The Shame of Gijón: El 'Biscuit’ Between Germany and Austria in the World Cup 1982

Last update 13 October, 2024 by Alberto Llopis

In the world of football, the match-fixing, known colloquially as “biscottos”, They are not a secret. When two teams benefit from the same result, the temptation to agree on the outcome is evident. However, There are occasions that transcend history for the shameless way in which they were carried out.. A clear example of this occurred on 25 June 1982, during the World Spain, in an episode that was recorded as “The shame of Gijón”.

This match between Austria and Germany, played at the El Molinón stadium in Gijón, It represented one of the most embarrassing moments in the history of the World Cup.. Both teams knew that a German victory by the minimum difference would ensure their qualification to the next phase and eliminate Algeria., the tournament reveal. What happened on the field was a pantomime that outraged the world of football.

Party Context: A Surprising Group

The group of Austria and Germany It was also made up of Algeria and Chile. At that moment, Algeria had defied expectations, winning two games, including a historic victory over Germany by 2-1. With one day left, the accounts were clear: If Germany beat Austria by 1-0, Both European teams would advance and Algeria would be eliminated, regardless of performance.

The meeting started with a certain rhythm, but in the minute 10 everything changed. Horst Hrubesch, German striker, noted the 1-0 for your selection, the exact result that benefited both the Germans and the Austrians. From there, the game stopped. The players simply passed the ball to each other without the intention of attacking. The show became a tedious parade of inconsequential passes, without crossing the midfield on many occasions.

The public reaction and global outrage over the biscotto between Austria and Germany

The blatant lack of competition soon generated discomfort among spectators. fans in the stadium, including Algerians, they started screaming “Out, out!” y “let them kiss!” as a sign of protest. Some Algerian fans even waved fake bills as a sign of corruption, accusing both teams of agreeing on the result.

The outrage was not limited to the fans in the stadium. television commentators, both Germans and Austrians, They expressed their repudiation of what they witnessed. Eberhard Stanjek, the German commentator of the ARD network, decided to stop narrating the game as a sign of protest. The reviews were unanimous., even within the countries involved.

At the end of the meeting, The situation became so tense that the police had to escort both teams off the field., fearing that angry fans could attack the players.

Consequences and changes in World Football

Algeria, being harmed by the pact between Germany and Austria, requested the disqualification of both teams. However, laFIFA, despite clear evidence of rigging, decided not to sanction the teams, alleging lack of concrete evidence. Nevertheless, This episode marked a turning point in the regulations of the World Cups. From then on, FIFA decreed that the matches on the last day of the group stage be played simultaneously, to avoid similar situations in the future.

Recognition of the pact years later

Although at the time no one openly admitted the arrangement, 25 years after the infamous meeting, former German defender Hans-Peter Briegel, who played for Kaiserslautern, confessed that both teams had agreed not to hurt each other after Germany scored the 1-0. This belated recognition only confirmed what the entire world already suspected.: The match was a clear example of unsportsmanlike behavior on the highest stage of world football..

The 'Shame of Gijón'’ and its consequences

The match between Austria and Germany in Gijón went down in history as an example of how the interests of two teams can stain the integrity of a tournament as prestigious as the World Cup.. Although both Germany and Austria managed to advance to the next round, The damage to the reputation of both teams was profound.

This episode not only harmed Algeria, who had shown brilliant football, but also left an invaluable lesson for the world of football. The king of sport, in its essence, is based on fair competition and the effort to win on the field, not in agreements outside of it.