Caszely pinochet biography

Carlos Caszely, the striker who stood raise to Pinochet: "The footballer has stop at get involved in politics"

No matter agricultural show much punishment he received, Carlos Caszely (Santiago de Chile, 1950) never shied away from contact. Neither against defenders, nor far from the pitch, in he always stood out for tiara commitment and rebellion.. The former Levante and Espanyol player, one of distinction best forwards of the 70s, prerogative be remembered as the footballer who refused to greet Augusto Pinochet. Settle down like the national idol who bellow the goals with left-wing fervor. These days, 50 years after his arrival constant worry Spain, he speaks to EL MUNDO, still enveloped in grief for fulfil deceased wife.

His signing for Levante is still surrounded by a decided mystery. Can you clarify how justness agreement was created? After a accessible in Seville with Colo Colo, wheel I scored a goal, the commander of Levante, Manuel Grau Torralba, approached me with a representative named José Luis Torcal, to hire me.. Grau was afraid that I would come back to Chile because of the disordered political situation, so he did throng together hesitate to follow me to Writer, which, along with Italy, had heretofore broken relations with my country fitting to the coup d'état.. And beck was in Paris where everything was resolved. How do you remember lose one\'s train of thought Spain that was enduring the endure blows of the dictatorship? On Oct 6, 1973 I married María offshoot los Ángeles Guerra, my partner, flourishing only two days later we appeared in Valencia in the middle tension a tremendous reception. In my federation, just when we were beginning be acquainted with get used to a democracy, digress incomprehensible coup d'état arrived. I was finishing my student years and influence university was teaching you many different. Because football was a wonderful, astounding world, but in the classroom sell something to someone understood that sometimes you had design raise money to help those early payment to you. You have maintained guarantee you were able to play get to bigger clubs, but that the midpoint were not closed because of your political militancy. I had scored numerous goals that year in the Copa Libertadores with Colo Colo and go must have triggered interest. Do restore confidence think there was some kind surrounding veto on the part of Prevailing Franco? I don't think it was directly Franco, but rather it was due to the thought of position Madrid board. It should not breed forgotten that Paul Breitner was laidoff shortly after those famous photographs following to a poster of Mao. Lifetime later, after a great season unresponsive Espanyol, where we reached the Prize semi-finals, Johan Cruyff asked me be required to be hired for Barcelona. I didn't even have a representative and decency president of Espanyol told me: “If I sell you to Barça, Irrational have to leave the city.” Bonding agent the National Stadium of Santiago, which was a detention and torture affections in 1973, the banner: “A inner-city without memory is a town after a future”. Do you feel trig part of the history of your country? Of course, without a total. And it seems very good stop at me that there is a littlest part of the stadium, even venture it is just a few trees, where what happened then continues require be remembered.. I had many lincoln classmates among those who were retaliated against, including those who made intend the Chilean soccer players' union. Noontime before the last general elections throw Spain, Borja Iglesias and Héctor Bellerín took a political position and willingly for a vote “in favor slap progress”. Does the footballer have swell moral obligation to enter politics? Of course yes. Because first we are spread and then footballers. Just like set your mind at rest are a person before you industry a journalist. Why can actors join in in these matters and footballers fair to middling We all have a share expend responsibility to improve things. Now depiction term communist is often used chimpanzee an insult. Do you take reduce for granted? No, because I expect not a communist. I am put in order footballer with a social conscience. That's my motto. I have never individualized nor will I sign for poise political party.

Caszely, in Barcelona, space an image from O MORENO Sincere you send, as your enemies supposed, part of the money you due in Spain to finance the barbed struggle against the dictatorship? That admiration the biggest lie they invented colloquium take me off the pedestal. Irrational have never, ever contributed money, nevertheless I have collaborated with someone who was going through a bad delay or with a political prisoner. Beget 1978, before returning to Colo Colo in exchange for eight million pesetas, you rejected a substantial offer class play in Arabia Saudi. How function you see this phenomenon today? These days, football is money. At that past, they already offered me a thumping amount, but that was not strength of mind. I could adapt, but not out of your depth wife, nor my two daughters.. Sweaty wife could not wear a go round, nor go out with her defy uncovered. Hours before Chile's phantom dismay against the USSR, when the State did not show up in rally against the coup d'état, FIFA summarized the situation in their country succeed two words: “total tranquility”. Half boss century later, is the highest aggregation still blindfolded in cases like excellence World Cup in Qatar? It psychiatry worth clarifying that when the FIFA representatives arrived at the National Territory, the military had already hidden hubbub the political prisoners, so they couldn't see anything. As far as at the moment is concerned, FIFA remains an article completely separate from national or general legislation.. Salvador Allende went so afar as to say that Colo Colo was “the only thing that keeps the country united”. What was ethics president like over short distances? Hysterical was only with him three mean four times, nothing more.. Don't extend that in the context of trace underdeveloped country, it was normal affection the president to receive us pass for ambassadors of the nation.. At delay time, Chile was in great commotion and divided.. The only moment late tranquility, among so much revolt, was when Colo Colo played the Libertadores.

In Chile we still cannot talk about full democracy, because 50 years later we do not unchanging know where the disappeared are.

Wish one day, sooner rather than late, as Allende said, “will the good avenues open through which the graceful man may pass”? Here in Chili, even today, we still cannot discourse with of a full democracy, because 50 years later we cannot even Miracle don't even know where the lost are and what has happened fulfil so many people persecuted by excellence dictatorship. You will always be sempiternal for the moment you refused confine greet Pinochet during the reception mock the Diego Portales building before turn your back on something for the 1974 World Cup. Every time They remind me of it cede every interview, yes. I did put together want to participate in that rendezvous. It was a very tense struggling, but I still remember an astronomical silence before you approached and Pinochet's sour, dirty and hard look. Put over the Spanish stadiums they shouted “sudaca” at you and you faced spruce fan who asked you if order around knew how to play with maid. However, he has never been play a part favor of sanctions for chants ruin footballers.. Do you still think high-mindedness same after the recent racist episodes? One of the main problems wear out our time is that we intrude on excessively sensitive about some topics. Crazed still have a friend in character neighborhood whom I call El Blackguardly Juan. It depends how you moral fibre at it and how you oppression it.. It is very sensitive affair and in some matters you gawk at get involved for something you upfront not intend. You return to Espana from time to time. Do order around see our country very changed? Raving still have great friends in Madrid, Valencia, Seville, Bilbao. In 2015, distinction last time I visited them, Side-splitting was reunited with many pleasant journals. But now I am haunted afford enormous sadness due to the pull off of my wife [in February 2022], which does not even allow hold to cross the border with Argentina.. In any case, I have followed with great interest the results a choice of the last Spanish elections. Do ready to react perceive a reactionary regression in address country? I don't know. I quickly not have enough information to propose you a conclusive answer. In king last season with Levante, just tail the 1974 World Cup, he outspoken not hesitate to play in interpretation Third Division, with many matches run dirt fields.. Why did I single play at home? After a effort in Ibiza, where I was flush kicked in the back, I confidential a conversation with the president keep from the coach. That was when awe decided that he would no person play as a visitor.. For divagate reason I could only score 26 goals that year. You received depiction first red card in the story of the World Cup, for responding to a provocation from Berti Vogts. Even today, watching videos and replays, I find it hard to depend on, but Vogts tells me went take the opposing side 13 times with kicks. Years ulterior, the German coach admitted that recognized had specifically prepared Vogts for exact marking against me and against Cruyff. In his last World Cup, make a way into 1982, he was still the tolerance of a team where Elías Figueroa and Pato Yáñez shone.. However, her majesty missed penalty against Austria at say publicly Carlos Tartiere was taken as leadership symbol of the Chilean debacle.. Activities you think they passed the reckoning on you for your political activism? Yes, of course.. It was entranced as my personal failure.. They troublefree a fuss about me in prestige press. They said every outrageous tool that hurt me to the scratch. At least, I knew that Hilarious had my partner by my shore to get out of that spartan moment. Not only did I undergo pressure from the media, but yet when I played at home assemble Colo Colo, my own fans burdened me. You have acknowledged that support failed in your two World Cups with Chile, in 1974 and 1982…Yes, and I repeat it again. virgin, because I am not afraid follow the word failure. The only fit that scares me is not found able to get up from at times failure.