Insurgent subcommander Marcos sent a letter to then-Inter president Massimo Moratti. Photo: La Jornada / Archive
In a match hailed by fans and commentators on social media as “the best semifinal round in history,” Inter Milan defeated Barcelona 4-3 (7-6 on aggregate) after extra time in another frantic duel, thus reaching their second final in the top continental club competition in three years.
In this context, it is important to highlight the Nerazzurri’s relationship with the Zapatista Army of National Liberation (EZLN) in Chiapas. In 2004, the Italian club made a donation of approximately 5 thousand euro. In addition, the then-captain and current vice president of the institution donated an ambulance to the local hospital.
A year later, insurgent subcommander Marcos sent a letter to the then president of Inter, Massimo Moratti, which is reproduced below, taken from the Enlace Zapatista website:
“The letter has reached us in which you inform us that your soccer team, FC Internazionale, has accepted the fraternal challenge we made to you. We thank you for the kind tone of your response and your honest disposition. Through the media, we have learned of the statements of Inter’s directors, coaching staff, and players. All of them are further examples of the nobility of your hearts. Please know that we congratulate you on having met you on our long journey and that it is an honor for us to be part of the bridge that unites two worthy lands: Italy and Mexico.
I inform you that, in addition to being the spokesperson for the EZLN, I have been unanimously appointed technical director and head of Intergalactic Relations for the Zapatista national soccer team (well, actually, no one else wanted to accept the job). In that capacity, perhaps I should take advantage of this letter to move forward with finalizing details about the match.
For example, perhaps I would suggest that, instead of limiting the soccer match to one leg, it be two. One in Mexico and one in Italy. That is, a home leg and a home leg. And that both would feature the trophy known worldwide as El Pozol de Barro.
And perhaps I would propose that the game in Mexico be played, with you as visitors, at the Estadio Olímpico México 68, at CU, in Mexico City, and that the proceeds from the ticket sales go to the indigenous people displaced by paramilitaries in the Highlands of Chiapas. Although, of course, then I would have to send a letter to the UNAM university community (that is, students, teachers, researchers, manual and administrative workers) asking them to present the stadium to us, but not before solemnly promising them that we would not ask them to remain silent… and then impose Don Porfirio’s word on them.
And perhaps we would agree that, since they would already be in Mexico, we would play another match in Guadalajara, Jalisco, and that the proceeds would go towards legal support for the young alter-globalization activists unjustly imprisoned in that Mexican province, and for the political prisoners throughout the country. Transportation wouldn’t be a problem because we heard that someone here in Mexico, generous as before, has offered their support.
And perhaps, if you agree, for the matches in Mexico, the EZLN would approach Diego Armando Maradona at the appropriate time, asking him to be the referee; Javier Vasco Aguirre and Jorge Valdano, asking them to serve as assistant referees (or those who abandoned them); and Sócrates, a former Brazilian midfielder, to serve as the fourth official.
And perhaps we would invite those two intergalactic figures traveling with Uruguayan passports, Eduardo Galeano and Mario Benedetti, to commentate the match for the Zapatista Intergalactic Television System (“the only television that can be read”). In Italy, the commentators could be Gianni Miná and Pedro Luis Sullo.
And, perhaps, to distance itself from the objectification of women promoted at soccer games with cheerleaders and in commercials, the EZLN would ask the national lesbian-gay community, especially transvestites and transsexuals, to organize and delight the audience with novel stunts at games in Mexico and, in addition to causing TV censorship, scandal from the far right, and confusion within the ranks of Inter, thus boosting the morale and spirit of our team. And there aren’t just two sexes, and there isn’t just one world, and it’s always advisable for those persecuted for their differences to share joys and support without ceasing to be different.
And, once we’re on the right track, we’d play another game in Los Angeles, California, United States, whose governor (who replaces his lack of brain cells with steroids) is pursuing a criminal policy against Latino migrants. The proceeds from that match’s ticket sales would be dedicated to legal aid for undocumented immigrants in the United States and to imprison the Minuteman Project criminals. In addition, the Zapatista dream team would carry a large banner reading “Freedom for Mumia Abu Jamal and Leonard Peltier.”
Bush likely won’t allow our spring-summer balaclava models to cause a sensation in Hollywood, so the meeting could be moved to dignified Cuban soil, in front of the military base that the US government illegally and illegitimately maintains in Guantánamo. In this case, each delegation (Inter and Ezeta) would commit to bringing at least one kilo of food or medicine for each of its members, as a symbol of protest against the blockade suffered by the Cuban people.
And perhaps I would propose to you that the return matches be in Italy, with you as the home team (and us as well, because it’s well known that the Italian fans are mostly pro-Zapatista). One could be in Milan, at your stadium, and the other wherever you decide (it could be in Rome, because they say “all games lead to Rome”… Or is it “all roads lead to Rome”?… anyway, it doesn’t matter). One of the ticket booths would be to support migrants of different nationalities who are criminalized by the governments of the European Union, and the other for whatever you decide. However, we would need at least a day to go to Genoa to paint snails on the statue of Christopher Columbus (note: the probable fine for damage to monuments will have to be covered by Inter), and to take a souvenir flower to the place where the young alter-globalization activist Carlo Giuliani fell (note: the flower is on us).
And, if we’re already in Europe, we could play a match in Euzkal Herria, in the Basque Country. If “A chance for the word” wasn’t possible, we would then try “A chance for the kick.” We would demonstrate in front of the headquarters of the racist BBVA-Bancomer, who are trying to criminalize humanitarian aid to indigenous communities (perhaps to distract from the legal proceedings they face for “tax evasion, secret accounts, illegal pension funds, money laundering, secret contributions to political campaigns, bribes to buy banks in Latin America, and misappropriation of assets” (Carlos Fernández-Vega, “México SA,” La Jornada, 5/25/05).
Hmm… It seems that would be seven matches (which isn’t bad, because that way we’d compete for the audience of the Eurocup, the Libertadores, and the World Cup qualifiers). The Pozol de Barro would then be awarded to the winner of four of the seven matches (note: if the Zapatista team loses more than three, the tournament will be canceled).
Too many? Well, Don Massimo, you’re right. Maybe it’s better to leave it at two matches (one in Mexico). and another in Italy), because we don’t want to tarnish Inter’s record too much with the defeats we’re sure to inflict.
Perhaps, to balance out your obvious disadvantage a little, I’d pass on some secret information to you. For example, that the Zapatista national team is mixed (meaning there are men and women); that we play in so-called “mining” boots (meaning they have steel toes, which is why the balls puncture); that, according to our customs and practices, the game only ends when none of the players from one team are left standing (meaning they are highly resistant); that the EZLN could be reinforced at will (meaning Mexicans Bofo Bautista and Maribel Marigol Domínguez could appear in the lineup… if they agree), and that we’ve designed a chameleon-like uniform (if we’re losing, our shirt will develop black and blue stripes, confusing the opponent, the referee… and the crowd). Also, we’ve been practicing, with relative success, two new moves: the marquiña avanti fortiori (note: translated into culinary terms, it would be something like “a pizza and guacamole sandwich”) and the marquiña caracoliña with a reverse variation (note: the equivalent of spaghetti with beans, but stale).
With all this (and a few other surprises), perhaps we would revolutionize world soccer, and then, perhaps, soccer would cease to be just a business and would once again be a fun game. A game made, as you rightly say, of true feelings.”
From the mountains of southeastern Mexico
Subcomandante Insurgente Marcos
Original article at La Jornada, May 6th, 2025.
Translated by Schools for Chiapas.