The Dark Side of the Copa Libertadores: Cheats, Corruption and Violence Behind the Legendary South American Football Tournament

The Dark Side of the Copa Libertadores uncovers the sinister, violent and corrupt goings on that bubble beneath the surface of this famous South American football tournament. This captivating book charts the successes and miseries, heroes and villains, laughter and tears, screams and silence that punctuate the tournament's history.

"Luciano''s latest work is a gripping deep dive into the tournament’s untold stories of glory and disgrace, heroes and villains, and the emotional extremes that define football on the continent. The book is a must read."

The Dark Side of the Copa Libertadores uncovers the sinister, violent and corrupt goings on that bubble beneath the surface of this famous South American football tournament.

By acclaimed Argentine journalist, screenwriter and author Luciano Wernicke, whose books have been published in 30 countries and translated into 18 languages.

This gripping book:

• Delves into the dark side of the most important football club tournament in South America
• Tells of nefarious goings on away from the pitch, including coercion or ''hiring'' of referees, threats to rivals and other measures used to gain an unfair edge
• Reveals the ingenious tricks, traps and ferocious threats used by sports leaders, drug traffickers and political entities to obtain a sporting result
• Is brimming with colourful stories and amusing anecdotes: the footballer sent off twice in the same match wearing two different shirts, the priest who scored a winning goal and the brave midfielder who had a mishap in his shorts when he blocked too hard

The Dark Side of the Copa Libertadores charts the successes and miseries, heroes and villains, laughter and tears, screams and silence that have punctuated the tournament since its inception in 1960.

• | Author: Luciano Wernicke
• | Publisher: Pitch Publishing Ltd
• | Publication Date: Apr 28, 2025
• | Number of Pages:
• | Language:
• | Binding: Paperback / softback
• | ISBN-13: 9781801509398
• | ISBN-10: 1801509395