Corinthian Democracy was a movement that took place in Brazilian football, specifically in the São Paulo team Corinthians, in the 1980s. The duration of this movement was two years (between 1982 and 1984). If, on the one hand, it seems like a long period for a great football club to act without centralized power; on the other hand, it was just two years that marked the entire history of Brazilian football, and probably world football.
But what are the characteristics, in fact, of Corinthian Democracy? First, to answer this question, it is necessary to take into account the historical moment that Brazil was experiencing: it was a time of dictatorship, which meant that people had no right to choose their representatives. politicians. Or, in other words, the vote was non-existent. Embedded in this context, the movement consisted of the idea that all decisions made by the club, in the football area, should be voted on beforehand, so that all participants, managers, athletes or support staff, were entitled to one (1) vote. Perhaps this fact does not sound today with the significance it had at that time: wardrobe and director of football were of equal importance in Corinthians's Democracy, their opinions were of equal value decision-making.
All of this started with Corinthians going through a terrible phase in the São Paulo and Brazilian Championships. At the time, in 1982, Vicente Matheus' club presidency ended, and Waldemar Pires took over the position. The new president, in turn, appointed sociologist Adílson Monteiro as the club's football manager Alves, who used to listen to players' opinions on the most diverse issues related to the soccer. That was the lever for the Corinthian Democracy to take action.
The movement was strengthened by two highly politicized players, Socrates and Wladimir, whose influence eventually extended throughout the team. In this sense, involved in the experience of equal opinions, Corinthians represented a very intense political force at a time of dictatorship. Soon, assisted in the marketing part by the famous Corinthians publicist Washington Olivetto – who, by the way, created the term Corinthians Democracy –, players wore shirts under the official competition jersey with sayings contrary to the politics of the time: “I want to vote for president” and "direct now" were some of the sayings that became a campaign by the Corinthians soccer team, and which was soon adopted by the organized fans of the club.
The result of the movement was the first place in the São Paulo Championship of 1982 and 1983, in addition to reach the semifinals of the Brazilian Championship, without mentioning the settlement of debts that the club entailed. However, in 1984 the club of 13 began to be formed, whose absence of the role of the president was placed as an impediment to disputes in official tournaments. In addition, new management models, like the European models, were entering Brazilian clubs, contributing to the disintegration of Corinthians's Democracy.
By Paula Rondinelli
Brazil School Collaborator
Graduated in Physical Education from the São Paulo State University “Júlio de Mesquita Filho” – UNESP
Master in Motricity Sciences from the São Paulo State University “Júlio de Mesquita Filho” – UNESP
Doctoral Student in Integration of Latin America at the University of São Paulo - USP
Source: Brazil School - https://brasilescola.uol.com.br/educacao-fisica/a-democracia-corinthiana.htm
