By Satish Sekar © Satish Sekar (April 30^th 2021)

Storm Clouds Gather

The Federation of International Football Associations (FIFA) organised its first official FIFA World Cup hastily. Amsterdam’s Olympic Games of 1928 was the last meaningful Football Tournament in the Modern Olympic Games and with good reason. A serious dispute over the definition of amateurism had emerged, causing the Home Nations (Great Britain) to quit FIFA. Prior to this FIFA had little interest in organising a World Cup.

The British objection was elitist as it made football a sport only those who could afford not to work could play. FIFA realised it had little choice after it rejected the British definition which excluded expenses and remuneration for lost earnings.

Bias Aforethought

Egypt’s absence from Uruguay’s World Cup requires explanation. After the fact, FIFA claims that Egypt was invited but literally missed the boat. They were allegedly due to travel to Europe and travel from there. It was claimed that due to bad weather they missed the connecting ship. This story has no confirmation in Egypt and no evidence was provided from Uruguay or FIFA that arrangements had been made for the Egyptians. Egypt should have been there. They had earned the right to be there.

So, what about four years later? Despite what amounted to a boycott of the 1930 tournament, Italy hosted the 1934 World Cup. Sixteen teams qualified, 75% of whom were from Europe. Two South American teams Uruguay, the champions, refused to take part in retaliation of Italy’s boycott four years earlier.

México and the USA played off against each other – the latter qualifying for the World Cup Finals. The last place was taken by Egypt who qualified at the expense of British Mandate Palestine – one spot for the bulk of the world to contest – well actually, most of the world did not take part. It is unclear what efforts were made to persuade nations to take part.

There were 12 qualification groups. Eight groups consisted of 21 European teams. Two groups were for South America, consisting of two teams each, but Chile and Perú withdrew, giving byes to Argentina and Brasil. Group 11 consisted of North America, Central America and the Caribbean. Four teams contested in a bizarre format. Cuba beat Haiti in the first round. México beat Cuba in the second round and then lost the play-off to the United States of America.

That left Group 12 for the rest of the world, which consisted of just three teams – Turkey withdrew, leaving Egypt to beat British Mandate Palestine to clinch the last place. Thirty-two teams entered the qualification process. Three teams withdrew without playing any matches and two withdrew after losing matches.

For a World Cup the allocation of places was skewed. Twelve of the 21 European teams were guaranteed a place in Italy’s first World Cup. Two of four from South America joined them without having to kick a ball, and one from four of the rest of the Americas and Caribbean. The rest of the world – both geographically and population by far the largest only got one place from three participants.

It was grossly unfair and ensured that experience would be gained by three areas at the expense of the rest. Perhaps the last pre-war World Cup would redress this gross imbalance. Perish the thought.