The ball from the World Cup final in Germany in 1974in which the local beat the Netherlands 2-1, will be auctioned by the Uruguayan team Rampla Juniors. The Montevideo team kept the ball for 25 years, when they received it as a donation from former international referee Ramón Barreto, president of the institution.
Barreto was line judge in the final played on July 7, 1974 in the Olympic stadium in Munich, and was refereed by the Englishman Jack Taylor. That day, the then West Germany beat the Netherlands 2-1.. Paul Breitner, from a penalty kick, and Gerd Müller, scored for the locals. while Johan Neeskens had put the “Clockwork Orange” ahead.
Daniel Bianchi, current president of the entity that today plays in the second division of Uruguayan football, confirmed the decision to auction the ball, without clarifying in which country the certification will be made. The leader said that Barreto, who died in 2015, took the ball from the final and he donated it in 1997 to Rampla Junios along with a statement certified by a notary public.
The 1974 World Cup was the first in which the current FIFA World Cup was put into play, which replaced the Jules Rimet Cup. That trophy remained in the hands of Brazil after having conquered it for the third time in 1970 in Mexico. The ’74 Cup was remembered for the Netherlands game, the so-called “total football”, which revolutionized tactics. In addition, it was the only time that Johan Cruyff, one of the best players in history, played in the highest event in football.
Barreto was once again line judge in the 1978 final, between Argentina and the Netherlands at the Monumental stadium, where a curious event occurred with the ball as soon as the Italian referee Sergio Gonella blew the final whistle. Omar Larrosa claimed the ball, but Gonella denied it. “I wanted to take the ball from the referee, but he was big and he grabbed it very hard. He took it. They say that some time later they claimed it. There is a ball in the AFA showcase, but I don’t know if it will be that one or if it sent another one,” Larrosa said.