Bio
Ivan Eklind
Born: 1905-10-15
Intl. since: 1931-01-01
Hometown: Stockholm
Country: Sweden
Speaks: Swedish
Occupation: shop manager
Hobbies:

Ivan Henning Hjalmar Eklind became a FIFA referee in 1931 and retired from refereeing in 1952. A very long time to be an international referee and Eklind took charge of 6 matches in 3 World Cup finals, the first one in 1934 (three matches and the final), the last one an amazing 16 years later in 1950.

Eklind died in 1981.

Well

You can deduct from the dates that Eklind was only 28 when he took charge of the final and he had been an international referee for only 2 years. It's clear the authorities, be it Mussolini or FIFA or both, chose for gullibility over experience.

The final did not end well for the Czechs and Eklind (see did-you-know section).

Did you know
WORLD CUP FINAL

  • Before the World Cup final Italy against Czechoslavakia, Benito Mussolini had a word with Eklind. The Czechs, who lost 2-1, allege it was more than a word. In fact there were a few strange calls during the final and the Swede overlooked many Italian fouls. Eklind was even suspended for life afterwards, but he petitioned FIFA and got his badge back to take charge of more World Cup finals matches.
    There is no proof that Eklind had been "wined and dined" by Mussolini as many sources allege.
  • There was a World War during his career, but that didn't stop the Swedish referee from taking charge of matches, for instance in 1941, the friendly Germany-Denmark in Dresden. Friendly....
Statistics
Statistics for IVAN EKLIND
Totals Home Away Total
Penalties 2 2 4
Fouls 0 0 0
Yellow 0 0 0
YellowRed 0 0 0
Red 0 0 0
Averages Home Away Total
Penalties 0.09 0.09 0.09
Fouls 0 0 0
Yellow 0 0 0
YellowRed 0 0 0
Red 0 0 0

Based on 22 international matches

Matches
MATCHES FOR IVAN EKLIND
Date Score Yellow Red Penalties Fouls
WC 1950
group stageSwitzerlandMexico1950-07-022 - 1 0 (0-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)
friendly
FinlandNetherlands1950-06-114 - 1 0 (0-0)0 (0-0)1 (1-0)0 (0-0)
BelgiumNetherlands1950-04-162 - 0 0 (0-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)
BelgiumNetherlands1946-05-302 - 2 0 (0-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)
NorwayDenmark1945-09-091 - 5 0 (0-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)
GermanyDenmark1941-11-161 - 1 0 (0-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)
FinlandGermany1941-10-050 - 6 0 (0-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)
NorwayGermany1939-06-220 - 4 0 (0-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)
PolandYugolsavia1938-09-254 - 4 0 (0-0)0 (0-0)1 (0-1)0 (0-0)
BelgiumYugolsavia1938-05-292 - 2 0 (0-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)
FinlandLatvia1935-06-064 - 1 0 (0-0)0 (0-0)1 (1-0)0 (0-0)
NorwayGermany1931-06-212 - 2 0 (0-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)
Nordic Championships
NorwayFinland1948-09-052 - 0 0 (0-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)
DenmarkNorway1939-10-224 - 1 0 (0-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)
NorwayDenmark1934-09-233 - 1 0 (0-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)
DenmarkNorway1933-06-112 - 2 0 (0-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)
WC 1938
1st roundSwitzerlandGermany1938-06-094 - 2 0 (0-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)
1st roundBrazilPoland1938-06-056 - 5 0 (0-0)0 (0-0)1 (0-1)0 (0-0)
WC 1938 qualifiers - Europe
FinlandEstonia1937-08-190 - 1 0 (0-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)
WC 1934
finalItalyCzechoslovakia1934-06-102 - 1 0 (0-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)
1/2 finalsItalyAustria1934-06-031 - 0 0 (0-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)
1st roundSwitzerlandNetherlands1934-05-273 - 2 0 (0-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)