FIFA finds stone base of original World Cup trophy

Published January 14, 2015
In this photo, Frenchman Jules Rimet (L), head of FIFA hands over the World Cup trophy to Dr Raul Jude, 1930. — AFP/File
In this photo, Frenchman Jules Rimet (L), head of FIFA hands over the World Cup trophy to Dr Raul Jude, 1930. — AFP/File

ZURICH: A piece of the original World Cup trophy has been found and will be displayed in the new FIFA museum.

A staff member found the stone base of the Jules Rimet trophy last month in basement storage at FIFA headquarters, museum creative director David Ausseil said on Tuesday.

“It’s like finding an Egyptian mummy,” Ausseil said. “You can’t put a price tag on it because it’s family jewels.”

The base is a 10cm (4-inch) tall, octagonal piece of blue semi-precious lapis lazuli stone, Ausseil said. It carries the names of the first four World Cup winners: Uruguay and Italy each won twice between 1930 and 1950.

Ausseil said the trophy got a new base before the 1954 tournament, won by West Germany. The gold statuette was permanently given to Brazil after winning their third title in 1970. It was stolen in 1983 and never recovered.

“We thought [the base] was lost in Brazil,” Ausseil said. “We think no FIFA president has seen it since Jules Rimet himself.”

The director spoke on the sidelines of a tour of the museum construction site in downtown Zurich. The World Football Museum, with exhibits on three floors, is scheduled to open in March 2016.

FIFA announced the museum in 2012 when the expected $200 million project was to be built underground at its headquarters on a hill overlooking the city.

Published in Dawn, January 14th, 2015

On a mobile phone? Get the Dawn Mobile App: Apple Store | Google Play

Opinion

Editorial

‘Source of terror’
29 Mar, 2024

‘Source of terror’

ALTHOUGH dealing with the presence of terrorist groups in Afghanistan is a major political, security and strategic...
Chipping in
29 Mar, 2024

Chipping in

FEDERAL infrastructure development schemes are located in the provinces. Most such projects — for instance,...
Toxic emitters
29 Mar, 2024

Toxic emitters

IT is concerning to note that dozens of industries have been violating environmental laws in and around Islamabad....
Judiciary’s SOS
Updated 28 Mar, 2024

Judiciary’s SOS

The ball is now in CJP Isa’s court, and he will feel pressure to take action.
Data protection
28 Mar, 2024

Data protection

WHAT do we want? Data protection laws. When do we want them? Immediately. Without delay, if we are to prevent ...
Selling humans
28 Mar, 2024

Selling humans

HUMAN traders feed off economic distress; they peddle promises of a better life to the impoverished who, mired in...