How dictatorship killed cricket’s dream and patronised football in Italy and Argentina
In the 19th and early 20th centuries, cricket held promise in several parts of the world, including Italy and Argentina. But political forces—particularly authoritarian regimes—reshaped the sports culture of both nations. Dictatorship didn’t just influence policy and economy; it determined which sports thrived and which were buried. In the cases of Italy under Benito Mussolini and Argentina under Juan Domingo Perón, football was elevated to a national obsession, while cricket—seen as foreign, elitist, or colonial—faded into obscurity.
⚖️ Politics and Sports: A Strategic Marriage
Authoritarian regimes understand that sports have immense emotional power. They can inspire national unity, distract from political discontent, and provide the perfect stage for propaganda. Football, with its mass appeal and team-centric ethos, became the darling of dictators. Cricket, in contrast, was viewed as too slow, elitist, and closely tied to the British colonial past—unsuitable for rallying nationalist sentiment.
🇮🇹 Italy: Mussolini’s Fascist Vision and Football’s Rise
⚰️ The Decline of Cricket
Cricket in Italy had roots in British cultural influence, mostly among elites in port cities like Genoa and Naples during the late 19th century. British expatriates formed clubs and schools that introduced the sport to a limited audience. However, as Mussolini came to power in 1922, Italy’s embrace of non-native customs was soon replaced by an aggressive push for cultural purification.
- Cricket’s British origins were a liability in fascist Italy.
- The regime sought to create a uniquely Italian cultural identity, and foreign sports did not fit that narrative.
- The fascist government promoted the slogan “Mussolini is always right,” and that extended even to how Italians played and consumed sport.
⚽ Football: The Perfect Fascist Tool
In contrast, football (calcio) was a blank canvas that could be painted in nationalist colors. It had the right ingredients: fast-paced action, large crowds, working-class roots, and a format that lent itself to the spectacle.
- Mussolini invested heavily in football infrastructure, building stadiums and supporting clubs like Lazio and Roma.
- In 1934 and 1938, Italy won back-to-back FIFA World Cups—victories that Mussolini turned into symbols of fascist success.
- The team often played in black shirts, echoing the fascist uniform.
The regime used football matches as events to rally the masses, often preceded by military parades and fascist salutes. The sport became not just entertainment but a nationalist ritual.
🇦🇷 Argentina: From Cricket to Peronist Football Powerhouse
🎩 Cricket’s Colonial Image
In Argentina, cricket was introduced by British settlers in the 19th century and initially thrived. Buenos Aires Cricket Club, established in 1831, was one of the earliest institutions of its kind in Latin America. However, cricket never made the leap from elite to mass sport.
By the time Juan Perón assumed power in 1946, cricket was already considered a sport of the upper-class, closely associated with colonialism and foreign values.
- Perón’s regime promoted national pride, industrial labor, and populism.
- Cricket, played mostly by the Anglo-Argentine elite, had no place in this new national identity.
- British influence, in general, was viewed as a vestige of economic and cultural control.
As a result, cricket slowly lost access to resources, public spaces, and institutional support. It faded into near-obscurity, surviving only in exclusive circles.
⚽ Football’s Golden Opportunity
Football, however, was seen as a people’s sport—affordable, emotional, and rich with cultural meaning. Perón saw football as the perfect vehicle to connect with the working class, his core political base.
- Football clubs were funded and protected by the state.
- Perón introduced social programs through clubs, encouraging community involvement.
- Youth leagues and training academies were nationalized or expanded, ensuring talent could be developed locally.
Football matches were broadcast widely, and national players became symbols of Argentine strength and pride. This strategy laid the groundwork for later success—Argentina’s World Cup wins in 1978 and 1986 owed a great deal to this infrastructure.
🧠 Why Dictators Preferred Football Over Cricket
| Reason | Football | Cricket |
|---|---|---|
| Mass Appeal | Popular among all classes | Limited to elite or expat communities |
| Cultural Flexibility | Easily adopted and rebranded as national sport | Tied to colonialism and British identity |
| Propaganda Value | Big stadiums, televised games, national teams | Niche, slow-paced, and less visual |
| Symbolism | Collectivism, discipline, sacrifice | Individual performance, patience |
Dictators were not merely suppressing cricket; they were curating a national identity. Football offered visual spectacles and dramatic narratives that cricket could not provide. The stadium became a space for mass emotion and political manipulation, while cricket was too slow and exclusive to serve that function.
📉 Long-Term Impact
The impact of these regimes on the sports culture of their countries is still visible today:
- Italy remains a football powerhouse, with clubs like Juventus, Milan, and Inter enjoying global recognition. Cricket, in contrast, is a fringe sport.
- In Argentina, football is deeply woven into the national fabric. Legends like Diego Maradona and Lionel Messi are global icons. Cricket survives only in Anglo-Argentine enclaves and has no meaningful national presence.
🧾 Conclusion: When Politics Picks the Game
Sports are not immune to the winds of history. In Italy and Argentina, cricket’s decline and football’s rise were not natural evolutions but the results of strategic cultural engineering. Authoritarian leaders used football to unify, control, and glorify—and in doing so, they rewrote their countries’ sporting histories.
While cricket’s decline in these nations may seem like a footnote in broader political narratives, it offers a compelling case study in how regimes shape culture, not just through laws and education, but through the very games people play.
