El Maracanazo (1990 FIFA World Cup Qualification)
The Maracanã Stadium, venue of the match
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| Event | 1990 FIFA World Cup qualification - South American zone - group 3 | ||||||
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| Date | 3 September 1989 | ||||||
| Venue | Maracanã Stadium, Rio de Janeiro | ||||||
| Referee | Juan Carlos Loustau (Argentina) | ||||||
The Maracanazo of the Chilean selection (also known as Condorazo or Bengalazo) was an incident happened in the Maracanã Stadium of the Brazilian city of Rio de Janeiro on September 3, 1989 during the match between the football teams of Brazil and Chile, in which the Chilean goalkeeper Roberto Rojas (nicknamed the condor), pretended to be hurt by a flare thrown by Brazilian fans. The incident is considered by historians and football experts as one of the most shameful events in World's football history. This incident deprived Chile of play the 1994 FIFA World Cup (including qualifiers) and ended Rojas' career.
Background
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For the 1990 FIFA World Cup, the South American Football Confederation (Conmebol) received 3,5 berths (including Argentina, already qualified for being titleholders). The other teams were grouped into 3 groups. The winners of the groups 1 and 3 qualified directly to the World Cup, while the winner of group 2 had to play an intercontinental play-off against the winner of Oceania's qualifying. Chile, Venezuela and Brazil were located in the group 3.
In the qualifiers, Chile won over Venezuela in Caracas 1-3, draw in Santiago with Brazil 1-1 and won over Venezuela 5-0 in the Argentinian city of Mendoza (game played in neutral ground, because FIFA was punishing Chile for the behavior of its fans against Brazil). With those results, Chile and Brazil were heading the qualification group with 5 points. However, the goal difference allowed Brazil to qualify, forcing Chile to win the game at Rio de Janeiro, while Brazil could qualify if wins or draws.
The game
After a scoreless first half, Brazilian Careca scored at 49', causing Chile's elimination. At 67', Chilean goalkeeper Roberto Rojas fell into the ground, pretending to be hurt by a flare thrown by the Brazilian fans. Inmediately, Chilean players, led by Fernando Astengo, left the pitch arguing lack of guarantees to continue with the game, [1] while Argentinian referee Juan Carlos Loustau unsuccessfully tried to convince them to continue with the game. While Chilean team was leaving the pitch, Chilean player Patricio Yáñez made an obscene gesture to Brazilian fans by grabbing his genitals. This gesture was later known in Chile as pato Yáñez. [2]
On the next day, television images and several photos revealed that the flare thrown by Brazilian fans didn't fall over the supposedly affected player, but just over a meter (3.2 ft) away. With that evidence, Conmebol managers considered unacceptable Rojas' version about an "attack" done by Brazilian fans, putting into doubt the true origin of the injury that Rojas had in his head. That injury didn't show signs of burning nor gunpowder traces, but signs of being generated by a cutting object. However, Brazilian police identified and arrested the fan that thrown the flare into the pitch: a 24-old fan called Rosenery Mello do Nascimento, known later as Fogueteira do Maracanã. [3] [4]
As investigation advanced, was evident for Conmebol managers that Rojas' injury was not caused for an object thrown from the grandstands. Rojas confessed having cut himself with a razor blade hidden in one of his gloves [5] to fake an attack of Brazilian fans. Such action was part of a plan aimed to get a third match in neutral soil. [6] [7] In addition, Chilean coach Orlando Aravena asked Rojas and Daniel Rodríguez (team's doctor) to stay in the pitch to force an scandal with the purpose of null the game or even disqualify the Maracanã stadium.
Uncovered the truth about the incident, 10 days after the game, FIFA decided that Rojas should be outcast "in perpetuity" of professional football pitches (in 2000 he received an amnesty) and that Chile was excluded from play the qualifiers to the 1994 FIFA World Cup by severely violate regulations, in addition to considering the game as won by Brazil for official effects, with a score of 2-0. In addition, were punished by FIFA Sergio Stoppel (president of the Football Federation of Chile), Orlando Aravena (coach), Fernando Astengo (player) and Daniel Rodríguez (team's doctor), among others.
On the following days, serious incidents happened in front of the Brazilian embassy in Chile, due to the propaganda broadcast in the Chilean media, which echoed the version provided by Rojas and Stoppel. Sports magazines (specially Minuto 90) even launched a conspiracy theory, according to which everything was a plot by João Havelange to secure Brazil's qualification.
Match details
         Brazil
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Chile
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Assistant referees: |
References
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