During an official visit to Algeria, Gianni Infantino referred to an event widely recognized as one of the greatest injustices in football history. Despite an exceptional start to the tournament in the 1982 World Cup, the Algerian team was eliminated after a third match arranged between West Germany and Austria.
The “match of shame” is still remembered by many football fans, including FIFA President Gianni Infantino. Infantino, who was only eleven years old during the 1982 World Cup in Spain, was deeply affected by this controversy. Present to inaugurate a regional technical center in Tlemcen, he recalls in a video released by the Algerian Federation the moment he became a fan of the Fennecs.
“I was twelve years old at that time, I already loved football, but it was this World Cup that had a special impact. In the group stage, the team that surprised the world and captured our hearts was the Algerian team. I had the poster of Algeria and Italy in my room,” said the Italian leader, referencing the cruel fate of the Algerian team during the competition.
A scandalous “non-aggression pact” between West Germany and Austria occurred during the World Cup. The Algerian national team had managed to win the public’s hearts despite being considered underdogs. They defeated West Germany in the first group match (2-1), marking the first victory of an African team against a European team in the World Cup. After losing to Austria and then beating Chile, the Algerian team faced an unfair situation due to the outcome of the third round of group matches not being simultaneous.
After eleven minutes, West Germany scored, leading to a 1-0 result that benefitted both teams. The match then continued with harmless passes until the final whistle, sparking protests from fans in the stands. The German commentator strongly criticized the match, labeling it as “shameful.”
Context: The article discusses the controversial match between West Germany and Austria during the 1982 World Cup, known as the “Nichtangriffspakt von Gijón” (the non-aggression pact of Gijón). Fact Check: The events described in the article about the match are historically accurate and widely known in football history.
