1973 European Cup Winners' Cup final explained

1973 European Cup Winners' Cup final
Event:1972–73 European Cup Winners' Cup
Team1:Milan
Team1association:
Team1score:1
Team2:Leeds United
Team2score:0
Date:16 May 1973
Stadium:Kaftanzoglio Stadium
City:Thessaloniki
Referee:Christos Michas (Greece)
Attendance:40,154
Previous:1972
Next:1974

The 1973 European Cup Winners' Cup Final was the final football match of the 1972–73 European Cup Winners' Cup and the 13th European Cup Winners' Cup final. It was contested between Milan of Italy and Leeds United of England, and was held at Kaftanzoglio Stadium in Thessaloniki, Greece. Milan won the match 1–0. The referee was banned from officiating for life by UEFA, for match-fixing.

The Greek crowd at the final reacted to perceived bias towards Milan by referee Christos Michas by throwing missiles during the victors' lap of honour, but despite protests, the result was not overturned.[1] UEFA later banned Michas for life due to match fixing, although his role in this match was not investigated.[2]

Leeds, who perceived referee Christos Michas to have made a number of unfair decisions, attempted to gain a replay but UEFA denied the request.[3] Decades later Richard Corbett, then MEP for Yorkshire and the Humber, petitioned UEFA for a revocation of the Milan title.[4]

Route to the final

Milan Leeds United
OpponentAgg.1st leg2nd legOpponentAgg.1st leg2nd leg
Red Boys Differdange7–14–1 (A)3–0 (H)First round Ankaragücü2–11–1 (A)1–0 (H)
Legia Warsaw3–21–1 (A)2–1 (a.e.t.) (H)Second round Carl Zeiss Jena2–00–0 (A)2–0 (H)
Spartak Moscow2–11–0 (A)1–1 (H)Quarter-finals Rapid București8–15–0 (H)3–1 (A)
Sparta Prague2–01–0 (H)1–0 (A)Semi-finals Hajduk Split1–01–0 (H)0–0 (A)

Match details

width=25!width=25
GK 1 Villiam Vecchi
SW 5
RB 2 Giuseppe Sabadini
CB 4
CB 6
LB 3 Giulio Zignoli
RM 7
CM 8
LM 10 Gianni Rivera (c)
CF 9 Alberto Bigon
SS 11 Luciano Chiarugi
Substitutes:
CB 14
Manager:
Nereo Rocco
width=25!width=25
GK 1 David Harvey
RB 2 Paul Reaney (c)
CB 11 Terry Yorath
CB 6
LB 3 Trevor Cherry
RM 7 Peter Lorimer
CM 4
CM 5 Paul Madeley
LM 10
CF 8 Joe Jordan
CF 9
Substitutes:
CB 12
FW 14 Chris Galvin
Manager:
Don Revie

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. https://web.archive.org/web/20090419190105/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/leagues/leagueone/leeds/5159007/Uefa-asked-to-probe-Leeds-Uniteds-1973-Cup-Winners-Cup-defeat-to-AC-Milan.html Uefa asked to probe Leeds United's 1973 Cup Winners' Cup defeat to AC Milan
  2. Web site: UEFA asked to probe United's final defeat. Yorkshire Evening Post. 3 April 2009. 28 May 2009.
  3. Web site: MEP calls for inquiry into Milan-Leeds Euro final . 2006-11-11 . 10 August 2006 . Richard Corbett MEP . https://web.archive.org/web/20081026185119/http://corbett.pir2.info/releases/20060810.htm . 26 October 2008 . dead .
  4. Web site: BBC Sport. MEP wants Leeds result reversed. 31 March 2009. 31 January 2023.