Set in Hasta la Vista, the capital of a hypothetical country named  Perivia in South America. Citizens are football crazy, country is  extremely corrupt, & the government is unstable. By the end of the  story, we will see a murder & a bloodless military coup, but the  story is mostly about an international football match with the  neighboring country named Panagura.  Except for obvious & expected corruption on the field, the scene  could well have been of an India/Pakistan cricket ODI in Calcutta. Very  large crowds, a bit too enthusiatic, & with a dash of patriotism  linked to game.  Referee is chosen by visitors, & is expected to be corrupt &  partial!  Don Hernando is a wheeler-dealer supposed to be close to President Ruiz,  & has his own game in mind. He secures half the seats in the  stadium for army men who will be handed free tickets to the game; by the  time the game is over, President would have been toppled. The army men  spectators are each given a 2 square feet mirror to shine on the referee  - as a novel way of booing him. When a signal sounds, they would do it  together.  Only Don has an idea of what will happen to the man who receives the  entire sunlight shining on half the stadium - he gets cremated alive!  Referee receives this treatment after a particularly partial decision.