João Havelange was FIFA's president for over two decades.
FIFA's the top league in the world of sports.
He's responsible for the greatest change in the history of football
and turned an amateur league into a money-making machine.
Even after resigning,
he is still linked to a scandal known as Fifagate
involving accusations of money laundering and millions of dollars
of bribery related to the World Cup...
Stop listening to the news, Grandpa.
It's time.
What time does the party begin?
After 12 o'clock.
But Grandpa, only one guest confirmed.
No. This is how it's done.
Welcome to your 100th birthday, Mr. Havelange.
Grandpa, are you sure you want to do this?
In football,
no matter if the field grass is green,
people have to see it as green.
Got it?
HAPPY BIRTHDAY
Hey!
Turn that shit off!
AMAZON PRIME VIDEO'S HEADQUARTERS
SERGIO JADUE - FORMER PRESIDENT OF CHILE'S FOOTBALL FEDERATION
SERGIO WAS ACCUSED OF BRIBERY IN THE FIFAGATE CASE
AND BECAME AN FBI INFORMANT
WHAT IF SOMEONE CORRUPT LIKE HIM...
WERE THE NARRATOR OF THIS "CORRUPTED" STORY?
With all due respect,
you're talking with a great football leader, a world-class leader.
With an impeccable career
since my beginnings in the Calera Union Sport Club.
I admit I had some issues.
But who doesn't in this business, right?
And let's also agree
that Chile hadn't won anything until I took charge.
The cup is mine.
Therefore, I won't allow this scandal, this nonsense,
this fabrication of the Fifagate,
to tarnish my sport victories,
which are not just a few.
I didn't understand anything she said,
but it's clear I won't ruin my reputation
for so little.
They need to add at least two zeros.
And it's unsportsmanlike for them to expect someone like me
to talk about corruption for so little money. I will not.
I'm sorry, I'm very sorry. I'm sorry.
Sergio, it's a good opportunity.
They intend to reinvent your public image.
And they want to pay.
So...
It's just telling a story, Sergio.
Okay, then.
Jean-Marie Faustin Godefroid de Havelange,
best known as João,
although at that time he was still Jean-Marie.
Let me be clear, this go-getter never stopped loved this sport.
Did he corrupt it? I wouldn't be so categorical.
Motherfuckers!
JEAN-MARIE HAVELANGE PRESIDENT - BRAZILIAN SPORTS CONFEDERATION
WEMBLEY STADIUM ENGLAND, 1966
Here he is at the group stage of the World Cup,
suffering against Portugal.
And there they are, by the Queen's side, the big shots.
STANLEY ROUS FIFA'S PRESIDENT
HELMUT KÄSER FIFA'S SECRETARY
These are people who, unlike Havelange,
are happy with FIFA as it is,
an association of European nobles.
Motherfuckers!
THE KING - PELÉ THE BEST FOOTBALL PLAYER OF ALL TIME
This is outrageous. This referee is nasty.
Pelé is paralyzed.
JOÃO SALDANHA JOURNALIST AND COMMUNIST
Friends, it seems the team bit the dust with Pelé and all.
No coordination, no attitude, the referees against them.
No. Don't do this to me. Not in the group stage.
Brazil was out of the World Cup.
You see, it's hard to fight imperialism.
FIFA was managed by an Englishman. England organized the World Cup.
The fuckers would never let a third world country win.
EL PRESIDENTE: CORRUPTION GAME
Get out.
Hey.
We took away our people's joy.
And Pelé disappointed Brazil.
How can you say such a thing, Pelé?
You didn't have the slightest chance.
Listen.
The Jules Rimet Cup is ours. It just doesn't know it yet.
You'll see in a few years.
Of all people, you, The King, Pelé.
The best player in football history.
You played great today.
No one can say otherwise.
Pelé played his worst match ever.
He's just a boy.
The motherfucker chickened out like all the others. No heart.
They should learn from me.
Right. It seems all Pelé does now is shake hands with dictators.
Those Englishmen stole it from us.
Like they always did with the whole world.
Continuing on the topic of FIFA,
despite being FIFA's president,
Rous is irrelevant in this story.
Käser, although he doesn't seem like one,
is a wolf in sheep's clothing.
The fucker holds the pen that signs the fate of football.
In the name of football, what the referee did to Pelé was just--
Mr. Havelange from Argentina, right?
Jean-Marie Havelange from Brazil.
Such a shame about Brazil.
You know, you need to accept it.
To win three World Cups in a row was a little too ambitious.
Don't you think?
With an impartial referee, it wouldn't have been so difficult.
I don't know what's customary in your country,
but coming here with something like this is a bit uncivilized, don't you think?
-I think that the truth-- -No, FIFA is a gentlemen's organization.
I wish you a good trip back to South America.
The Englishmen got rid of Brazil and then the rest of the teams.
These fuckers stole everything everywhere.
Why wouldn't they steal their own World Cup?
And it was with a goal that came to be known as "the ghost goal"
because the ball never went inside the goal.
They can't even celebrate properly.
Nothing is more pathetic than English people celebrating.
Maybe English people fucking?
Can you imagine?
It seems João did not like losing.
And his father was a fucker with very particular methods of encouragement.
A Belgian entrepreneur who moved to Brazil
and kept his European customs with a firm hand.
Gentlemen, please. I beg you, please.
At this moment, Pelé is a little debilitated.
Bubble gum.
Watch your posture, Vitória. Shoulders back.
Good. Now let me introduce Anna Maria, Havelange's wife.
And of course,
you can Google her if you want,
but the truth is that nothing is known about her.
HUMILIATING DEFEAT FOR BRAZIL
The reporters don't know what to say.
FIFA robbed us, and no one says a word.
Pelé is still the best one.
"The King this, The King that..."
Vitória won a medal in the Math Olympics.
Right, Vitória?
Right. I took first place, Dad.
When I get home, I will write my resignation letter.
Honey, the rug.
Look.
Congratulations on your swimming medal.
Math, Dad.
Right, but you should swim.
-When will this man ever learn? -Never, I hope.
This way I won't lose my job.
Go, go.
Now that you are resigning, you will have some spare time, right?
You could start joining me
at the church choir meetings like my friends' husbands do.
What happened? Fell off the bed again?
Dorinha, the moisturizer, please.
Welcome.
What would I do without your mess?
We were meant to be together.
Here.
Is it from the airport?
Yes. You didn't have this one.
I missed you.
Me too.
Havelange was determined to resign,
thinking his career was over.
This could have been the end of an era for Brazilian football.
However, all was not yet said and done.
Mr. President.
After the London failure,
here is my resignation letter.
You didn't have to bring it in person.
Leave it on the table.
CASTELO BRANCO DICTATOR
You're dismissed.
Mr. President, have you decided who will replace me yet?
One of the Rochas.
My commander.
I am ready to take command of the national sport.
Mr. President…
With all due respect for the nation and football,
I'd like to help choose my successor. Let's think about it.
Havelange, you have just resigned.
Why would you choose your successor?
Besides, football is a stupid sport.
Everyone chasing a ball, trying to place it in the opponent's goal.
-Go home. Rest. -It's not like that.
Football is much more than that. It's the joy of a goal.
All the people together celebrating a goal!
Havelange!
Mr. President.
Are you saying that you can guarantee
joy to the people?
Brazilian football has a lot of room for improvement, Mr. President.
I'm able and willing to make it happen.
Let me tell you something.
We are not going to spend another dime.
All right, I'll manage. All right.
Sing the anthem.
Excuse me?
Sing the national anthem.
Fuck! Sing it now!
The placid banks of the Ipiranga heard
Louder!
-The resounding shout of a heroic folk -Louder!
And the sun of liberty in shining beams
Shone in the homeland's sky at that instant
If the pledge of this equality
We managed to conquer with a strong arm
In thy bosom, oh, freedom
Our courage defies death itself!
I had to stay. They begged for it. They said they couldn't do it without me.
And then I told them that I need a new manager and budget.
I made it very clear.
You respect those gorillas too much. This military doesn't know a thing.
They don't know about economics or education.
Would they know about football?
Excuse me.
Are you Semedo? Saldanha? Can I have your autograph?
Listen to what I say.
Those military men aren't worth a dime.
Havelunge!
So, do we have a new manager?
It's Havelange and no, we don't.
I need to go tell Anna Maria the news.
Let's see how she feels about it.
Right. I promised her we would travel after my resignation.
Since then, she's been showing me those travel agency flyers.
Look, I have to warn you.
When you get home,
there'll be a surprise party for your resignation.
Try to act surprised at least.
Dear, are you ready?
What about a poker match?
Not now, Daddy.
No. Change that skirt, dear, before I send you to boarding school.
By the way, your friend is here.
-My boyfriend. -Nice to meet you.
I am missing some money. Do you know where it might be?
RICARDO TEIXEIRA
CHARGED FOR CORRUPTION IN 2012 PAID MILLIONS TO AVOID ARREST
Dorinha, my camera, please.
Surprise!
I really appreciate all your support,
but I decided the best thing to do
is to assume all my responsibilities until the end.
Mom, what happened?
He didn't resign.
Blessed Mother, give me strength, give me self-control.
Deliver me from rage and bad thoughts.
Stop praying, silly.
Selfishness in a relationship...
And I'm speaking from experience. It happened to me...
The truth is that it breaks everything,
it destroys everything.
It's horrible.
I need to answer this.
Hello?
I think that, at least,
she should break a plate on his head.
Well, no...
I didn't know that for legal reasons you couldn't...
I'll fix it. I'll fix it ASAP.
Yes.
We'll change her.
We'll change her now.
Obviously.
So... I want to introduce...
from here on out... Isabel.
And let's be clear.
She is no longer Anna Maria. She's Isabel.
And we changed her for legal reasons.
I can't have any more issues with lawyers.
ISABEL NEW WIFE FOR "LEGAL REASONS"
My God, what happened?
My mother's china.
-God. -What happened?
The china.
-I don't know what happened. -Calm down.
Listen.
In four years, you and I…
I will retire
with Brazil as the World Cup champion.
Are you listening?
With the satisfaction
of having the most loyal companion.
-Loyal companion? -Yes, right.
You mean like a dog?
No. Not like that.
Look, we have to go back there, smile,
and say it was an accident.
Ready to turn the match around, Havelange faced his first big challenge,
hiring the best coach with the lowest budget.
Havelange, my system is 1-9.
One defender, the rest strikers.
Pelé? Fuck Pelé.
We need to call a new generation to play.
No! Brazilian players don't need any guidance.
Because they are pure, wild.
Get out of here! Go!
Time went by, the ideal coach wasn't found,
and everybody was flying off the handle.
Mr. Havelange!
Get a coach to make Pelé happy.
If Pelé is happy, everybody will be fine.
Pelé has to feel happy.
ILHA GRANDE PRISON
Unfortunately, finding a good coach
wasn't the only challenge Havelange would face.
What's up, Castor?
CASTOR DE ANDRADE RIO DE JANEIRO'S BIGGEST "BICHEIRO"
Castor is a boss of the famous "Jogo do Bicho",
an illegal, unauthorized lottery
that has little animals beside numbers.
It'll get you locked up for over 100 years.
Those who take bets are called bookmakers.
The ones who run the business, bicheiros.
Why is he in prison?
I guess he crossed someone powerful.
Nothing serious. Everything passes.
Castor.
-Thanks. -Thank you, boss.
The only subject here is the national team.
But they aren't saying good things.
Yes. Saldanha calls our team Brancaleone's Army.
What the hell is Brancaleone?
If you give Saldanha a microphone, he only talks shit.
Marie, let's cut the bullshit and go straight to the point.
What brings you here?
I'll be out in a month.
What is so important that you couldn't wait one month?
You know the Confederation is in the red, right?
Without a budget, my hands are tied.
I was thinking to myself…
about a sports lottery to raise funds.
You want to screw me?
No. Not at all. This is a business offer.
Give me some money in advance to fund this lottery.
Just this?
You screw me and I'll pay for it?
I would never screw you, Castor.
You don't get it. The profit will be all ours, my friend.
Yours, mine, and the Confederation's.
Havelange understood that in all negotiation it's key
to know well the idiot you're dealing with.
You know what?
I'll help your Bangu in the league.
It'll be the icing on the cake. What do you think?
Sounds better now, Marie.
His beloved Bangu was Castor's Achilles' heel.
He loved the team more than his life.
A coach called Charcot called from France.
He made an offer. I found it too expensive.
You may go.
Everyone knows Brazilian football is all about attacking.
We have the greatest beasts in world football.
-Now... -Ready?
…the tamer of the beast can't be a foreigner.
-A lion tamer is not a horse tamer. -Really?
-To each their own. -If you know so much, do it yourself.
He is one of the few people who understands you.
By the way, he is a communist. It will not be expensive.
Besides, it wouldn't be bad to have a real friend
among so many military.
I am Saldanha's friend.
"A ghost is haunting Europe."
The kingdom of freedom and prosperity suggested by Marx
can't be a utopia or an abstraction.
But why not, my friend?
I can only lose, no matter what.
If I face these guys, they'll arrest me. Or even kill me.
If I take the national team to victory, I may take a picture with a murderer.
They'll never allow a communist to be a coach.
They'd never let me be. They'd never leave you in peace.
That is your problem, João.
You see yourself only as a communist.
I see you as someone capable of changing Brazilian football.
Actually, world football.
Forget it. It won't work.
-No deals with the military. -I've already talked to them.
Look.
Together, you and I, we can get far.
I'll watch your back.
FIFA will respect me.
I can turn FIFA into an innovative institution.
It's time for change, Saldanha.
The military?
Leave them to me.
Mr. Castor!
Castor is back!
He is back!
The boss is back!
You're all invited to the party at my place!
That's right.
What a joy!
If it isn't the Prince and the Princess of Brazilian football.
Marie, I know you wish to be the king, but there is only one king here, right?
It is a pleasure to have you here.
Enjoy the party.
Marie, the Rochas are here. They would like to talk to you, okay?
Excuse me.
Some things never change, like Castor and his disgusting behavior.
Honey, I need to talk to someone.
Is it okay if I leave you here alone for a while?
This way.
Carlinho, out. Get out.
Everybody out!
A communist is unacceptable.
No, General. It's a matter of point of view.
Do you want the people to be happy or not?
Look, Castelo would prefer to have this communist in jail.
Even better, he'd like to have him buried where all communists belong.
He always said, "A good communist is a…"
Rocha, when you come here to my place, you have fun,
dance, drink, do everything with my girls.
You are not worried if I am a communist or not.
Exactly. You are thinking the wrong way.
Thinking? It's hard to think right now.
Football is football. Politics are politics.
But one thing I know.
Winning a World Cup will bring joy to this country.
It has a price.
That is what the president wants, gentlemen.
You should not bring back the past
No one needs to know What happened between us
Let's go. Come on.
The fish belongs to the bottom of the net
Secrets belong between four walls
You drank too much. Let's go.
No! Let's stay a little longer.
Don't let little problems
Come to disturb our fates
The fish belongs to the bottom of the net
I can't tell you, Father.
I think I am possessed.
Isabel, what did you do wrong?
I had sexual intercourse
in a public place…
drunk.
-With a stranger? -Of course not, Father.
With my husband.
With no intention to procreate, I think.
That is part of your marriage vows, lamb of God.
But this was in a way…
very wild.
Like animals.
Child,
every wife has to satisfy her husband's desires.
What if it's the devil making me do those things and not me?
Certainly,
the flesh is weak,
and he is cunning.
And I broke my mother-in-law's china.
What should I do, Father?
Pray.
Say one Our Father and one Hail Mary.
Our Father, who art in Heaven…
I think there are many who'll have to pray.
Military and communists on the same side.
A new challenge for João.
Thank you all for coming.
There's only one protagonist today.
And you all know him very well.
With great pride, I present to you the new coach of the Brazilian football team,
also my friend...
João Saldanha.
Thank you, my friend. Thank you, everyone.
In these hard times we're living in,
I would like to say
it will be in this national team where we will find,
or find again, the joy
and hope to move forward.
The union of great players was key during training.
Rivelino, left winger. Gerson on the right.
Tostao and Jairzinho playing a little forward.
Obviously, this did not make Pelé too happy.
-Trust him. Play his way. Are you nuts? -I don't trust him.
Take it easy. You must trust Saldanha, got it?
I don't trust him. No way.
Edson!
That's it, Rivelino! Right!
Goal!
Havelange was ready to travel to Zurich
with a lot of revolutionary ideas for FIFA.
Hoping the Europeans in charge would listen
to the proposals brought from the bottom of the world.
And this was not the first time.
BERLIN, 1936
He had been to Europe when he went to compete
in the controversial 1936 Olympics in Germany.
Name?
Havelange. Jean-Marie. Brazil.
REPUBLIC OF THE UNITED STATES OF BRAZIL
I declare open the Olympics of the new era.
ZURICH SWITZERLAND
PERU SALINAS
URUGUAY SUAREZ
ARGENTINA PORRÚA
Guys, as we agreed, I'll do the talking. Okay?
First, I'll refer to the disrespect we received at the '66 World Cup.
It's important.
Then, the referees.
Don't forget the tickets for the World Cup.
That too. Jean-Marie?
Anything you'd like to add?
No, you talk.
When you think about FIFA,
you imagine an imposing modern building
with talking elevators,
a deluxe place where large sums of money are handled.
HOUSE OF FIFA
However, in 1969, things were quite different.
No, we'll wait for a bit.
But we'll begin soon.
We want to begin, start now.
For the first time, Latin Americans were invited to FIFA.
Rous put on quite a show,
but in reality, it was a monologue by the Europeans.
In the last World Cup, my star player, Pelé,
was hit in every single game.
And I believe we all know him here.
And it was impossible for us to play.
So to avoid that, I devised a system that we could implement,
the use of colored cards by the referee
in order to promote or to penalize the foul play
using a universal code like traffic.
Yellow and green... Sorry. Yellow and red.
Yellow as a warning and red to be ejected.
Listen, I'll take a train and then an airplane.
I'll see you in one day.
Take care.
You know, João,
you should stop being nice to the Europeans,
and be friendlier to us.
We are like you.
Even if you don't like it.
Look.
They stole your cards idea.
Let it be a lesson for you.
Motherfuckers!
SANTOS DUMONT AIRPORT
To be honest, these were difficult times in Brazil and in all of Latin America.
There was a lot of... You had to be alert.
That's why football was so important.
A good social atmosphere had to be kept.
Brazil had a new president.
Yes, another military man.
This one was a bit tougher.
EMÍLIO MÉDICI NEW MILITARY PRESIDENT AND FAN OF PELÉ.
I don't know why he looks like the previous one.
Look, I can't understand
why Pelé is playing so far back.
I expected this Saldanha to be ignorant about politics,
but I thought he'd know about football.
Mr. President, if he put Pelé there, I'm sure he must have a good reason.
Saldanha may be wrong about everything,
but he does know about football.
Look, my friend. Pelé may have been the best player in the world,
but now he can barely see what's in front of him.
I doubt he'll strike the ball like he used to.
About President Médici,
the president picks his cabinet and I pick the national team.
You get it?
It's Havelange.
Get Saldanha on the phone.
I would like to propose a toast…
to this lasting friendship.
Can we toast in this country?
Should I pretend and smile?
Stop with this attitude.
You said enough crap on TV.
Let Pelé play.
What's your problem with our hero?
I need peace.
You don't get it.
There is no peace as long as people are disappearing.
While we are here enjoying luxury and others are starving.
My comrades were arrested. They didn't commit any crime.
-But you don't care. -I do care. I care about football.
I care about my wife, my daughter.
Is that wrong?
You know what I think?
You know well what is right or wrong, but you'd rather play dumb.
It's much more convenient.
When you think of someone other than Jean-Marie Havelange,
please let me know.
Rita, please.
Did you see what just happened? He called me selfish.
Me, selfish? Unbelievable.
Now we say goodbye to the people before the World Cup.
When we meet them again, we will be World Cup champions.
I want you guys to get on that field and for the next 90 minutes
show them we are free.
I want every child to see in our game,
in a beautiful game, a sign of hope
and feel happy and proud to be Brazilian!
Go!
Brazil!
1969 LAST GAME BEFORE WORLD CUP
NO MORE DICTATORSHIP
I want him off of the national team and out of the World Cup.
If you overthink it, you are out too.
When a dog bites you for the first time,
you kick its ass and see if it learned a lesson.
But if it bites you again, then it's time to find the owner.
What Saldanha did to me was disrespectful.
My eyesight is perfect. My kick is perfect, precise as always.
I don't know why this man says all these things about me.
João?
Saldanha.
What is it?
You'll have to resign.
No way.
You have no choice.
What about you?
Are you resigning?
You knew you were screwing up.
You had it coming.
Well, I won't resign.
Then, as of tomorrow, you are no longer the coach of the national team.
My friend...
we had the chance to do great things together.
I'm not like you!
I can't keep quiet about this!
I can't ignore your bosses' crimes.
You are like me.
Or you wouldn't have been the coach.
You think we are different?
We are not. You are like me.
Is that all?
Is that all you've got? Come on!
Is that all? Come on! Is it?
Come, you commie!
Is this what you want?
Hit me, you piece of shit.
You used me like you do with everyone!
Shut up.
-You've used me like you... -Shut up!
You'll go far, very far.
But you will end up alone!
He had it coming.
If he wants to throw away his future, fine.
But he won't do it to me.
But we aren't in danger, right?
Of course we are, Isabel.
I am taking care of our family, taking care of us.
I'm sick of this!
I want to talk to you.
Right now?
You want to talk now?
Okay, let's talk.
I want to be with you.
My presence will help you.
You promised me a vacation.
Isabel, with my job, there are no vacations.
It's a waste of time.
When all this is over...
I promise we'll go together. One weekend.
Just you and me.
MEXICO CITY 1970
WELCOME BRAZILIAN NATIONAL TEAM
This is the team of the "beautiful game" arriving at the 1970 World Cup
with a new coach, Lobo Zagallo.
Pelé was very unlucky before,
but we will win this Cup.
This Cup is mine, my friends. This Cup is yours, yours, yours.
It belongs to all of us! It belongs to Pelé!
Tell these slackers they'd better win that Cup, Zagallo.
Let's go!
It was a time of technological development.
Man had landed on the Moon,
and the 1970 World Cup
was the first sporting event to be broadcasted live, in color,
to the rest of the world.
And King Pelé finally emerged as the world's first sports megastar.
It was like having Neymar without the dollars around him.
How can FIFA still be like this?
How can they behave
like they're at a country club
when they could let all these people join the party?
FIFA...
it could be a huge country.
The country of football.
I doubt it will ever happen, João.
Imagine...
Everybody cheering, watching the greatest sport in the world
from their living rooms.
FIFA could be so much bigger, Salinas.
Well, I think it's close,
You stole the card idea from me.
You treat the Latin American reps like scum.
You humiliated us.
But you know what?
You underestimate us.
Keep that in your mind.
This was the first World Cup where anti-doping tests were implemented,
and the Brazilian team received an unexpected visit.
Shit!
Motherfuckers!
Zagallo!
Motherfuckers. What the fuck is this?
What are you doing here? Get out of here!
Get out of here! Go!
What the fuck is this? It's over!
Out, kid! Get out!
Go away! Get out!
You! Get out!
What are you doing?
What is this? What's this, man? What is this?
What did that bitch give you?
You're out of this fucking Cup, get it?
Get it? You're going straight home!
Get out of here!
Get out!
And you!
And thus, with unexpected help from Saldanha,
João defused a bomb clearly set by the Europeans
to stop the Brazilian team.
Picolé?
Where's Picolé, number 17?
Picolé? He is out for disciplinary reasons.
He's back in Brazil.
Here's a gift from Brazil.
Finally Havelange exacted his revenge.
Brazil was unstoppable as it advanced towards its third World Cup.
Well, don't believe everything you hear.
Rio's not nice.
It's unforgettable.
It's your turn. Go.
That year, members were free to elect Stanley Rous
as president of the federation,
the same fucker who had been president for long 12 years.
1970 - CANDIDACY FOR THE PRESIDENCY STANLEY FORD ROUS
Motherfuckers.
And then came the day of the 1970 finals against Italy.
Havelange knew what being in a final was like.
On your mark,
get set...
Guess who won the election.
And he wasn't going to lose this one.
It made no difference, because the real fight was different.
Brazil is the champion.
So much emotion.
Now, with that emotion,
our tears of joy mix with our tears of pain
for our desire for a better world.
For a country with more justice and freedom.
For a sovereign people!
For this beautiful game!
Well done!
The war was just starting.
I haven't won anything yet.
In four years,
I'll be the president of FIFA.
João.
Call me João.
Beautiful was the battle I got to tell.
Brazil against the world.