32 years on, Luis Enrique’s broken nose still haunts Spain | OneFootball

Spain’s 1994 World Cup quarter-final defeat by Italy, and the penalty not given after Luis Enrique’s broken nose, lingers 32 years on. The image of the PSG coach raging and bloodied became a national trauma.

In 2022, Marca carried Javier Clemente’s claim of a premeditated refereeing robbery, saying Italy had to be favoured. He cited about 60,000 Italians in a 70,000 Boston crowd and Italy’s vast US diaspora.

At 1-1, Julio Salinas went clean through but failed to beat Gianluca Pagliuca. Five minutes later, Roberto Baggio finished a counter after Andoni Zubizarreta’s touch held up on long grass.

In stoppage time, with Italy 2-1 up, Mauro Tassotti elbowed Luis Enrique, breaking his nose. Referee Sandor Puhl and his assistants did not see it, no penalty came, and Tassotti later received an eight-match ban.

Abelardo says VAR today would mean penalty and red, and he has never rewatched the match for sheer anger and injustice. He felt Spain were superior and believes that, with Bulgaria next, they would have reached the final.

Now, 32 years on, La Roja are back in a World Cup quarter-final on American soil. With Belgium beating a host 4-1 after the Balogun saga, the ghosts of Boston should stay quiet.

Source: L'Équipe