The Hindu : Controversies: Battle of Berne Hungary v Brazil, 1954

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Apr 19, 2002

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Sport - Football

Controversies: Battle of Berne Hungary v Brazil, 1954

It is one of the ironies of World Cup history that Brazil, which has produced some of the most unforgettable moments in the tournament, also figures in two of its infamous episodes. After indulging themselves in violence against the Czechs in Bordeaux in 1938, the Brazilians were as abrasive when they met Hungary in the 1954 quarterfinals, known as the `Battle of Berne.'

It was a match which the English referee Arthur Ellis would remember all his life. There are those who say that he saved an explosive situation from getting worse; others say that it was one of his decisions that made things go out of hand. The match had got underway in driving rain, which itself did not help cool frayed tempers. When Nandor Hidegkuti scored for Hungary after just four minutes, Brazil reacted in such unseemly fashion that his shorts were ripped off. Just a moment or two earlier, Hungarian Gyula Lorant had showed contempt for the referee by laughing in his face after being cautioned for a foul.

In another four minutes, Brazil was down 0-2 as Sandor Kocsis headed home a Hidegkuti cross. Brazil's desperation grew with the second goal, and with the Hungarians themselves quite prepared to retaliate, what followed was an orgy of violence. And just before half-time, a foul on Indio led to a penalty which Djalma Santos converted.

Hungary did not look like missing Ferenc Puskas, who had been sidelined due to injury, as Zoltan Czibor deputised brilliantly for the `Galloping Major' in the company of a limping Mihaly Toth. The duo continued to torment the rival defence in the second-half before a decision by Ellis changed the course of the match.

There was a mix-up in the Brazilian penalty area as Czibor and Toth came hunting in the company of Kocsis, who collided with Djalma Santos. Before the two could regain ground, another Brazilian defender fell to the ground possibly touching the ball with his arm. And when the melee finally ended, a penalty was awarded to Hungary even as both sides expected a free-kick for Brazil. Mihaly Lantos converted it.Julinho, with a brilliant run and shot, pulled it back to 2-3. The real trouble started then as Nilton Santos and Boszik came to blows and were promptly sent off. However, with both not showing signs of leaving the field, the police had to intervene. Meanwhile, Djalma Santos had chased Czibor all over the ground before Humberto Tozzi, Brazil's inside forward, became the third player to be sent off.

A minute later, Kocsis nicknamed `Golden Head' scored Hungary's fourth goal. The match statistics of 42 free-kicks, 2 penalties, 4 cautions and 3 dismissals was an apt commentary of the violence seen. The brawl did not end with the final whistle. The enraged Brazilians turned off the lights in the players' tunnel and lay in wait for the Hungarians. They invaded the Hungarian dressing room where fists, bottles and boots flew in the darkness and there were several casualties. Almost five decades later, June 27, 1954, is still remembered as one of the black days of international football. — A. Vinod

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