Mith Panchal
Imagine a football match so shrouded in fog where spectators come in as substitutes, teams playing with 15 players, and all sorts of drama and confusion.
The 1945 friendly between Arsenal and Dynamo Moscow occupies a unique space in this realm, a match shrouded in literal and metaphorical fog that descended into a farcical display unlike any other.
Arsenal Vs Dynamo Moscow 1945
The backdrop itself was peculiar. World War II had just ended, leaving Europe in tatters. This match, played on November 21st at White Hart Lane (Arsenal’s Highbury stadium was bomb-damaged), was a symbolic gesture of thawing relations between Britain and the Soviet Union. Dynamo Moscow, featuring several Soviet internationals, were seen as a formidable opponent.
The true drama, however, unfolded due to the weather. A thick London fog rolled in, reducing visibility on the pitch to a few meters. Despite player protests, the match referee, a visiting Russian official, bizarrely opted to continue. This decision ignited a chain of events that would become legendary.
The first casualty was the concept of fair play. With players disappearing into the mist, confusion reigned. Spectators reported seeing as many as 15 players on the Dynamo side at times, a claim likely fueled by the swirling fog and the visitors’ fluid, passing style.
Arsenal themselves weren’t averse to bending the rules. One player, Reg Lewis, received a red card but, taking advantage of the limited visibility, simply re-entered the fray unnoticed.
Goalkeeping was another casualty. Arsenal’s Wyn Griffiths reportedly collided with his own goalpost, leaving him dazed and disoriented. Legend has it that a resourceful spectator, a former goalkeeper himself, took his place, seamlessly blending into the action under the referee’s oblivious gaze.
The goals themselves were shrouded in mystery. Dynamo Moscow emerged victorious 4-3, but with the fog obscuring much of the action, claims of offside goals and dubious calls by the referee were rife. Newspapers reported the match as a “comedy of errors,” with frustrated fans left wondering what they had just witnessed.
The “Fog Match,” as it came to be known, transcended the result. It became a metaphor for the chaotic aftermath of war, a time when the rules were unclear and visibility limited. It also highlighted the human spirit’s ability to find humor and ingenuity even in the most bizarre situations.
The fantastical stories surrounding the 1945 match have persisted for decades, fueled by a lack of video footage (cameras struggled in the fog) and the reliance on eyewitness accounts. The truth likely lies somewhere between the sensational headlines and the more mundane reality of a foggy afternoon.
However, the enduring myth of the “Fog Match” transcends factual accuracy. It serves as a testament to the enduring power of football to capture our imaginations, even when played in a literal and metaphorical fog.
It’s a story that reminds us that sometimes, the most memorable moments in football aren’t about the perfect goal or the flawless performance, but about the sheer, hilarious absurdity of it all.
