During his 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 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 vivid in the memories of many football fans, including the FIFA president. Although just eleven years old during the 1982 World Cup in Spain, Infantino was deeply affected by the controversy. Present to inaugurate a regional technical center in Tlemcen, he recalls in a video released by the Algerian Football Federation the moment when he became a fan of the Fennecs.
“I was twelve at that time, I already loved football, but this World Cup had a special impact. In the group stage, the team that surprised the world and captured our hearts was Algeria. I had posters of Algeria and Italy in my room,” the Italian leader recounted, reflecting on the cruel fate of the Algerian team during that tournament.
A scandalous “non-aggression pact” between West Germany and Austria unfolded during that World Cup, where the Algerian team won the hearts of the public by defeating West Germany in their first group match. Despite later losing to Austria, Algeria also triumphed over Chile in their third match.
At the time, the third group stage match did not take place simultaneously. Following the Algeria matches, West Germany and Austria faced off in a match famously known as the “Nichtangriffspakt von Gijón” (the Gijón Non-aggression Pact) in Germany.
After eleven minutes, Horst Hrubesch scored for West Germany, leading to a 1-0 result that benefitted both teams. The match concluded with safe passing and no further goals, sparking protests among supporters and condemnation from commentators for the alleged collusion.
