Questions about Football at the 1920 Summer Olympics
Short answers, pulled from the story.
Why was the football final abandoned at the 1920 Summer Olympics?
Czechoslovakia walked off the pitch in the 39th minute to protest the officiating of English referee John Lewis and his linesmen. The Czechoslovaks were angered by the ejection of their left-back Karel Steiner and a contentious second Belgian goal allowed in the 30th minute. Belgium were awarded the gold medal.
Who won the gold medal in football at the 1920 Summer Olympics?
Belgium won the gold medal. They defeated Spain and the Netherlands to reach the final, where they led Czechoslovakia 2-0 before the match was abandoned in the 39th minute and they were awarded the title.
Which country was the first non-European nation to compete in Olympic football?
Egypt became the first non-European nation to compete in Olympic football at the 1920 Summer Olympics in Antwerp. Their scorers included Sayed Abaza with two goals and single goals from Hassan Allouba, Hussein Hegazi, and Zaki Osman.
Why was Great Britain eliminated in the first round of football at the 1920 Olympics?
Norway defeated Great Britain 3-1 in the first round, a result Elo ratings consider one of the greatest upsets in football history. Britain had won gold at both the 1908 and 1912 Olympics before that defeat.
Who was the top scorer in football at the 1920 Summer Olympics?
Sweden's Herbert Carlsson finished as the tournament's top scorer with seven goals. Czechoslovakia's Antonin Janda was second with six goals, and the Netherlands' Ber Groosjohan scored five.
Why did Czechoslovakia not receive a silver medal at the 1920 Olympics football tournament?
After walking off the pitch in the final to protest the officiating, Czechoslovakia was ejected from the competition entirely. Because they were disqualified rather than beaten, they were not awarded the silver medal they would otherwise have been entitled to as the losing finalist.