Ivan Eklind

Ivan Henning Hjalmar Eklind (October 15, 1905 - July 23, 1981) was a football referee from Sweden famous for refereeing the controversialFact|date=August 2008 1934 FIFA World Cup Final between Italy and Czechoslovakia in Rome.

1934 World Cup

Allegations of corruption

There are numerous allegationsFact|date=August 2008Who|date=August 2008 that Eklind, amongst others,Fact|date=August 2008 was patronised and corrupted by Benito Mussolini during the 1934 World Cup.Fact|date=August 2008 Whether Eklind's performance was compromised by meeting the Italian leader is debatable but there were numerous incidents in matches involving Italy during that World Cup which raised considerable doubts as to whether the referees were applying the Laws of Association Football fairly and equitably.Fact|date=August 2008 However, despite there being numerous allegationsWho|date=August 2008Fact|date=August 2008 of corruption at the event, both Eklind's career, and that of Louis Baert, continued on quite successfully from that time. Indeed Baert later assumed an untarnished role within the Belgian Football Association until his death.

Rene Mercet

Regarding the 1934 tournament Jean Langenus, the famous Belgian referee recorded his concerns regarding the way the tournament was organised and run; a Swiss referee Rene Mercet (who was appointed to officiate at the opening game) was suspended later by the Swiss Football Association for his performance in the replayed quarter-final match involving Italy and Spain.

The Semi-Final

Louis Baert, the Belgian, who had refereed the first game of that quarter final (and to whom doubts were also raisedWho|date=August 2008Fact|date=August 2008 ran the line in the final to Eklind, just as he had in the semi-final victory over Austria, a match in which Giuseppe Meazza was said to have clearlyFact|date=August 2008 pushed the grounded goalkeeper, Peter Platzer, before Enrique Guaita was able to score the winning goal. The Hungarian Mihály Ivanicsics ran the other line in the final.

The Final

In the final, Eklind penalised a two-footed lunge by Luis Monti on František Svoboda with the award of simply a free-kick. Eraldo Monzeglio fouled Antonin Puc inside the Italian penalty area,Fact|date=August 2008 no penalty was award. Giuseppe Meazza punched Rudolf Krcil in the back.Fact|date=August 2008 However, in both matches that Eklind officiated in, Italy won beating Austria 1-0, and Czechoslovakia (after extra time in the final) 2-1. [http://fifaworldcup.yahoo.com/06/en/p/pwc/ph/1934.html?i=3&d=1]

Later career

Eklind officiated in 6 World Cup finals matches over a 16 year period (1934 - 1950) (one as Assistant Referee to Baert in June 1938, ironically, for the game in which Italy donned their fascist all-black strip when playing France), including the Brazil triumph against Poland in Strasbourg in which 11 goals were scored and a Group A match at the 1950 World Cup. Baert was also to go on to enjoy an incredibly lengthy international career.

References

* [http://www.weltfussball.de/schiedsrichter_profil.php?id=27211&sr_typ=2 Weltfussball]
* [http://worldcup.goal.com/en/Articolo.aspx?contenutoId=65429 WorldCupGoal]