1989

1989
Copa America was the big event of the year.
At least for one country, the South American championship was historic moment. Of course, Copa America was not all. Growing displeasure with the football of 1980s was leading to changes. Some were already occurring, somewhat quietly – the 3-point for a win rule was increasing implemented by the European countries. Somewhat without notice 3 foreign players were allowed to play. AC Milan was perhaps the team most associated with this change not only because they were wonderful and dominating team, but also because very soon the club will make the next step towards further increase of the foreign players. It was inevitable: by the end of the 80s European football was firmly professional and imported players were essential to the growing professionalism – at the end of the 1988 only two European countries did not export players (Albania and East Germany) and only 7 did not import (USSR, Albania, East Germany, Bulgaria, Poland, Romania, and Czechoslovakia). In 1989 all that changed with the sudden collapse of Communism. Political changes, impossible to imagine at the end of 1988, changed Europe and with that – the football world. Yet, there was little real optimism at the end a decade considered overall ugly in every football aspect – from fan violence to dirty and unpleasant football on the pitch and aging crumbling venues.