1973 European Cup Winners' Cup final

The 1973 European Cup Winners' Cup Final was the final football match of the 1972–73 European Cup Winners' Cup and the 13th European Cup Winners' Cup final. It was contested between Milan of Italy and Leeds United of England, and was held at Kaftanzoglio Stadium in Thessaloniki, Greece. Milan won the match 1–0. The referee was banned from officiating for life by UEFA, for match-fixing.

1973 European Cup Winners' Cup final
Match programme cover
Event1972–73 European Cup Winners' Cup
Date16 May 1973
VenueKaftanzoglio Stadium, Thessaloniki
RefereeChristos Michas (Greece)
Attendance40,154
1972
1974

The Greek crowd at the final reacted to perceived bias towards Milan by referee Christos Michas by throwing missiles during the victors' lap of honour, but despite protests, the result was not overturned.[1] UEFA later banned Michas for life due to match fixing, although his role in this match was not investigated.[2]

Leeds, who perceived referee Christos Michas to have made a number of unfair decisions, attempted to gain a replay but UEFA denied the request.[3] Decades later Richard Corbett, then MEP for Yorkshire and the Humber, petitioned UEFA for a revocation of the Milan title.[4]

Route to the final

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  Milan   Leeds United
Opponent Agg. 1st leg 2nd leg Opponent Agg. 1st leg 2nd leg
  Red Boys Differdange 7–1 4–1 (A) 3–0 (H) First round   Ankaragücü 2–1 1–1 (A) 1–0 (H)
  Legia Warsaw 3–2 1–1 (A) 2–1 (a.e.t.) (H) Second round   Carl Zeiss Jena 2–0 0–0 (A) 2–0 (H)
  Spartak Moscow 2–1 1–0 (A) 1–1 (H) Quarter-finals   Rapid București 8–1 5–0 (H) 3–1 (A)
  Sparta Prague 2–0 1–0 (H) 1–0 (A) Semi-finals   Hajduk Split 1–0 1–0 (H) 0–0 (A)

Match details

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Milan  1–0  Leeds United
Chiarugi   5' Report
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Milan
 
 
 
 
 
Leeds United
GK 1   Villiam Vecchi
SW 5   Maurizio Turone
RB 2   Giuseppe Sabadini
CB 4   Angelo Anquilletti
CB 6   Roberto Rosato   59'
LB 3   Giulio Zignoli
RM 7   Riccardo Sogliano   90'
CM 8   Romeo Benetti
LM 10   Gianni Rivera (c)
CF 9   Alberto Bigon
SS 11   Luciano Chiarugi
Substitutes:
CB 14   Dario Dolci   59'
Manager:
  Nereo Rocco
GK 1   David Harvey
RB 2   Paul Reaney (c)
CB 11   Terry Yorath
CB 6   Norman Hunter   90'
LB 3   Trevor Cherry
RM 7   Peter Lorimer
CM 4   Mick Bates
CM 5   Paul Madeley
LM 10   Frank Gray   54'
CF 8   Joe Jordan
CF 9   Mick Jones
Substitutes:
CB 12   Gordon McQueen   54'
FW 14   Chris Galvin
Manager:
  Don Revie

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Uefa asked to probe Leeds United's 1973 Cup Winners' Cup defeat to AC Milan Daily Telegraph, 15 April 2009, retrieved on 28 May 2009
  2. ^ "UEFA asked to probe United's final defeat". Yorkshire Evening Post. 3 April 2009. Retrieved 28 May 2009.
  3. ^ "MEP calls for inquiry into Milan-Leeds Euro final". Richard Corbett MEP. 10 August 2006. Archived from the original on 26 October 2008. Retrieved 11 November 2006.
  4. ^ "MEP wants Leeds result reversed". BBC Sport. 31 March 2009. Retrieved 31 January 2023.
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