I heard that a couple of central american countries went to war over a game of football once (in fact I've heard this LOADS of times) - is this true or some sort of myth?

I'd love a quick summary if anyone has the time. And also - if at any time during that war there was a brief ceasefire - did the opposing sides get together for a quick kickabout? :D

It's true. You can even find some of the details here in one of the threads - the one on the dumbest wars in history I think.

I believe it was betw Honduras and a neighbouring country and erupted after a football match. The match was more like an ignition; there're already existing tensions over illegal settlement on the other side's territory or something.

Yes, it was in the "dumbest wars" thread. It was between El Salvador and Honduras. The countries certainly did have some issues - Honduras was unwillingly playing host to thousands of Salvadorean migrants - but there is ample evidence that the football competition is what ignited popular passions enough to turn ordinary tensions into a blood fued. "Avenge 2-nil" or something like that became a common war slogan.

The two countries built it into war by spending weeks doing stupid things like holding big parties outside the hotels of the competing team to render them sleepless for the morning's match.

This is from memory; a better version is in the thread.

R.III

Yes I've read about it, and it's a little over-inflated to say that football caused the war.

The tensions were already there and war was virtually inevitable anyway from what I've read - then some bright spark decided to get them to play football against each other...Doh!

:rolleyes:

Wasn't it a World Cup qualifier or something? That would explain it a little, as far as you CAN explain really really really stupid and generally worthless actions. I thought I heard that somewhere, but it may just be embellishment.

It was a World Cup qualifier.

Is it overinflated to say that Gavrilo Prinzip caused WWI? Sure, perhaps a war between the great powers in Europe was inevitable, but the reason THAT war happened was because the Archduke got shot. The alliances and rivalries were a factor, but the reason for the war.

Like I said, here and in the other thread; the countries had reasons to hate each other, but the football was clearly important to the combatants.

Typo: should read "but NOT the reason for the war."

Anyone know the outcome of the war then? Did the match get replayed? Was there any actual fighting or just posturing?

There was some actual fighting on the ground AFAIK. Better check out that dumb wars thread - a lot of info there. ;)

Just cjecked out the thread - thanks!:goodjob: