Switzerland is usually regarded as a fairly peaceful place,
at least in the modern era, and a reference to a battle having taken place in
its capital city as recently as 1954 might come as a surprise.
However, the “battle” was not an armed conflict between
soldiers but a massive football riot that is generally regarded as one of the
worst such incidents in the history of the sport.
The occasion was a World Cup quarter-final between Brazil
and Hungary that took place on 27th June 1954. Hungary won the match
by four goals to two, but that was not the most memorable aspect of the game.
When a penalty was awarded to Hungary during the second
half, there was a pitch invasion by Brazilian coaching staff, officials and
journalists. The fight on the pitch lasted for half an hour, resulting in three
players - two Brazilians and one Hungarian - being sent off.
The battle resumed at the final whistle and continued off
the pitch, with the manager of Hungary needing four stitches in a face wound
that he suffered in the changing room.
There have been suggestions that the battle was not just a
dispute over a penalty. With Brazil being staunchly Catholic and Hungary being
part of the Communist bloc, the hatred betrayed by so many of those present
might have had religious and political undertones.
© John Welford
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