45 YEARS ON

England's celebrated soccer veteran shares with R+ his memories of the controversial goal in 1966 and the man who awarded it, Tofiq Bahramov

Azerbaijani soccer has been celebrating its centenary. Of course, we shall be making a separate journey back in our football history, but for the moment I would like to tell you about a remarkable event that took place as part of the jubilee celebrations.

One of the historic figures in world football who attended the ceremony was the English veteran Sir Geoffrey Charles Hurst. Visiting Baku with him for the same event was German veteran Hans Tilkowski, in whose net Geoff Hurst scored one of the most controversial goals in world soccer in 1966. The goal, which was awarded by the well-known Azerbaijani referee Tofiq Bahramov, caused a lot of dispute at the time. It was this goal that made Geoff Hurst's side world champions, and Hans Tilkowski's team had to make do with the silver medal.

For many years Hurst and Tilkowski exchanged mutual accusations. They would not even talk to one another. And now, 45 years later, at the centenary of Azerbaijani soccer, the late referee's son, Bahram Bahramov, has brought them back together.

In all these years probably neither Hurst nor Tilkowski ever thought they would come together to lay flowers at Tofiq Bahramov's memorial. But that is what happened. We seized the chance to talk to Geoff Hurst about the 1966 World Cup, to share memories of Tofiq Bahramov, and, of course, to look back at that most "disputed" goal.

- Nice to see you in Baku.

- I was very pleased to receive the invitation to attend the centenary of Azerbaijani soccer and I congratulate all of you on this occasion. In Europe there are not many federations that can boast of a hundred years of history. Azerbaijan is not a strange land to me, because it is the homeland of my friend, Bahramov.  

- If Tofiq Bahramov's decision back in 1966 had not been in your favour, would you have become friends?

- (laughs) The main thing is the decision was a clear one. Right now my memory of those few moments is not very good - the years have probably taken their toll. England had an excellent team at the championships. We played Germany in the final. As far as the disputed goal is concerned, everything happened in a flash - the ball crossed the goal line, hit the ground and came out again. In other words, many people couldn't see it. You can imagine that once the ball bounced back out again the whole stadium held its breath. Everyone looked at the referee, waiting for his decision. The referee was confused, but the linesman Tofiq Bahramov was adamant that it was a goal. Later we scored another goal and won an historic victory.

- England has only won the World Cup once - why is that?

- England is grateful to Tofiq Bahramov for that championship. He made a perfectly correct decision. This goal was later analysed on computers and most supported Bahramov. It is a shame he is no longer with us. But each time I visit his memorial which is at the central stadium, and whenever I visit it I recall those moments.

- What sort of relations did you have with him?

- Tofiq Bahramov was a well-known referee. We came across him in various competitions. And after the final I thanked him on behalf of all our supporters. To be honest, my popularity is to a huge extent down to him, because if he had not awarded that goal, Geoff Hurst would not have become so famous. Bahramov was a sincere man and a professional referee. The memorial to Tofiq Bahramov in Baku is the only memorial to a football referee in the world. This shows how highly the Azerbaijani people rate him.

- What do you have to say about your relations with Hans Tilkowski, who let in that unfortunate goal?

-  Tilkowski is a fine man. Our only quarrel was after the World Cup final. Naturally, he claims it wasn't a goal, that the ball didn't cross the line. But we have made up - the making-up was done by Tofiq's son, Bahram.

- I wonder why Tilkowski has not changed his opinion after 45 years?

- If you ask him, he'll say it wasn't a goal. He's a very stubborn man. But I can understand him because all goalkeepers have a problem in acknowledging the goals they let in.

- In England people love Bahramov, but I wonder how they feel in Germany?

-  Of course, English people have a special respect for him. As for the Germans, I don't know. They were as disappointed as we were happy. It's hard to take defeat at a world championship.

- Naturally, you haven't changed your opinion in the last 45 years.

- Of course, my goal was a good one. But the referee couldn't follow the ball's trajectory, and the linesman, Bahramov, did it for him. I have to admit that this incident brought fame for me, Bahramov and Tilkowski. Tofiq used to say that every game after that he was asked about that goal. This again underlines the historical importance of his decision.