When Karl Kainer took the match ball, that had the signatures of the Man U players, with him after the 1958 European Cup semi-final against Red Star Belgrade, little did he know that a few hours later the plane with the English team would crash killing 22, including 7 players.

Karl Kainer took charge of a match in the 1964 European Championships.

the ball 50 years later

After the match Karl Kainer kept the match ball at his home in Wolfsberg (Carinthia).
Nearly 50 years after the horrible plain crash of Munich-Riem, a delegation of Manchester United contacted Karl Kainer's family. Karl-Heinz Kainer, Mr. Karl Kainer�s son (he was born in August, 1941), handed out the "souvenir" back to the famous British Club.

Thanks to Heinrich Wurzer

Dates

On the FIFA lists as a deputy in 1955/56 and 1956/57 and as a centre referee between 1957 and 1964.

Kainer said he took charge of 1954 matches, 28 between national teams.

Karl Kainer died on april 14th, 2006, a few days after his 91st birthday.