1930 World Cup : one final, two footballs
21/03/2018

John Langenus is one of the three European referees invited to officiate at the first Football World Cup organized by Uruguay in the summer of 1930. From the Old Continent to South America, He made the crossing aboard the SS Conte Verde in the company of the Belgian, French and Romanian national teams participating in the competition, Jules Rimet, the inventor of the event that will later become the most popular on the planet, as well as of the trophy that bears his name.

At the whistle of four games in the tournament, including the semifinal between Argentina and the United States, he is especially "the man in black" of the final, the first, which opposes the Albiceleste host country July 30 at Centenario Stadium in Montevideo. Before the start of this crucial match for these neighboring and rival nations, there is a conflict between the two teams over the ball. Indeed, there is no official ball at the time and the Argentineans are used to their own model, the "Tiento" with 12 panels made at the time in Scotland when the host country prefers the "T-shape With T-pieces sewn from England. Langenus then decides to decide and make the game with the 2 favorite balloons of each selection, a half-time for each, the draw determining that the match begins with that of Argentina. 2 goals to 1 at half-time, the Celeste will score 3 times in the second half with her T-shape to win the match at 4 to 2 and become the first world champion nation in history.

Ballon de football Tiento 1930 vintage en cuirBallon de football T-shape 1930 vintage en cuirLeather vintage 10-panel Tiento 1930 model and 10-panel T-shape 1930 vintage styled by John Woodbridge.