DistantNews
Support us
🇬🇷 Greece /Sports

"The referee is a thief"

From Kathimerini · () Greek

Translated from Greek, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

In-depth Sources not specified Context piece
  • A book titled "World Cup. Stories Behind the Trophy" by Christos Sotirakopoulos and Fanis Tsokanás details the 1966 England World Cup.
  • The book highlights the violent nature of the tournament and other issues beyond the competition.
  • It mentions an incident where two Uruguayan players wrote "The referee is a thief" on autographs.

The 1966 World Cup in England was characterized by a particularly violent nature, according to details revealed in the book "World Cup. Stories Behind the Trophy." Authors Christos Sotirakopoulos and Fanis Tsokanás delve into the events surrounding the tournament, uncovering issues that extended beyond the matches themselves.

The book suggests that the competition was fraught with problems, painting a picture of a World Cup that was as much about controversy as it was about sport. This narrative challenges a potentially sanitized view of football history, bringing to light the grittier aspects of the era.

One striking anecdote from the book involves two Uruguayan players. These players reportedly inscribed "The referee is a thief" on autographs, a stark expression of their discontent and a testament to the tensions and perceived injustices of the tournament. This incident underscores the deep-seated frustrations that could arise during such high-stakes international competitions.

The referee is a thief

— Two Uruguayan playersWritten on autographs, as detailed in the book "World Cup. Stories Behind the Trophy."
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Kathimerini in Greek. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

More Stories

From Our Blog