Hans Wuthrich

Who is Hans Wuthrich?

Hans Wuthrich was the first Swiss match official to be appointed to a FIFA World Cup final match when he was selected to run the line in the 1938 final match between Italy and Hungary in Paris.

Wuthrich, who refereed both the 1934 and 1937 Swiss Cup Finals, had already officiated in three matches prior to the final, acting as match referee in the semi-final between Italy and Brazil in Marseilles and also running the line in the notorious game between the hosts France and Italy in Paris, the game in which the Italians wore the maglia nera, a gesture of fascist defiance and provocation.

Wuthrich performances, importantly, escaped criticism; a fillip to the reputation of his countries referees after the controversy which had surrounded Rene Mercet in the 1934 FIFA World Cup.

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