MIGHTY MAGYARS AND ARTHUR ELLIS

When the World Cup in Switzerland in 1954, started it was the Mighty Magyars, Hungarian national team who were in their "pomp". They were the pre-tournament favourites. In their Group Stage they beat West Germany 8-3 and so their "odds" of becoming World Champions shortened considerably. On this day, July 4th, they met West Germany again in the Final at the Wankdorf Stadium in Berne. 60,000 watched this.

The injured Ferenc Puskas and Zoltan Czibor gave Hungary an early lead, the half time score was 2-2, but a German fightback culminated in an 84th minute winner from Helmut Rahn. West Germany had won their first World Cup, in a match dubbed, "The Miracle of Berne". The weather had been awful but the players maintained a high standard of play and Hungary repeated their Pool Two result, over the Germans, which ended 8-3.

In the final minutes with the score at 3-2, Puskas ran through and put the ball into the German net. Linesman, Welshman, Mervyn Griffiths, raised his flag for an offside decision against the great man. It was close call and one that has been talked about since!

In this tournament, Arthur Ellis, the well known English referee, had sent off these... Bozsik from Hungary v Brazil, Santos from Brazil v Hungary and Tozzi, Brazil v Hungary!! BUT Bill Ling from England reffed the Final. It was the Hungarians first defeat in 30 internationals stretching back to May 1950. West Germany were the first "unseeded" nation, in history, to go through and win the trophy. They used 18 players.

Sandor Kocsis, of Hungary (below), scored 11 goals in the tournament. Country men, Puskas and Hidegkuit scored 4 each, Czibor 3, Palotas and Lantos 2 each, Toth, 1. The Magyars used 15 players.

The 1954 World Cup was only his second international tournament. He was one of a group of four referees appointed from the UK for the 1954 tournament. The others included Charles Faultless from Scotland. In the course of the tournament, Ling had already refereed the Group match between Hungary and West Germany (in which the Hungarians had won 8–3 against the West German team of mainly reserve players) and had assisted Arthur Ellis during the "Battle of Berne" quarter-final. In the final he was assisted by Griffiths and the Italian, Vincino Orlandini.