Sindelar: The man who defied the
Third Reich Adolf Hitler's Third Reich just invaded and
annexed Austria. To rally the Austrian people to his
cause, the Nazi regime decides to organize a friendly
match between the German and Austrian teams: it's the
Anschlussspiel. Players are told not to score, 0-0 is the
ideal result. On 03rd April 1938, in Vienna, under the eyes of
the highest Nazi dignitaries, Germany faces the newly
annexed Austria. The sports imbalance is clear, the
Austrians are forced not to force their talent. There's a
quarter hour left as Sindelar grabs the ball and opens
the score. He is celebrating in front of the Nazi tribune.
An Austrian defender will double down on a lob. Game
over 2-0. Nazi Germany is being publicly humiliated.
Sindelar's popularity seems to deter any violent
repression. The Nazi regime turns events to their
advantage by using Sindelar's figure as the Austrian
acceptance of invaders. The act of dividing. Political
contest or denial of sports masquerade? The Austrian
memory erects Sindelar as a national symbol of
resistance, especially since he subsequently refuses to
put on the Third Reich jersey. He was found dead in
I939, suffocated in carbon monoxide in his apartment.
The circumstances are turbulent and no one knows if
the Nazis made Sindelar pay for his goal. Picture: Three
players from Austria including Sindelar on the right
FIFA.
