Sport and Politics
The semifinal in Båstad, Sweden, between Sweden and Chile was played on September 19-21. This was two years after Augusto Pinochet's military coup in Chile and many wanted the match to be cancelled, in protest of the junta's violations of human rights, while others wanted sport and politics to remain separated. The Swedish government tried to stop the match, but on September 12 negotiations ended with a decision to play. A protest march was organized in Båstad by the Swedish Social Democratic Youth League on September 18, ending at the town square, where former prime minister Tage Erlander and Sweden's former ambassador to Chile Harald Edelstam addressed a crowd of some 3,000. During game on September 20, which was guarded by 1,300 police, over 7,000 demonstrants gathered on the square, peacefully.
Read more about this topic: 1975 Davis Cup
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