Garrincha was pardoned by FIFA in the 1962 World Cup final

The world of football is in uproar following FIFA's decision to allow American player Falorin Bogalun to take part in the World Cup round of 16 duel following a controversial suspension. Bogalun had been sent off in a previous game against the Bosnian national team, but FIFA decided to lift the punishment, allowing him to play against Belgium. The condition is that if the player commits another infraction within the one-year trial period, the suspension will take effect. The situation brought to light a historic case that dates back to the 1962 World Cup, held in Chile. In that tournament, iconic Brazilian player Garrincha was sent off in the semi-final against the home team, after attacking Chilean Eladio Rojas. Despite his expulsion, Garrincha and Brazil appeared for the final without him, as the team had counted on the absence of Pelé, who was injured at the start of the tournament. This left fans worried about the team's chances in the final against Czechoslovakia, the only team that had managed to draw with Brazil in the group stage.  However, the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) acted quickly, using its contacts to request a review of Garrincha's punishment. FIFA, recognizing the importance of the player as an "excellent athlete and an extremely disciplined person", decided to suspend the sanction, allowing him to participate in the final. This act was seen as a dangerous precedent, but also as a demonstration of the CBF's power to influence FIFA's decisions. On the day of the final, Brazil beat Czechoslovakia 3-1, thus winning their second World Cup. Garrincha's story became a legend and exemplifies the complexity of disciplinary decisions in football, which still generate heated debates among fans and analysts today. FIFA's new decision, which allows appeals in disciplinary cases, was seen by many as an attempt to "Spanishize" its process, offering players a greater chance of defending themselves before a definitive punishment. This could mark a new era in FIFA's handling of infringements, but it could also open the door to future controversies. --- ## Related Articles 1. [Neymar in the World Cup 2026: party statistics Brazil - Norway](https://golazopro.com/es/news/neymar-en-el-mundial-2026-estadisticas-del-partido-brasil-noruega) 2. [Aurélien Tchouaméni should miss France in the quarter-finals](https://torcidanet.live/pt/news/aurelien-tchouameni-deve-desfalcar-a-franca-na-quartas-de-final-contra-marrocos)

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