Belgium win dramatic Olympic football final after Czechoslovak tantrum

Antwerp, 2 September 1920 - Most of Antwerp seemed to be making for the football stadium early this afternoon so as to be on time for the great event of the day – Belgium versus Czechoslovakia competing for the gold medal. By the time the teams lined up there was not a vacant place in the stadium.

The opening exchanges were very fast. After ten minutes of play Belgium scored from a penalty. Half an hour elapsed before they scored again from a fine shot by their left winger. The Czechoslovaks attacked hard, but lacked accuracy.

The game then came to a sudden and unfortunate conclusion. When one of the Czechoslovak backs was ordered off the field for kicking his opponent, the whole team left the ground in protest, meaning they forfeited the match to Belgium. Their forfeit meant Spain automatically took home the silver medal and the Netherlands took home the bronze.

[Editor's note: This is an article from Century Ireland, a fortnightly online newspaper, written from the perspective of a journalist 100 years ago, based on news reports of the time.]