Under Stalin, football was an instrument of propaganda. The fate of the Games was in the hands of the secret police and army. Newly declassified records reveal the many dark secrets hidden in the history of Russian Football up until the cold war. Today, interviews with the children of the veteran players, historians' contributions, and never-before-seen archives are combined to tell the story of these unsung sports heroes who bear witness to the greater political history of Soviet Russia when Sports and Politics collided. A fascinating historical perspective and a topical subject ahead of the Football World Cup in Russia in Summer 2018.

Under Stalin, football was an instrument of propaganda. The fate of the Games was in the hands of the secret police and army. Newly declassified records reveal the many dark secrets hidden in the history of Russian Football up until the cold war. Today, interviews with the children of the veteran players, historians' contributions, and never-before-seen archives are combined to tell the story of these unsung sports heroes who bear witness to the greater political history of Soviet Russia when Sports and Politics collided. A fascinating historical perspective and a topical subject ahead of the Football World Cup in Russia in Summer 2018.