How Venezuela's Chief Torturer Took Over Its Football Champions

Venezuela's UCV-FC has become the playground of Alexander Granko, one of the worst figures within the regime of President Nicolas Maduro.

On June 14, the Universidad Central de Venezuela Fútbol Club (UCV-FC) were crowned 2025 Apertura Champions. A 1-0 win over Deportivo Táchira ended a title drought of almost 70 years for one of Venezuela’s oldest teams. UCV-FC won the country’s first professional football league in 1957, but then nothing ever since.