ABSTRACT
In the eastern part of Europe football has always been in close relationship with the political sphere. As the most popular sport it was always a state affair in this area. In the countries surrounded by enemies and rivals suffering from inferiority complex, politics sometimes tried to use soccer as a means of legitimacy and propaganda. The nationalist political elites tried to exploit the political potentials of football. During the dualistic era (1867–1918) soccer was represented in Hungary as the symbol of cultural superiority especially in contrast to Austria; in the inter-war period it was an expression of symbolizing being European, the wish to belong to Western Europe and an evidence of Hungarians’ greatness in opposition to neighbouring countries. In the hands of totalitarian socialist powers, soccer became an even more important political vehicle in order to prove the superiority of socialism above capitalism, to legitimate dictatorship by exploitation football results as the regime’s own victories, and it could channel the sentiments and passions of the people. During ‘soft dictatorship’ of Kádár-era the political control over football remained unchanged, however influence was rather indirect and less drastic.
