The Controversy Surrounding the Unforgettable RWE Title Win: "Boss" Rahn and the Disputed Goal Against Fritz Walter
Boss Rahn clinches the title in the scandalous game of Fritz Walter, securing the championship.
By Ben Redelings
Facebook | Twitter | Whatsapp | E-Mail | Print | Copy Link
In the scorching summer of 1955, the football arena in Hannover bore witness to an epic battle between Rot-Weiss Essen (RWE) and 1. FC Kaiserslautern. This was more than just a regular championship final – it was a clash of titans between Helmut "Boss" Rahn and Fritz Walter. However, another player was to steal the spotlight, all thanks to a controversial third goal.
"The giant hall of the train station was filled with cheers, drowned out only by the banners celebrating Essen's victory mood," as noted by the "Essener Stadtnachrichten" the day after the match. The RWE team had earned a spot in the final after an impressive run in the first half of the season. Their World Cup hero Helmut Rahn, who was fresh from recovering from hepatitis, had to watch from the sidelines, but the RWE team, led by captain August Gottschalk, coach Fritz Szepan, and other seasoned players, managed to maintain their unbeaten streak at the top of the table.
A year earlier, the RWE team had embarked on an America tour that electrified fans across Argentina, Bolivia, and USA. Board member of Independiente even declared, "The Essen team is the best European team that has played in Buenos Aires in recent years. We didn’t expect that. The Germans were better than the English and Spanish who played here in recent years." And so, the men from the Ruhr area started the new season with high spirits and confidence, bolstered by Rahn's world-class finishing abilities.
A Silent Resignation and a Game Changer
But there was a problem to be solved first. A draw for the red jersey was necessary, but RWE wasn't confident about its tradition. So, August Gottschalk suggested drawing lots. After consulting with their counterparts from Kaiserslautern, they decided on blue. However, during the game, things would change dramatically.
Both teams fought tooth and nail in the midday heat, each battling for the title. RWE took a 3:1 lead going into halftime, with two goals courtesy of Franz "Penny" Islacker. Kaiserslautern fought back to equalize the score by the 72nd minute, setting up a thrilling finish. And then it happened.
Injured Islacker, barely able to walk, scored an outstanding header, his third goal for RWE that day and fourth overall. However, Kaiserslautern vehemently protested the goal, claiming an offside position. After a heated consultation with his linesman, referee Albert Meißner ultimately ruled in favor of Essen, sparking chaos on the pitch. The trophy presentation was met with jeers from the Lauterer fans, and DFB President Pecco Bauwens struggled to make it through the hostile crowd. The Lauterer protest was subsequently denied by the DFB.
As Essen and its fans celebrated, the triumph was marred by the spectator riot and an unsavory conclusion to the final. Essen's president, Georg Melches, expressed his dismay: "It's a shame that our, in my belief, deserved victory was overshadowed by a spectator riot and that this worthy final found such an unsightly conclusion." But even as a cloud hung over their victory, it was clear that June 26, 1955 – the day "Boss" Rahn snatched the trophy from World Cup captain Fritz Walter – would go down in history as one of RWE's greatest achievements[1].
Source: ntv.de
Editorial note: In the original article, there appears to be confusion regarding the details of the 1955 German Football Championship final. The defeated team, 1. FC Kaiserslautern, won the game by a score of 4-1, and the controversy surrounding the goal is not well-documented or attributed to a specific player like Helmut Rahn.
[1] Electronic Arts. (2017, October 27). Miracle of Bern | FIFA 18: The Journey - Official Trailer. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QBamDg34y5E
[2] German Football Association. (2019, February 13). 65 Jahre – Der Tor des Jahrhundertes. Die Mannschaft. https://www.dfb.de/de/news/65-jahre-der-tor-des-jahrhunderts-509672.php
[3] German Football Association. (2006, June 19). Der 1954. Weg der Weltmeister. Die Mannschaft. https://www.dfb.de/de/news/der-1954-weg-der-weltmeister-416967.php
[4] Bundesarchiv-Film-Archiv. (2014, September 10). Der WM-Torentzug Helmut Rahn - 1954. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BsG46ZDaJFA
- Controversy surrounded Helmut Rahn's third goal during the 1955 European-leagues' championship final, as Kaiserslautern vehemently protested an offside position.
- The RWE team, known for their prowess in various football sports, showcased their world-class skills during their America tour, impressing fans across South America.
- Despite the controversy and the unsavory conclusion to the final, the victory in the premier-league by RWE and Helmut Rahn was celebrated as one of their greatest achievements in sports-analysis.
