Stasi FC

Tracing a decade of football, the documentary examines how the East German secret service took control of BFC Dynamo, turning the club into a tool of state power. It chronicles a dark saga of betrayal, murder and manipulation that unfolded behind the scenes of the sport.

Stasi FC is a one‑off documentary programme that centres on football in the former German Democratic Republic. It’s presented as a single‑episode feature, rather than a series, and its title directly references the involvement of the state security apparatus in the sport. The film follows a ten‑year span of the game, charting how the East German secret service took control of the club BFC Dynamo. In doing so, it lays out a narrative built around betrayal, murder and manipulation, showing the extent to which the authorities intervened in the team’s affairs. Throughout the documentary, the focus remains on the ways the secret police exerted influence over the club, illustrating the darker side of a footballing institution that was otherwise part of everyday life. By tracing the decade in question, the programme paints a picture of how political power could permeate sport, affecting players, officials and supporters alike. In its concise, single‑episode format, Stasi FC offers a clear account of this period, keeping its attention on the key events and relationships that defined BFC Dynamo’s history under state control. The documentary stays firmly rooted in the documented facts, presenting the story without embellishment or speculation.