The Football Pink

  • The Shop
  • The Magazine
  • Subscribe
  • Interviews
  • Current
  • Nostalgia
  • Legends
  • European
  • World
  • About
  • Contact Us
  • Profile
  • Log in
Menu
  • The Shop
  • The Magazine
  • Subscribe
  • Interviews
  • Current
  • Nostalgia
  • Legends
  • European
  • World
  • About
  • Contact Us
  • Profile
  • Log in
Home Latest

Pete’s Top 10 World Cup moments: No.3 – World Cup finals draw 1982

Pink by Pink
January 8, 2021
in Latest, Nostalgia
Pete’s Top 10 World Cup moments: No.3 – World Cup finals draw 1982
40
SHARES
332
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Another bizarre situation makes it to number 3 on PETE SPENCER’S list of memorable World Cup moments…

BLATTER82

WORLD CUP FINALS DRAW 1982

FIFA had announced an expanded format for the tournament in Spain, with 24 nations qualifying. They introduced some razzmattaz with a revamped draw. Rather than the boring ‘names in a hat’ format, FIFA designed cages containing little footballs, each containing a qualifier. The cages would automatically spew a football which was then collected by little Spanish boys who then took it to the suits at the top table.

Unfortunately, things rapidly descended into farce. Firstly, the balls wouldn’t drop from the cages at the right moment, then the officials couldn’t unscrew them to reveal the name inside and at one point a cage jammed, snapping a ball in half, leaving the name now in full view.

But it was when Scotland was drawn out things turned a distinct shade of brown. Initially, Scotland went into Argentina’s group. But unbelievably Blatter ordered a re-draw and Scotland was returned to the cage. Blatter then explained a mistake had occurred when Belgium was drawn into Italy’s group, so the Belgians now moved to join Argentina. Ironic, given the Belgians had complained about England’s seeding, but FIFA couldn’t allow Argentina and England in the same group with the Falklands War going on. To their horror, Scotland was then put with Brazil.

There was more. Peru and Chile were supposed to be removed from the initial draw to ensure they avoided Argentina and Brazil, but nobody told the bloke setting up the equipment. FIFA embarrassed themselves further when it emerged the little Spanish boys were actually from a Madrid orphanage, and one of the suits was heard to rebuke a child “get it sorted, boy!”, in full range of the microphones.

Share16Tweet10Share4

Related Posts

The Football Pink’s Greatest: Match Experience
Current

The Football Pink’s Greatest: Match Experience

While football was eventually restarted after the first wave of the pandemic, sadly it remains a hollow viewing experience...

by The Football Pink
February 24, 2021
378
Liverpool’s co-managers: An experiment that was doomed from the start
Latest

Liverpool’s co-managers: An experiment that was doomed from the start

By Rob Doolan “To give Gérard and his team a real chance, I have to walk away.” With those...

by The Football Pink
February 24, 2021
362
The Football Pink Podcast: Greatest Managers
Latest

Back to the ‘Eighties: 1981 and “We’re all Under Pressure”

The year is 1981 and it’s the latest in our look-back series. Forty years on and memories and recollections...

by David Nesbit
February 24, 2021
372
Diary of a refugee football club secretary (Part 11)
Current

Diary of a refugee football club secretary (Part 11)

In January 2018, Ullet Road Church Rebels were formed in Liverpool. The Rebels are the first club to field...

by Chris Allen
February 24, 2021
350
Load More
Next Post
The Outsiders – World Cup 2014 Dark Horses

The Outsiders - World Cup 2014 Dark Horses

The Football Pink Podcast
European

The Football Pink Podcast

by Jack Wills
February 25, 2021
0
334

This week, Roddy Cairns is joined by James Jackson, Thomas Duncan and James Bolam to talk about the one of...

Read more
The Football Pink’s Greatest: Match Experience

The Football Pink’s Greatest: Match Experience

February 24, 2021
378
Liverpool’s co-managers: An experiment that was doomed from the start

Liverpool’s co-managers: An experiment that was doomed from the start

February 24, 2021
362
The Football Pink Podcast: Greatest Managers

Back to the ‘Eighties: 1981 and “We’re all Under Pressure”

February 24, 2021
372
Diary of a refugee football club secretary (Part 11)

Diary of a refugee football club secretary (Part 11)

February 24, 2021
350

© 2020 footballpink.net

Pin It on Pinterest

Share This
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • Gmail
  • Print Friendly
  • LinkedIn
  • StumbleUpon
  • Tumblr