56 years pass since Azerbaijani referee’s critical decision winning England World Cup

England national football team marks today the 56^th anniversary of the one and only World Cup victory in its history in 1966.

The historic victory of the English team is associated closely with Azerbaijani referee Tofik Bahramov, Caliber.Az informs.

Bahramov served as one of the linesmen in the World Cup final match between England and Germany, which ended in a 4:2 victory for the English side.

In the game’s extra time in the 101st minute, the ball hit the crossbar after a shot by England’s striker Geoff Hurst, bounced into the ground and flew into the field. Referee Gottfried Dinst did not see if the ball crossed the line and ran to consult Bakhramov, who confidently convinced him to allow the goal.

The decisive British goal was then counted by Dinst, and in the 120th minute, Hurst set the final score of the meeting by scoring his third and his team’s fourth goal to bring the first and so far, the only World Cup trophy to England.