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_02.jpg) Both captains prior to the match | |||||||
| Event | 1954 FIFA World Cup | ||||||
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| Date | 27 June 1954 | ||||||
| Venue | Wankdorf Stadium,Bern | ||||||
| Referee | Arthur Ellis (England) | ||||||
| Attendance | 40,000 | ||||||
The Battle of Berne (Hungarian:Berni csata,Portuguese:Batalha de Berna,German:Schlacht bei Bern,French:Bataille de Berne,Italian:Battaglia di Berna,Romansh:Battaglia da Berna) was afootball match at the1954 World Cup betweenHungary andBrazil, a quarter-final played on 27 June 1954 at theWankdorf Stadium inBern,Switzerland.Violent conduct and fighting prompted English refereeArthur Ellis to send off three players during the match. Fighting between the teams continued in the dressing rooms after the final whistle.
Brazil had scored six goals in two group games, and Hungary had scored 17. Brazil had a reputation for attractive and attacking football; in their games in group 1, they beatMexico 5–0, and drew the other 1–1 withYugoslavia after extra time.
Hungary had revolutionized football tactics and coaching in Europe. Their fluid and open style of play – an early form oftotal football – meant that they were unbeaten for 2 years, since defeat toSoviet Union in 27 May 1952. Hungary were clear winners of group 2, winning both of their group games – they beat South Korea 9–0, and West Germany 8–3.
For each of the first two quarter-finals, one team progressing from group 1 was drawn at random against one team progressing from group 2.[1] Brazil were drawn to play against Hungary, while West Germany drew Yugoslavia.
The match was played in driving rain, producing slippery conditions and a hard to control ball. Hungary took the lead in the third minute, withNándor Hidegkuti scoring. Four minutes later,Sándor Kocsis made it 2–0 to Hungary. Brazil was awarded a penalty;Djalma Santos scored to make it 2–1 at half time.
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In the second half, Hungary was awarded a penalty;Mihály Lantos scored to make the score 3–1. The penalty award was the cue for a pitch invasion by Brazilian journalists and officials, who had to be ushered off by police. The game then degenerated into a series of increasingly violent fouls and cynical tactics, with Brazilian forwardJulinho scoring to bring the score to 3–2. After this,József Bozsik was fouled byNilton Santos; the two men started fighting, and both were sent off. Hungary scored a fourth goal viaSándor Kocsis to make the score 4–2 to Hungary. The last moments of the game was little more than a running battle between the two teams; Brazilian forwardHumberto Tozzi kicked Hungary'sGyula Lóránt prior to the final whistle and was sent off.
In total, 42 free kicks and 2 penalties were awarded, with 4 cautions and 3 dismissals issued.[2]
The ill-temper continued after the game, with the Brazilian players invading the Hungarian dressing room and continuing the on-pitch fighting. They were driven off by the notoriousHungarianAVH security police with batons and guns drawn. Despite evidence from independent witnesses of violent conduct from both sides, football's governing bodyFIFA did nothing, leaving discipline to the respective countries.
Hungary  | 4–2 |  Brazil |
|---|---|---|
Hidegkuti 4'Kocsis 7',88'Lantos 60' (pen.) | Report | Djalma Santos 18' (pen.) Julinho 65' |
       Hungary |      Brazil
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Assistant referees: |
The game's refereeArthur Ellis commented: "I thought it was going to be the greatest game I'd ever see. I was on top of the world. Whether politics and religion had something to do with it I don't know, but they behaved like animals. It was a disgrace. It was a horrible match. Certainly British players and fans would never act in such a most reprehensible manner. In today's climate so many players would have been sent off the game would have been abandoned. My only thought was that I was determined to finish it."[3] Ellis later wrote, "Those people must learn sportsmanship and we must teach them. South Americans are more excitable and more passionate than we are. Even more so than the Italians. Unlike the British, they do crazy things, impulsively, then a few minutes later they are genuinely and deeply sorry".[4]
The Times newspaper correspondent on 28 June 1954 drew a similar conclusion; "Never in my life have I seen such cruel tackling, the cutting down of opponents as if with a scythe, followed by threatening attitudes and sly jabs when officialdom was engaged elsewhere." Ellis’s officiating and gentlemanly conduct was commended by theDaily Mail.[5]
"This was a battle; a brutal, savage match," recalled Hungary managerGusztáv Sebes, who needed four stitches for a facial wound received during the fighting. "At the end we had won 4–2 but it wasn't over yet. Brazilian photographers and fans flooded on to the pitch and police were called to clear it. Players clashed in the tunnel and a small war broke out in the corridor to the dressing rooms - everyone was having a go; fans, players and officials."[6]
The draw for the semi-finals, held on Sunday 27 June, was delayed by a complaint from the Hungarian team concerning the manner in which the quarter-final against Brazil had been played.[7]
1954 FIFA World Cup finalists | |
|---|---|
| Champions | |
| Runners-up | |
| Third place | |
| Fourth place | |
| Quarter-finals | |
| Group stage | |
