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Happy Fifa Day

It was on this day in 1954 that the Battle of Berne, also known as the 1954 FIFA World Cup, occurred.
Brazil’s international coming out party at the 1938 World Cup was marred by a brutal quarterfinal match against Czechoslovakia, which has been termed the Battle of Bordeaux. Two Brazilians and one Czechoslovak were thrown out of the game for rough play. Each side had three players suffer injuries, but the Czechoslovak’s got the worst of it. Two of their star players, Oldrich Nejedly and Frantisek Planicka were gravely injured. Nejedly who scored his team’s lone goal of the game suffered a broken right leg which effectively ended his career. Planicka broke his right arm when he was kicked by the Brazilian striker Peracio in the midst of a shot. The wounded Planicka actually played out the game which ended in a draw, but was unable to show for the rematch which Brazil subsequently won. The referee in the Battle of Bordeaux was a Hungarian, Pal von Hertzka. What von Hertzka witnessed that day would reoccur against his home nation sixteen years later at the 1954 World Cup in Switzerland. In the quarterfinals that year, Hungary and Brazil played one of the most violent matches in soccer history,
On a rain soaked Sunday afternoon, Hungary and Brazil met on the muddy turf of Wankdorf Stadium in Berne. The match started late in the afternoon amid a torrential downpour. Eight minutes into the game and Hungary already held a two goal lead. Both teams began to commit annoying fouls that only served to exacerbate ill tempers. The horrendous weather conditions only worsened the mood.
Fifteen minutes into the second half a crucial foul was called on Brazil when Kocsis collided with Santos in the penalty box. English referee Arthur Ellis ruled that the Brazilian mid-fielder Pinheiro had touched the ball. The ensuing penalty kick was put through by Mihaly Lantos. This was the cue for several invasions of the pitch by fans and journalists
Six minutes after the Brazilians scored, Nilton Santos laid a vicious tackle on Hungarian Jozsef Bozsik. They then took it upon themselves to engage in a bare knuckle brawl. This resulted in both men being thrown out of the game. The police ended up having to lead them off after they refused to leave the field. This did not stop bad blood from continuing to flow. In one of the more bizarre incidents Djalma Santos chased Zoltan Czibor around the field while spitting and wildly gesticulating. Amidst incessant fouling and barely controlled chaos on the field, the Brazilians came close to leveling the score twice, with Julinho getting an open shot, but missing just wide. Soon thereafter Didi hit the goal post. This all-out attack of the Brazilians left them vulnerable on defense. The Hungarians exploited an opening in the 88th minute when a cross from Czibor was headed in for another goal by Kocsis. Brazil’s fate was now sealed. The final whistle blew and Hungary advanced to the semifinals. The violent nature of the match was reflected in a final tally of 42 free kicks, 2 penalty kicks, 4 cautions and 3 dismissals issued.
Reports are unclear about what happened next, but some witnesses reported that Hungarian star striker Ferenc Puskas – who did not play in the game due to injury – struck Brazilian midfielder Pinheiro in the face with a bottle. A melee ensued afterwards with the Brazilians entering the Hungarian locker room for a final round of fighting. The Hungarian team manager Gusztav Sebes was struck during the brawl with a boot which led to four stitches. The situation descended into utter chaos as players, team and tournament officials, photographers and fans flooded onto the pitch. Police were called to clear the ensuing brawl, which rumbled on in the dressing rooms and even outside the stadium.World Cup football had never seen such an outbreak of violence between two teams.
The aftermath was almost as disappointing as the game itself. FIFA, the world football governing body, did not take any action, nor did the Hungarian or Brazilian Football Associations discipline their players. Brazil mounted a formal protest to FIFA, accusing Ellis of being part of a communist plot to help Hungary. Ellis’ car was spat on by Brazilian fans as he left the stadium, with shouts of ‘communista’ ringing in his ears. Years later, referee Ellis recalled that the players had “behaved like animals. It was a disgrace…It was a horrible match.”

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