The 1969 Intercontinental Cup was a two-legged association football match contested between 1968–69 European Cup champions Milan and 1969 Copa Libertadores winners Estudiantes de La Plata. It was the 10th edition of the competition.
The first leg was played at the San Siro in Milan, on 8 October 1969. Milan won the home game 3–0. The return leg was held on 22 October, at La Bombonera in Buenos Aires. Despite suffering a 2–1 defeat, Milan won the title on aggregate.
Violence on pitch
Amongst other things, the tie became infamous for the violent on-pitch conduct and dirty tactics employed by Estudiantes' players in the second leg of the fixture.
Estudiantes' players used violence from the beginning, with Alberto Poletti and Ramón Aguirre Suárez throwing balls to a group of Milan players that were practising on the field prior to the match. With the game already in progress, Eduardo Manera pushed around goalkeeper Fabio Cudicini, then he bit Saul Malatrasi. Aguirre Suárez (one of the most violent players) injured Néstor Combin and Pierino Prati, although he would not be expelled until another violent action against Gianni Rivera.
After a match which saw two Italian players badly assaulted, events took a turn for the surreal when stretcher-bound Milan striker Néstor Combin was arrested by Argentine police for draft dodging (Combin had been born in Argentina but had represented France at international level, having moved to Europe for his professional career). The match had immediate political ramifications, partly due to Argentina's bid for the World Cup in 1978. Many of the team's players were arrested and goalkeeper Alberto Poletti, who had punched Milan's "golden boy" playmaker Gianni Rivera, kicked Combin and had clashed with supporters after the match, was handed a life ban. Ramon Suárez, who had broken the nose of Combin, was banned from international fixtures for five years. The match is also partly to blame for a subsequent boycott of the tournament by European teams.
First leg
Match details
GK Fabio CudiciniDF Saul MalatrasiDF Angelo AnquillettiDF Roberto Rosato DF Karl-Heinz SchnellingerMF Giovanni LodettiMF Gianni Rivera (c)MF Romano FogliFW Angelo SormaniFW Néstor Combin FW Pierino PratiSubstitutes:MF Giorgio Rognoni Manager: Nereo Rocco GK Alberto José PolettiDF Ramón Aguirre SuárezDF José Hugo MedinaDF Raúl Horacio MaderoDF Oscar Malbernat (c)MF Carlos BilardoMF Néstor TogneriMF Juan Miguel Echecopar MF Eduardo FloresFW Marcos ConigliaroFW Juan Ramón VerónSubstitutes:MF Felipe Ribaudo Manager: Osvaldo Zubeldía
Second leg
Match details
GK Alberto José PolettiDF Eduardo Luján ManeraDF Ramón Aguirre SuárezDF Raúl Horacio MaderoDF Oscar Malbernat (c)MF Carlos Bilardo MF Daniel RomeoMF Néstor TogneriFW Marcos ConigliaroMF Juan TavernaFW Juan Ramón VerónSubstitutes:MF Juan Miguel Echecopar Manager: Osvaldo Zubeldía GK Fabio CudiciniDF Saul Malatrasi DF Angelo AnquillettiDF Roberto Rosato DF Karl-Heinz SchnellingerMF Giovanni LodettiMF Gianni Rivera (c)MF Romano FogliFW Angelo SormaniFW Néstor CombinFW Pierino Prati Substitutes:DF Luigi Maldera MF Giorgio Rognoni Manager: Nereo Rocco
See also 1968–69 European Cup 1969 Copa Libertadores A.C. Milan in European football
References
External links
Match details and lineups at RSSSF.com Match reports at UEFA.com