Greaves: It’s the European equivalent of the Carling Cup

I don’t care who sues me, but we were fiddled out of it by a referee and linesman. It was as bent as you could get and, fortunately today, that couldn’t happen with TV cameras and modern technology. When we played the first game against Benfica in Lisbon, there was only the radio commentary and no cameras – so no one could see what was going on. I beat the full-back to score and had a goal disallowed for offside. They scored their third goal where the ball was knocked down by one bloke’s hand and into the net by another’s fist.

Then at White Hart Lane in the second leg I must have been five yards onside, I ran through two defenders, knocked the ball in the back of the net and it was still given offside. Dodgy things did go on then, particularly in Europe. It wasn’t a sophisticated place and I think the word ”bung” was in regular use. Anyone who saw those games will say the same. The following year we won the Cup Winners’ Cup, beating Atletico Madrid 5-1 in the final after no one had given us a chance.

They were the holders and favourites but we played brilliantly and what enhanced it was that we were the first British team to win a major European trophy. Now we have the second-rate Europa League. Asking why UEFA continues with it is like asking why Europe continues with the euro. Who knows the answer to that? Anyway, a merry Christmas to you all and see you in 2012.

The article was written by Jimmy Greaves for FootballFancast.com. Make sure to check out the latest news, blogs and podcasts at FFC – ed.

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