For England fans of a certain generation, the 1970 World Cup quarter-final against West Germany remains a game that left deep scars. Fifty-six years ago, the Three Lions suffered a 3–2 defeat, ending their hopes of retaining the title. Now, a far-fetched theory has emerged suggesting the loss could have been part of an incredible Cold War plot hatched by the United States.
The Illness of Gordon Banks
Some believe foul play was involved when Gordon Banks fell ill with food poisoning hours before the clash. The absence of the world's best goalkeeper significantly harmed England's chances. Banks first experienced symptoms after the final group game against Czechoslovakia but appeared to recover before relapsing on the day of the quarter-final. He was replaced by Chelsea's Peter Bonetti, who many deemed at fault for all three goals, while others pointed to the substitution of Bobby Charlton in the 70th minute.
Long-standing suspicions that Banks—who died in 2019 aged 81—was 'nobbled' that morning have been explored in a three-year investigation. The probe focuses on whether the episode was part of a CIA effort to ensure eventual victors Brazil won the tournament.
Investigation Findings
Gabriel Gatehouse, former international editor of BBC's Newsnight, began working on the story after being contacted by Banks's grandson, Ed Jervis. In his autobiography, Banks blamed a bottle of beer for his illness. However, Mr. Jervis told the journalist his grandfather was 'always vaguely suspicious,' while the goalkeeper's son, Robert, added: 'He thought it was damned odd that only he got ill, and very seriously ill.'
Legendary football journalist Brian Glanville wrote in his 2007 book England Managers: The Toughest Job In Football that 'I have steadily come to believe that Banks was the victim of sabotage.' According to Glanville, another writer named Bob Oxby told him he had a cousin, Stuart Symington, who was senator for Missouri from 1952 to 1976. On Banks's illness, Symington allegedly told Oxby: 'That was the CIA. You don't think we were going to let England beat Brazil, do you?'
Political Context
The US supposedly intervened to help prop up a military dictatorship installed by Lyndon Johnson's administration in 1964. By the 1970 World Cup, the regime was unpopular, and winning the tournament was seen as a way to boost support. Mr. Gatehouse spoke to Glanville about the story two years before his death last year at age 93. 'All he would say was that Oxby was a reliable reporter, and that Symington had told him it was 'part of a plan',' Gatehouse wrote in The Observer. Symington served on the armed services committee, which received CIA briefings.
Gatehouse also found a document in the agency's archive from 1971 noting that Brazil's president, General Emilio Garrastazu Medici, 'skilfully managed to associate himself' with the victory. However, the journalist admitted his contacts in the intelligence world had not heard of any poisoning. He highlighted testimony from a CIA biologist who told the Senate in the 1970s about 'substances that can give you a real severe case of the 'tummies'.'
