Jules Rimet still gleaming

April 11th, 2006 | by: Chriso |

France has had big influence on the World Cup not only by hosting it twice and winning it once but also by providing the individuals who dreamed it up.

At a meeting in Paris on 21 May 1904 a publisher called Jules Rimet along with Robert Guerin, a lawyer and journalist, a printer called Henri Delaunay and a Dutch banker by the name of C.A.W. Hirschman met to organise a football world championship and created what we all know and love as FIFA.

Guerin became the first president of FIFA from 1904-06 and at the same time was manager of the French national team, so no conflict of interest there.

FIFA actually took its lead to start with from the English FA’s International Board which was setting the rules of the game but after the First World War the British associations decided they wouldn’t play Germany or its Allies, this is when Jules Rimet, by then French Football Ferderation President became FIFA President and pushed for the first World Cup to take place.

At the 1928 Olympics in Amsterdam after Uruguay beat Argentina 2-1 to win the gold medal, Rimet managed to sweet talk the President of Uruguay into hosting the first tournament which they did in 1930, nine years after Rimet took charge of FIFA. The first trophy was named after him.

Jules Rimet and Raul Jude, head of Uruguan FA 1930

Delaunay also had a lot to do with the running of football, being another head of the French Football Federation and the first of UEFA. He’s credited with starting the European Championships and the trophy is still called the Henri Delaunay Cup.

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http://www.worldcupblog.org Bob

Thanks for the history lesson. I recently have become fascinated with the 1930 tournament. There are some amazing stories about its creation and how it played out.
Chriso

Glad you’re paying attention Robert, they’ll be a test next week.
Bob

As long as it is multiple choice, I’ll be fine. Always guess “b”. A lesson I have learned from a lifetime of poor test taking.
syl27

Let me start with the first question (if I may):

Who is the better? Platini or Zidane?

This may also lead to the classical question: Who was France’s best player ever? and we’ll see if we agree….

Thanks for all your interesting comments and articles..
Chriso

Platini or Zidane that’s a tough one.
I would pick Zidane as a pure footballing talent but I think Platini maybe had more effect as a leader of his team.
Both very successful, if I had to chose I’d go for Zidane at his peak.