vs. Celtic F.C., stitched number 7 verso, long sleeved

Note: Believed worn by Julio Abbadie.

Swapped with Bertie Auld; The Bertie Auld Collection.

Julio César Abbadie made a hefty 468 appearances for Peñarol during two spells with the Uruguayan club.

Born in Montevideo to migrant parents, he was eligible for international selection, obtaining 26 caps between 1952 and 1966. This would include Uruguay’s run to the semi-final of the 1954 World Cup. During this competition he would net twice in a 7-0 group stage drubbing of Scotland.

The 1967 challenge match vs. Celtic would come during Abbadie’s second spell with Peñarol. It was arranged in anticipation of Celtic’s Intercontinental Cup game vs. Argentina’s Racing Club. A rare chance to test themselves against South American opposition.

Despite having just lifted the League Cup three days prior, Jock Stein fielded a full-strength Lisbon Lions side. It may have been a friendly, but he still wanted to triumph over the reigning Intercontinental champions. The 56,000 fans who turned out at Parkhead were rewarded with a fine display. Typical South American flare helped contribute to an electric atmosphere, though wasn’t enough to clinch the tie.

Jimmy Johnstone stole the show, at one stage marked by three players who still struggled to intercept his jinking runs. Goals from Willie Wallace secured a 2-1 victory, Celtic now set for their showdown vs. Racing Club.

Whilst the Peñarol friendly is remembered for its positive atmosphere, shirts swapped at the end of the game; those ties vs. the Argentinians live on for more sinister reasons.

The first leg vs. Racing Club was contested at Hampden on the 18^th October 1967, with the return game in Buenos Aires two weeks later. A 1-0 victory and 2-1 defeat pushed the competition to a playoff, this to be on neutral soil. Neither of the previous scorelines belie the violent conduct of Racing Club, something which came to a head in the play-off game, now known as ‘The Battle of Montevideo’.

Jock Stein said before the match that his players would ‘give as much as they are forced to take.’ This was certainly true, a series of fouls from both sides leading the Paraguayan referee to stop the game on the 23^rd minute. Both captains were then given stern warnings to control their players or face the consequences.

The pleas were not heeded, and fourteen minutes later a cynical hack on Johnstone led to a mass brawl. It was at this point riot police took to the pitch to quell the violence. Following this, red cards for Alfio Basile and Bobby Lennox were the first in what became a total of six sending offs (four for Celtic, two for Racing Club). One of these was given to Bertie Auld in the 88^th minute, though amid the chaos, he refused to leave the pitch and went on to complete the game.

A single goal for Racing Club secured the victory, and with it the trophy.

Following the match Stein would conclude, ‘I would not bring a team to South America again for all the money in the world.’