The 1969 Intercontinental Cup was a two-legged association football match contested between 1968–69 European Cup champions Milan and 1969 Copa Libertadores winners Estudiantes de La Plata. It was the 10th edition of the competition.
The first leg was played at the San Siro in Milan, on 8 October 1969. Milan won the home game 3–0. The return leg was held on 22 October, at La Bombonera in Buenos Aires. Despite suffering a 2–1 defeat, Milan won the title on aggregate.
Amongst other things, the tie became infamous for the violent on-pitch conduct and dirty tactics employed by Estudiantes' players in the second leg of the fixture.[1]
Estudiantes' players used violence from the beginning, with Alberto Poletti and Ramón Aguirre Suárez throwing balls to a group of Milan players that were practising on the field prior to the match. With the game already in progress, Eduardo Manera pushed around goalkeeper Fabio Cudicini, then he bit Saul Malatrasi. Aguirre Suárez (one of the most violent players) injured Néstor Combin and Pierino Prati, although he would not be expelled until another violent action against Gianni Rivera.[2]
After a match which saw two Italian players badly assaulted, events took a turn for the surreal when stretcher-bound Milan striker Néstor Combin was arrested by Argentine police for draft dodging (Combin had been born in Argentina but had represented France at international level, having moved to Europe for his professional career). The match had immediate political ramifications, partly due to Argentina's bid for the World Cup in 1978. Many of the team's players were arrested and goalkeeper Alberto Poletti, who had punched Milan's "golden boy" playmaker Gianni Rivera, kicked Combin and had clashed with supporters after the match, was handed a life ban. Ramon Suárez, who had broken the nose of Combin, was banned from international fixtures for five years. The match is also partly to blame for a subsequent boycott of the tournament by European teams.
No, Estudiantes ... that was not manhood, it was not temperament, it was not spirit... this has been apologetics for brutality and madness ... this has embarrassed us all and those responsible should be ashamed. If we really want to continue believing in something in the future, let's start by repudiating this unfortunate episode.
— Journalist Julio César Pasquato blaming players of Estudiantes for the violence against their rivals[2]
