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Ivan Eklind

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Ivan Eklind
Full name Ivan Henning Hjalmar Eklind
Born (1905-10-15)15 October 1905
Stockholm, Sweden
Died 23 July 1981(1981-07-23) (aged 75)
Stockholm, Sweden
International
Years League Role
1931–1951 FIFA listed Referee
Eklind (center) during 1934 FIFA World Cup final between Italy and Czechoslovakia

Ivan Henning Hjalmar Eklind (15 October 1905 – 23 July 1981) was a football referee from Sweden known for refereeing the 1934 FIFA World Cup final between Italy and Czechoslovakia in Rome. He is the youngest referee, to this day, to officiate a FIFA World Cup final at the age of 28.

Career

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Eklind officiated the 1934 FIFA World Cup semi-final between Italy and Austria, as well as the final which Italy won 2–1 over Czechoslovakia.[1] Afterwards he was heavily criticised for having favoured the Italian team with his decisions.[2] According to Canadian journalist John Molinaro, Eklind was said to have met with the Italian fascist dictator Benito Mussolini prior to officiating Italy's semi-final and final games.[3]

Eklind officiated in six World Cup finals matches over three tournaments (1934–1950), as well as becoming one of assistant referee to Louis Baert in June 1938, including Brazil's triumph against Poland in Strasbourg in which 11 goals were scored, and a Group A match at the 1950 FIFA World Cup. Baert also went to enjoy an incredibly lengthy international career.

References

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  1. ^ "1934 FIFA World Cup: Italy - Czechoslovakia". FIFA.com. Retrieved 10 December 2022.
  2. ^ Jack Dennison (20 January 2013). "Football and Fascism: The 1934 World Cup". goldengenerations.wordpress.com.
  3. ^ Molinaro, John F. (24 November 2009). "1934 World Cup: Italy wins for Il Duce". CBC Sports. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Archived from the original on 19 May 2014. Retrieved 21 May 2018.
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Preceded by FIFA World Cup final match referees
1934
Sweden Ivan Eklind
Succeeded by