Ottorino Barassi
Encyclopedia
Dr. Ing. Ottorino Barassi (October 5, 1898 – November 24, 1971) was an Italian sports official.

The first action of his career was to help organise the 1934 FIFA World Cup
1934 FIFA World Cup
The 1934 FIFA World Cup was the second FIFA World Cup, the world championship for men's national association football teams. It took place in Italy from 27 May to 10 June 1934....

, which was played in his native Italy. His notability in World Cup history continued, as Italy won the 1938 FIFA World Cup
1938 FIFA World Cup
The 1938 FIFA World Cup was the third staging of the World Cup, and was held in France from 4 June to 19 June. Italy retained the championship, beating Hungary 4–2 in the final.-Host selection:...

 in France. Because the World Cup did not take place for another 12 years (due to World War II), he famously had possession of the Jules Rimet
FIFA World Cup Trophy
The World Cup is a gold trophy that is awarded to the winners of the FIFA World Cup. Since the advent of the World Cup in 1930, two trophies have represented victory: the Jules Rimet Trophy from 1930 to 1970, and the FIFA World Cup Trophy from 1974 to the present day.The trophy, originally named...

 trophy until the 1950 FIFA World Cup
1950 FIFA World Cup
The 1950 FIFA World Cup, held in Brazil from 24 June to 16 July, was the fourth FIFA World Cup. It was the first World Cup since 1938, the planned 1942 and 1946 competitions having been canceled owing to World War II...

. He secretly took the trophy home from a bank in Rome, and kept it under his bed in a shoebox so that the Nazi troops in Italy would not find it.

During the war, he was made commissioner of the Italian Football Federation from 1944–1946, and in 1946 he was promoted to President of the federation; a position which he would hold until 1958.

Following his good work in the 1934 World Cup, he was also asked by FIFA to help Brazilian officials organise the 1950 FIFA World Cup
1950 FIFA World Cup
The 1950 FIFA World Cup, held in Brazil from 24 June to 16 July, was the fourth FIFA World Cup. It was the first World Cup since 1938, the planned 1942 and 1946 competitions having been canceled owing to World War II...

. This was a task which he completed successfully; he ensured that the Estádio do Maracanã
Estádio do Maracanã
The Estádio do Maracanã , officially Estádio Jornalista Mário Filho, is an open-air stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Owned by the Rio de Janeiro State Government, it is named after the Maracanã neighbourhood in Rio de Janeiro. It was opened in 1950 to host the FIFA World Cup, and in the final...

 was ready in time for the tournament, and that the event ran smoothly.

He was appointed as a member of FIFA's Executive Committee from 1952 until his death in 1971. As a member of the Executive Committee, he helped found UEFA
UEFA
The Union of European Football Associations , almost always referred to by its acronym UEFA is the administrative and controlling body for European association football, futsal and beach soccer....

 in the early 1950s. The Coppa Ottorino Barassi
Coppa Ottorino Barassi
The Coppa Ottorino Barassi is a defunct amateur association football competition named after Ottorino Barassi that was contested from 1968 until 1976. The competition was contested by the English FA Amateur Cup winners and the Italian Coppa Italia Dilettanti winners and was played over two-legs,...

, a match held from 1968–1976 between the FA Amateur Cup
FA Amateur Cup
The FA Amateur Cup was an English football competition for amateur clubs. It commenced in 1893 and ended in 1974 when The Football Association abolished official amateur status.-History:...

 and Coppa Italia Dilettanti
Coppa Italia Dilettanti
The Coppa Italia Dilettanti is an annual knock-out competition for teams from the sixth and seventh levels of Italian football: the Eccellenza and the Promozione. All ties except for the final, which is held at the Stadio Flaminio in Rome, are played on a home-and-away basis...

champions, was named after him.
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