Rene Mercet

Rene Mercet (b. December 1, 1898 - d. ) was a Swiss international referee in the 1920s and 1930s who became infamous for his performance in the Italy v Spain replayed quarter-final in the 1934 FIFA World Cup.

Mercet had been highly rated referee, being selected to semi-finals and the Swiss Cup final in the 1930s. [http://www.rsssf.com/tablesz/zwitcuphistfull.html] Following this Mercet had been selected to referee various internationals but it is his performance during the 1934 World Cup that derailed his career; the Swiss FA, allegedly,Fact|date=August 2008 suspending him from further international appointments after his performance appeared to openly favour the Italians in the World Cup quarter-final.Fact|date=August 2008 Of Mercet's performance the German football magazine 'Fussball' reported: “Mercet had lost his courage. Just as he overlooked Monzeglio’s foul against Bosch previously, when he stood directly next to it, he remained dependent on the cheap propaganda of the Italian crowd.”Fact|date=August 2008 The Swiss newspaper “Basler Nationalzeitung” reported: “Mercet favored the Italians in a most shameful manner.”Fact|date=August 2008 During the game Mercet disallowed two Spanish goals;Fact|date=August 2008 one for a foul, only to reward Spain with a free-kick. The winning goal, by Giuseppe Meazza, was scored with the assistance of a foul on the reserve Spanish goalkeeperFact|date=August 2008 (Ricardo Zamora having been injured in the first, drawn match between the two sides). [http://home.skysports.com/worldcup/article.aspx?hlid=363761&clid=118&lid=7438&nav=Spain+History+1934]

Throughout the tournament and afterwards there had been accusations that Italian officials,Fact|date=August 2008 cohorts of the Government,Fact|date=August 2008 had been bribing and influencing referees,Fact|date=August 2008 not least Louis Baert and Ivan Eklind.Fact|date=August 2008