Iconic Moments In Football No. 22
This week’s Iconic Moment in Football comes from the 1982 World Cup Semi Final between West Germany and France in an incident that shocked the world.
A mere mention of the name Patrick Battiston sends those who remember him as a player straight back in time to 1982. The vision of the Frenchman lying unconscious on the pitch or the sickening collision between him at West German goalkeeper Harald Schumacher comes straight to the forefront of the imagination.
The incident happened in the 55th minutes of the game. Battiston had come as a second half substitute and his team mate Michel Platini played him in on goal with a perfectly weighted through-ball from midfield.
Schumacher came tearing out of his goal and the two collided at the edge of the box, Schumacher’s shoulder smashing straight into Battiston’s head.
Battiston crashed to the floor in a heap on the pitch, knocked unconscious with three broken ribs, two teeth knocked out and damage to his back that is still there to this day.
Just as shocking as the shoulder-barge was the West German’s reaction to what had happened. He stood with his hands on his hips and looked almost annoyed that the game was being held up.
Concerned team mates crowded around Battiston with genuine looks of concern for their friend. A stretcher was brought on to take the stricken Frenchman from the field of play for treatment and Michel Platini walked off the pitch alongside the stretcher, holding his team-mates hand.
Amazingly, Schumacher wasn’t even booked for the shoulder-charge and when told after the game that Battiston had lost some teeth as a result of the collision, he crudely answered “I will pay for the crowns”.
West Germany went on to win the Semi-Final 5-4 on penalties after the game finished 3-3 after extra-time. In a cruel twist of fate, Harald Schumacher saved two of the French penalties when he really shouldn’t have been allowed on the pitch at all.
A few years later, Patrick Battiston joined David Baddiel and Frank Skinner on their football-based comedy show ‘Fantasy Football League’ to re-create the incident. The video is at the bottom of the article.
The incident was dubbed ‘The Tragedy of Seville’ and remains one of the most memorable moments in World Cup history. This must be scant consolation for Patrice Battiston who still suffers from the back pain and cannot blink simultaneously following the incident.
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