Tethered Football. The Case of Robert Gadocha

Abstract

At the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich and the 1974 FIFA World Cup, Polish footballers achieved spectacular successes. As a result, managers of Western clubs became interested in the best of them. Because for relatively little money, they could acquire world-class players. Polish players were also interested in these offers. However, according to the regulations in force at the time, no Polish footballer could continue his career abroad before the age of 30. The breakthrough came after the 1974 World Championships. The first footballer who, through a form of blackmail, forced the authorities to permit him to continue his career in the West before turning 30 was Robert Gadocha.