Narcoball: How Football Fell into the Grip of the Cartels
Football, cartels, death. Sounds like the plot of a gangster flick? Not at all. This was the reality of Colombia in the 80s and 90s, captured in David Arrowsmith’s book Narcoball: Football, Cartels and Death in Pablo Escobar’s Colombia. The history of the game there wasn’t just about goals, glory and passion in the stands. It was also about fear, crime and blood spilled on the pitch.
David Arrowsmith: an author who doesn’t shy away from the hard truths
Known for reports at the intersection of football and politics, Arrowsmith dives into the darkest corners of Colombia. Writing Narcoball, he dug into documents, testimonies and voices from within the football scene of that era. There’s no sugarcoating here - his narrative is a brutal mix of sporting history and the actions of drug cartels, who used football as the perfect tool for laundering money and building influence.
Football under the control of drug lords
The book kicks off when Pablo Escobar, the most infamous drug baron in history, sets his sights on football. But for him it wasn’t about the sport. For Escobar, the game was currency - he bought players, referees and even whole clubs. Tournaments? He hosted them in his own stadiums, guarded by armed men. Narcoball reveals how football became a weapon of power, and how players turned into pawns in a deadly game.
The book also raises questions of morality and loyalty. Did a player in a cartel-funded club really have a choice? When he scored a goal, could he feel pride - or only fear, knowing that one mistake might end his career or his life?
A final that turned into tragedy
The most powerful part of the book is the story of Colombia’s national team at the 1994 World Cup. Huge hopes, even bigger pressure. Arrowsmith masterfully tells the story behind the loss to the USA - the match that cost Andrés Escobar his life. The defender, known as the “Gentleman of Medellín”, paid the ultimate price for an own goal. It was a moment that forever changed the way Colombia looked at football.
Narcoball: Football, Cartels and Death in Pablo Escobar’s Colombia is a must-read for anyone who wants to understand that football is more than just a game. This is a book that stays with you. Perfect for a late-night read with a cup of tea (or something stronger), because once you open it, you won’t put it down. Want to see what football looked like under cartel rule? Open it up - but be warned, it’s not an easy ride.
