June 2 - The Battle of Santiago

“Good evening. The game you are about to see is the most stupid, appalling, disgusting and disgraceful exhibition of football, possibly in the history of the game.”

These were the choice words that David Coleman used to introduce the highlights of Chile’s World Cup clash with Italy that took place today in 1962 and would go down in infamy as the ‘Battle of Santiago’ - and he wasn’t wrong.

The seeds for this firebrand tale were sewn in the weeks before the match, when a pair of Italian journalists by the name of Corrando Pizzinelli and Antonio Ghirelli were dispatched to report on the state of the nation in Chile and were less than complimentary about the World Cup hosts.

Complaining of loose women, alcoholism and illiteracy, the pair described the nation as ‘backward’ and said that “it has agreed to organise the World Cup in the same way as Mussolini agreed to send our airforce to bomb London (they didn’t arrive).”

Amongst this backdrop of diplomatic unrest, The Italian team that took the field that day were missing several key men in the shape of Gianni Rivera, Giovanni Trapattoni and Cesare Maldini, but soon tried to stamp their authority on the game, literally, as they took twelve seconds to commit the first foul.

Tasked with keeping order was Englishman Ken Aston, who said after the game: “I wasn’t reffing a football match, I was acting as an umpire in military manoeuvres.” It took him eight minutes to dismiss the first Italian, Giorgio Ferrini, who refused to leave the pitch, and had to be dragged off, kicking and screaming, by a group of policemen.

Next to get in the wars was Chile’s Lionel Sanchez, who was punched and knocked to the floor by Italy’s Argentine-born midfielder Dionisio Maschio. Sanchez. Once Sanchez dusted himself off, he arose and broke Maschio’s nose, with what the BBC commentator described as “one of the neatest left hooks I’ve ever seen!”

Mario David was next to take a pop at Sanchez, as he went in neck-high on the Chilean, committing one of the worst fouls of all-time. The Italian management nearly pulled their team out at half-time, but the team emerged from the dressing room, only to lose 2-0.

Rather predictably, the Italian press didn’t react too well and cried corruption and conspiracy, but referee Aston was cleared of any wrongdoing and even went on to invent the red and yellow card system, more than likely in response to the events of that day in Santiago.

Words don’t really do much justice to some of the fouls committed and punches thrown by the two hot-headed teams, so here’s the footage for you, complete with Coleman’s scathing intro. Unlike half the players out there, we won’t be out for the count, so join us tomorrow and make sure you bring your dancing shoes.

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