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The Cup of Death

by Jan P. Oller

390 pages; quality trade paperback (softcover); catalogue #00-0260; ISBN 1-55212-591-2; US$30.50, C$35.50, EUR25.50, £18.00

Over the past 30 years soccer has degenerated from a sport of grace and beauty into one of Dollar politics. The showcase of this degeneracy was the '94 World Cup held in the United States. This book not only analyses the shameless showcase of soccer degeneracy but is a stand against the existing corruption wthin F.I.F.A. as well as a cry for help for all true fans to not tolerate it any longer.

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about the book      a note from the author      Introduction      catalogue info

About the Book Never before has a book like The Cup of Death been written, detailing the corruption behind the most corrupt event in the history of soccer. The Cup of Death is a unique look at the '94 World Cup. It offers insight into the true mechanisms which govern F.I.F.A. and what it is that truly determines who qualifies for the tournament as well as who wins it. The Cup of Death goes beyond merely recounting the events which took place during the farce known as the '94 World Cup and examines the corruption of the tournament and its causes as well as documenting the acts of corruption themselves. The book is a voice of protest in defense of soccer and all true lovers of the game. It is meant as a voice of truth for those already in love with the game as well as a guide to soccer's true beauty for those not yet acquainted with it. Writte not only from facts but from the heart as well, The Cup of Death is a first of its kind book found nowhere else.

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A Note From the Author To some it might seem odd that a man holding a Master's degree in Architecture should choose to write about soccer. However, the oddness soon tends to disappear. I was born in Czechoslovakia, and like any other European became an avid fan at an early age. Attracted to the game due to its grace and elegance I was soon a participant in it rather than a mere spectator. Through travels I acquired an open mind, and through experience on both sides of the field developed an interest into what it is that really makes the soccer world go around. To my disappointment he discovered that the world of Pele is just a dream, images from a bygone era. The reality of the true state of world soccer set in and I could not keep it to myself. I believe that exposing any problem is the first step towards finding a solution. In my book I expose the abhorrent situation within F.I.F.A. and call for true fans of the game to raise their voices in order to regain the game which we all so dearly love.

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Introduction

    Since its founding in 1930, the World Cup of soccer has accomplished what nothing else has in the history of mankind. Every four years the entire world unites in a peaceful show of solidarity, mutual respect, patriotism, and the love of a game. Through soccer has been achieved what politicians and thousands of years of war could not, a single nation state based on humanity and the ideals of the Olympic dream.
    From heroes such as Pele we learned that justice on the field and fair play lead to the crown of laurels on the field as they should in a humane society.
     From Maradona we learned that the road to these laurels is not always an easy one but that true courage is never in vain as victory does not lie in winning but in trying with all of ones heart and never giving up.
     The World Cup has been filled with good times and bad, with tears and laughter, but the unity and humanity of the most beautiful game in the world has always remained. The ideals of the tournament for the common man have always remained, unfortunately the hidden reality behind the tournament has remained hidden until now. It is sad but true that F.I.F.A. is nothing but a corrupt tool of the western imperialist nations known to most as "free market democracies."
     I do not call for an end to the opium of the soccer world but do call for the true lovers of the game to open their eyes to the dirt and corruption hidden for so long by F.I.F.A. It is only through the recognition of such problems that soccer can be saved.
     The U.S.A. 1994 World Cup served only to make this corruption more visible. As we can see, even the worst tournament in the history of world soccer served its purpose. It is however not enough only to recognize what was seen, words and thoughts must be followed by actions! If the fans of the world remain silent to what is happening they are signing their own death warrants. The more voices raised and actions taken the more changes will take place for the betterment of our beloved game.
     The ideals which we so highly praise must become our own as we unite to face the enslaving powers of the blood thirsty dictators who have taken all we have from us for so long. Today most of the world* s peoples are the slaves of capitalism, we have lost our dignity, our basic and natural rights, and today through the destruction of a game which praises humanity in its most natural essence we will lose our ideals, and therefore, the human spirit will be crushed. I ask you, will we tolerate this?
     The future is in our own hands and we must decide for ourselves whether we want to be free and enjoy this game which represents the very idea of humanity. My friends, the choice is yours.

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Catalogue Information

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