Ruud Gullit: Italians didn't know Mandela

When Dutch footballer Ruud Gullit dedicated his 1987 World Player of the Year Award to Nelson Mandela, he brought the apartheid struggle to the attention of many Europeans.

[Giorgio_Cerrini]

As an Italian I have to say that it's not true that Italians didn't know who Mandela was, the Gullit decision to dedicate the Ballon D'Or to Nelson Mandela was controversial in Italy because in Italy the apartheid was not totally condemned like in other countries and many Italians supported the apartheid regime.

[vitotondo]

Well Ruud, it depends on which Italians you’re talking about. If you refer to the dumb average football fans yes, it’s possible they didn’t know who He was. But lots of people in Italy knew who Mandela was soooo, please Ruud, I wouldn’t generalize. Thank you