Ivan Henning Hjalmar Eklind (15 October 1905 – 23 July 1981) was a football referee from Sweden best known for officiating the 1934 FIFA World Cup final between Italy and Czechoslovakia in Rome.[1] He is the youngest referee, to this day, to officiate a FIFA World Cup final at the age of 28.
Eklind officiated the 1934 FIFA World Cup semi-final between Italy and Austria, as well as the final which Italy won 2–1 over Czechoslovakia.[2] Afterwards he was heavily criticised for having favoured the Italian team with his decisions.[3] According to Canadian journalist John Molinaro, Eklind was said to have met with the Italian fascist dictator Benito Mussolini prior to officiating Italy's semi-final and final games.[4]
Eklind officiated in six World Cup finals matches over three tournaments (1934–1950), as well as becoming one of the assistant referees to Louis Baert in June 1938, including Brazil's triumph against Poland in Strasbourg in which 11 goals were scored, and a Group A match at the 1950 FIFA World Cup. Baert also went on to enjoy an incredibly lengthy international career.
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