1963 Small Club World Cup

The 1963 Small Club World Cup was the seventh edition of the Small Club World Cup, a tournament held in Venezuela between 1952 and 1957, and in 1963 and in 1965. It was played by three participants in double round robin format, and featured players like Evaristo, Hilderaldo Bellini, Cecilio Martinez, Custódio Pinto, Francisco Gento and Ferenc Puskás.[1]

1963 Small Club World Cup
Tournament details
Host countryVenezuela
Dates18–30 August
Teams3 (from 3 associations)
Venue(s)1 (in 1 host city)
Final positions
ChampionsBrazil São Paulo (2nd title)
Tournament statistics
Matches played5
Goals scored12 (2.4 per match)
Top scorer(s)11 players scored 1 goal each (and 1 own goal)
1957
1965 →

Controversies

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Di Stefano kidnapping

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On the night of 24 August 1963, the Venezuelan revolutionary group Armed Forces of National Liberation (FALN), kidnapped the player Alfredo Di Stéfano (Real Madrid) at gunpoint from the Potomac Hotel, located in Caracas.[2] The kidnapping received the codenamed "Julián Grimau", after the Spanish communist Julián Grimau García, was executed by firing squad in Spain, in April 1963, during Francisco Franco's dictatorship.[2] At 27 August, three days later, Di Stéfano was released unharmed close to the Spanish embassy without a ransom being paid,[3] and Di Stéfano stressed that his kidnappers had not mistreated him.[2] Di Stéfano played in a match against São Paulo the day after he was released and received a standing ovation.[4][2]

A Spanish movie entitled Real, La Película (Real, The Movie), which recounted these events, was released on 25 August 2005. In a bizarre publicity stunt at the premiere, kidnapper Paul del Rio, now a famous artist, and Di Stéfano were brought together for the first time since the abduction, 42 years before.[2] Paul del Rio died on Caracas at the age of 72.[5]

Bursts of gunfire during Sao Paulo vs Real Madrid

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During the interval of August 28 match between São Paulo and Real Madrid, terrified fans invaded the pitch, after the Caracas police shot at protesters pro-FALN outside the stadium. Smoke bombs were used to disperse the public, one of them almost hitting defender De Sordi (São Paulo). The start of the second half was delayed by about 30 minutes.[6]

Participants

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Team Domestic league results
  Porto 1962–63 Primeira Divisão runners-up
  Real Madrid 1962–63 La Liga winners
  São Paulo 1963 Campeonato Paulista runners-up

Matches

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Porto  1–2  São Paulo
Jorge   35' Report Martinez   2'
Pagão   7'
Referee: Isidro Trapole (Venezuela)

Real Madrid  2–1  Porto
Amancio   26'
Muller   76'
Report Pinto   41'
Referee: Osorio (Portugal)

São Paulo  2–1  Real Madrid
Pachín   12' (o.g.)
Nondas   59'
Report Evaristo   20'
Referee: Benito Jackson (Venezuela)

Porto  1–2  Real Madrid
Hernâni   67' Report Félix Ruiz   27'
Gento   35'
Referee: Yañez (Venezuela)

Real Madrid  0–0  São Paulo
Report
Referee: Isidro Trapote (Venezuela)

The final match not played as São Paulo had secured the title due to the head-to-head results with Real Madrid

Final standings

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Team[7] Pts P W D L GF GA GD
  São Paulo 5 3 2 1 0 4 2 2
5 4 2 1 1 5 4 1
0 3 0 0 3 3 6 -3

Topscorers

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1 goal
Own goal

Champion

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1963 Small Club World Cup
 
São Paulo
2nd. title

References

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  1. ^ São Paulo FC. "Enciclopédia do SPFC – 2020" (PDF) (in Portuguese). Retrieved 1 March 2022.
  2. ^ a b c d e "The kidnap of Di Stefano". ESPN.co.uk. 25 August 2011. Archived from the original on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 8 July 2014.
  3. ^ "A priceless bird in a different kind of cage". World Soccer. May 1964. Retrieved 2 March 2022.
  4. ^ "Alfredo Di Stéfano, Soccer Great, Dies at 88". NY Times. 7 July 2014. Archived from the original on 4 March 2020. Retrieved 8 July 2014.
  5. ^ "Guerrilla who kidnapped Real Madrid star Di Stéfano dies in Venezuela". El País. 7 April 2015. Retrieved 2 March 2022.
  6. ^ "Rajadas de metralhadora no jogo do São Paulo?" (in Portuguese). Jogos SPFC. Retrieved 2 March 2002.
  7. ^ Pequeña Copa del Mundo 1963 on the RSSSF