Seventies Euro Specials – Inter Milan v Celtic, 1972

Seventies Euro Specials – Inter Milan v Celtic, 1972 SEVENTIES EURO SPECIALS- INTER MILAN v CELTIC, 1972 The draw for the 1972 European Cup semi-final paired Celtic with Inter Milan. Whilst many Celtic fans were delighted at the prospect of a rematch against the club defeated in Lisbon in 1967, others were angry that Inter were still in the competition. On 21 October 1971, Borussia Moenchengladbach hammered Inter 7-1 in the first leg match of the second round in Germany.

The match was later annulled because Roberto Boninsegna had allegedly been hit on the head by a full can of Coca-Cola thrown by a German fan in the 29th minute, when Borussia were leading 2-1. Inter appealed to UEFA after the match and “persuaded” them that the game should be replayed at a neutral venue. The second leg was played as scheduled on 3 November, which Inter won 4-2, and then the replayed first leg took place in Berlin on 1st December, finishing 0-0.

The Italians therefore qualified for the quarter final 4-2 on aggregate. Most neutral fans felt that the German club had been very harshly and unfairly treated, most likely because of undue influence being exerted on UEFA officials by the Italian club. 08 10 2021 Mönchengladbach 1 Rainer Bonhof Vice President Gladbach belonged as a 19 year old in 1971 to the team that beat Inter Milan 7 1 Here he points to the can, which was thrown onto the pitch.

Photo IMAGO “There was a suspicion of corruption over the means by which they had emerged as winners after their second-round tie with Borussia Moenchengladbach and also over Inter’s quarter-final with Standard Liege” , notes Graham McColl, in Celtic in Europe. In the same book, McColl also notes: “Years later, Sandro Mazzola, a team-mate of Boninsegna, admitted that he had switched a full can of Coca-Cola for the empty one that had landed in the vicinity of Boninsegna. ” Former Celtic manager Jock Stein, standing with trophies and photo of Celtic football club.