This Day in History: 2023-03-15

Nr. 425

PELÉ AND BRAZIL CHOPPED DOWN (1966)

By the time Brazil came to play their final World Cup group game, they had been rocked by a loss to Hungary and badly needed a win. On 19 July Pelé was thrown into the fray, even though he was still carrying injuries from his brutal encounter with Bulgaria, and from the start Portugal set out to make sure his threat was neutralised. Close marking did part of the job and gruesome tackles did the rest. Enghsh referee George McCabe failed to protect Pelé from punishment that included two particularly murderous fouls by Joao Morais, who many believed should have been sent off. Brazil collapsed to a-3-1 defeat.

Pelé looks accusingly at Portugal’s Jose Augusta after being hacked down once more by a Portugal team intent on nullfying his threat.