowed under

Uh, Africa knows exactly what it stands to gain and

there are more applications coming in from Asia.

- Well all this cost us a great deal on money.

Not that you'd know that from the press.

- They're not so fond of us Sir.

- An institution like ours cannot run on good intentions alone,

we need money, a great deal of money.

Come closer.

You know Hatter,

today I'm making you a second in command at FIFA.

- It's an honor, Sir.

- Yes it is.

It is a great honor Blatter.

And a great honor comes with great responsibilities.

Congratulations Mr. Secretary General.

But you know the slightest error on your part and you're out.

- Ah, these things are clear.

- Now,

you've risen very, very fast, thanks to me.

But if you disappoint me, you can fall just as fast.

So, that's all.

[fast paced drums]

[children fighting]

[fast paced drums]

dd

[children cheering]

- What's wrong?

-I'm not sure.

- Talk to me Sepp.

- A while ago when it was time to pay our personnel the accountant

announced that there was nothing left in the coffers.

Havelange wouldn't take my call.

- And...

- And I signed a personal check

for two hundred thousand Swiss franks.

- My God.

- Well it was that, or they weren't getting paid.

I mean can you imagine

what the press would've done with a story like that?

Worst of it is, I don't know where the money's gone.

I mean I have my suspicions but I can't be certain.

- Ask the accountant.

- We're in the red, Horst.

We're up to our necks.

If we can't get things back on track

the whole machine's going to blow up. And me with it.

- You worry too much.

[News intro tune]

- Everything will be fine Karine,

journalists always turn a spark into a blaze.

They're notorious for it.

- When there is smoke...

-I've worked with your father long enough to get to know him,

he's a good man. He'll win them oven

He always does.

It's time.

[indistinct chatter]

[cameras clicking]

Three minutes, that's all, thanks.

- What do you think?

- It will be difficult but, it's manageable.

[reporters chattering]

- Mr. President...

- My dear Blatter, this is your job.

- Gentleman, silence please.

The Secretary General will answer your questions.

- Mr. Blatter, are you planning on sanctioning West Germany

because of the match fixing with Austria?

- What do you think about the Algerians being eliminated?

- We are working on a proposal.

In the future all

the first-round final matches will be played simultaneously.

- President Havelange,

Why, uh the foul on Battison was not penalized?

- Nothing Mr. Blatter?! No red card?!

- This was unfortunate.

- This is a disgrace.

Everybody's seen the instant replay.

- Why does FIFA still refuses to authorize the use of video?

- We are making changes.

- What changes?

- Uh, yes ask your question please.

- What measure will FIFA take

to ensure the safety of these players?

- Uh, it's not for me to decide alone.

- Gentleman, gentleman please. Quiet, please.

- Do you believe Mr. Blatter that, that the FIFA should be

held accountable for what they're promoting on the field?

- Gentleman, this is a press conference, not a trial.

[angry reporters yelling]

[suspenseful music] dd

dd

- House of Parliament, please hurry.

- Wilcox, I didn't see you in the crowd.

Don't like kicking a man when he's down sir,

but there are a few questions I'd like to ask you.

- Then make an appointment with Werner.

- You've signed contracts with some of the biggest distributors

in the world, how can you explain FIFA's deficit.

Do you know where all the moneys gone?

- Are you accusing me of something in particular?

- I have accounting records.

Not all your friends are as discreet as you.

Who are you protecting?

[car screech]

[upbeat music] dd

dd

d I'm wearin' a fur pyjamas, I ride a Hot Potata'. d

d It's tickling my fancy. Speak up, I can't hear you. d

IHere on this mountain top, woahoho, I got some wild ,.P

d wild life. Here come the doctor in charge, woahoho, d

d about some wild, wild life. Ain't that the way you like d

d it. Ho, ha! Living wild, wild life. d

d Like sittin' on pins and needles, things fall apart. d

d it's scientific. Sleeping on the interstate, Woah ho ah. d

d Getting wild, wild life, checkin' in, a checkin' out! d

d Uh, huh! I got a wild, wild life Spending all of my money d

d and time. Oh, ho ho, done too much wild, wild. d

d We want to go where we go, where we go. Oh, ho ho! d

d I doing wild, wild life. I know it, d

d that's the way you like it oh, ho! d

d Living wild wild, wild, wild, life. d

- Sepp, I want to tell you something.

Look at you.

You start at the bottom,

you work hard and now you're at the very top.

- Not quite.

- Sepp I want you to replace me.

When the time comes.

You have everything you need to run our family.

Plus the quality I really cherish.

- Which is?

- Listen to me very carefully.

When I leave this field, I don't want any waves,

I want to live peacefully and with honors.

Do you understand me?

- I think so.

- You may not thank me for this,

it's a big powerful beast that can swallow you whole.

- We'll as the heir, I can choose to accept or refuse.

- Of course.

- Mr. President.

[Opening trumpets playing]

[crowd applause]

[inspirational music] dd

dd

- Gentleman, France '98 was a huge success but,

look at these images, commit them to memory.

The incidents that happened off the field

must never happen again.

No football match is worth a massacre.

[translators translating]

- Now, the next tournaments will take place in both

South Korea and Japan, far from Europe.

Some of you may feel that this is a good opportunity

to close lucrative deals with certain lobbyists.

Think again.

This thought is spotless.

There is simply a lot more money involved in ours which is why,

from now on We will be exemplary in all respects.

The slightest breach of ethics

will be severely punished.

[chuckle]

- Is that a threat Mr. President?

-I'm not accusing anyone.

- Veiled accusations.

- A new protocol.

Our federation has almost two hundred members.

So is there anyone in this room naive enough to believe

that all two hundred are honest?

- I believe we are two hundred gentleman

and to be treated as such.

- Well then, conduct yourself as an honest gentlemen

and you will be.

There are always a few rotten apples.

- I object, Mr. President.

- Noted, Sir.

- President Havelange would have never dared to treat us with

such utter contempt.

- Well, maybe he should have.

- President Havelange...

- Is no longer President.

I am.

Joao Havelange presided over our family for twenty four years.

Did he make mistakes? Perhaps, not for me to judge.

But I am warning you, all of you.

We will play by my rules now.

Gentleman.

- I just need you to sign the letter of president.

The authorizations for the goal program.

And the minutes of the Referees Committee's last meeting.

That journalist, Edgar Wilcox is Waiting for you in the lobby.

- Uh, on the terrace.

- I'll be fine, thank you.

-I'm not responsible for what might have happened

prior to my presidency, which you choose to call embezzlement.

- You were the Secretary General for God's sakes,

whether you knew, which makes you just as guilty,

or you didn't which makes you a bloody fool.

Alright, alright.

- In every association there are honest people and there are

traitors and there are those who could go either way.

Everything I've done up until this point has been for the

good of football for the good of the family.

A family which I will protect at all costs.

- Even those member are purported liars, thieves.

- Purported.

[laughing]

- You'll find out soon enough.

- You said this was to be a, uh,

friendly meeting, off the record.

- It is.

- FIFA is a sensitive subject, Mr. Wilcox.

Your role is to question it, mine is to protect it.

You're the journalist, I'm the president.

- You've got to ask yourself one thing,

are the people I'm protecting worthy?

[piano music] dd

dd

- My office just received word from the insurance company.

They refused to insure the 2002 World Cup in Japan and Korea.

Shall we take a break?

- No. Carry on.

- Considering the state of FIFA's finances Mr. President,

the wages of your two hundred collaborators

cannot be paid this month.

Some sponsors are threatening to pull out.

Other long-standing partners are demanding the immediate removal

of their logos from all P-R media.

It's that or they want a substantial goodwill gesture.

- Is that all?

- You mean, can it get any worse?

Let's see...

We are on the verge of a diplomatic incident

between Japan and South Korea.

Emperor Akihito refuse to go to Seoul for the opening ceremony.

Diplomats from both countries are arguing over protocol. Even

the mascots are in the middle of a full scale media war.

So, yes, I'd say it's about as bad as it can get.

- Werner something cheerful to add?

- Just this.

[suspenseful music] dd

dd

- May I ask you one more question?

- Be my guest.

- When are you going to do something to defend yourself?

- I've done nothing that merits defense.

- The federation is dragging you through the mud.

- Well, I grew up on a farm, I have no fear of mud.

- Accusing you by name, false accusations and you know it.

- She's right.

Unless you defend yourself,

you'll never be re-elected in SeouL

- You could go to prison

and I'm not a criminal lawyer so I couldn't even defend you.

- I fought hard to get to where I am today.

- Then fight to stay there.

You've been betrayed.

- Yes, by the same people you've put in power.

-Isn't that ironic.

There are twenty-four members, who's the traitor?

- Is it him?

Or him? Or him?

Or him? Maybe him.

Who knows?

- Someone does.

- One day I will be exonerated, this I know.

After all I've clone for football, for the world.

This is an injustice.

Look Sepp, my friend, I'm afraid that we have disappointed you.

Yes we have.

- I knew I wasn't joining the chess club.

- No,

no,

anyway,

how many votes are you sure of for your re-election?

- Eight I can count on.

- Ok,

so you need thirteen to win, which means you're five short.

This is not impossible.

What you need is five indecisive members and you make them yours.

- Well how can I possibly know who they are?

- I will tell you who they are.

You know Sepp, indecisive people are easily managed.

Make them fear you.

Make them believe you know everything about them.

Compromising things.

They may not like you, they may hate you.

But who cares?

They will do what you want.

- Hi, Sophie.

- Morning Mr. Blatter.

[key turning]

[orchestra melancholy music] dd

dd

[suspenseful music]

[indistinct yelling]

[silence]

- Gentlemen, a number of you have decided

to offer up my head in place of your own.

- Mr. Blatter, spare us your speech, and let us face facts...

- I haven't finished.

- A transfer of power has become inevitable.

- Nothing is inevitable until the vote is cast.

- We are asking you, one last time, to resign.

- I refuse.

You say you have evidence against me.

Evidence of what?

- Enough evidence to force you to resign

and that way you avoid prison.

- Well even if that were true,

mine would not be the only head to roll.

- Oh, come on.

- We have all the majority We need to force you to step down.

- You have nothing at all.

In a few days the conference will vote to determine

whether or not I will continue as president, they will vote.

See you Seoul gentleman.

[sighs]

- It feels like we're at war.

- I can't give up now.

- What would you do if you're elected?

I mean with those who wanted to run you out.

- Keep them close at hand.

- So you'll forgive them?

- Well one should always forgive,

just as one should never forget.

[slow suspenseful music] dd

dd

[fast suspenseful music] dd

dd

- Elected by one hundred thirty nine votes,

Joseph Sepp Blatt!

[applause]

[joyful music] dd

dd [applause]

- Ladies and gentleman,

in the name of FIFA I thank you.

[applause]

[exciting music] dd

dd

- Hey guys, golden goal, ok?

- Ok! Let's do this.

[children playing]

[piano music]

- In over one hundred years of existence, this federation,

born of a dream has survived two world wars,

an unprecedented economic crisis

and made football the most played sport on our planet.

If anyone had told us that one day FIFA would have over two

hundred member associations in its ranks, more than the U-N

that people of all races and origins would play together.

If We had known that women would fall in love with this game

and end up filling entire stadiums.

That football would be played in gymnasiums and schools.

That people would listen to the sound of the ball.

That this ball would bounce to every corner of the earth and

that it would leave its imprint on the history of mankind.

Well, who would've believed this?

[children cheering]

[inspirational music] dd

dd

[indistinct chatter]

I'm discovering it with you,

the twenty-ten, FIFA world cup will be held in,

South Africa!

[cheering]

[upbeat music] dd

[foregin lyrics] dd

dd

[exciting music] dd

dd