USA 94: 11 things that happened for the first time ever in the tournament

macfranc007 December 04, 2017 IFTTT, Latest Sport News | Today on Naij.com Akinshilo Ayomide

With the 2018 FIFA World Cup less than one year away, NAIJ.com takes a look at some of the most memorable things to have happened at one of the biggest sport events in the world.

The focus now is the 1994 FIFA World Cup in the USA which is still fondly remembered by fans as one of the best ever.

The Super Eagles made their World Cup debut at the tournament while was won by Brazil who defeated Italy on finals in the final.

USA 94 was memorable also because it was a tournament has had many first and NAIJ.com recounts them.

11 things that first happened at the 1994 World Cup in USA

The Super Eagles made a first ever appearance at the 1994 World Cup

1. A win equalled three points

Previously, a win was two points but from this tournament, a win equalled three points.

2. Deliberate back-passes could not be picked

For the first time back passes could not be picked up with the hands by the goalkeeper as FIFA hoped to encourage attacking football.

3. First goalkeeper to be sent off

Italy’s Gianluca Pagliuca became the first goalkeeper to be sent off during a World Cup match after handling the ball outside the penalty area in the 21st minute against Norway on 23 June.

4. A player with one yellow card in the group stage had it cancelled for knockout rounds

For the first time, if a player had been shown a single yellow card during the tournament’s group stage, it was erased for the knockout stages. However two yellow cards still counted for a suspension.

5. No commercials during English TV broadcasting in the USA

The USA was used to having commercials during sport games breaks in basketball, baseball but this did not happen throughout the tournament.

6. FIFA anthem used at the beginning of matches

Players and officials entered the pitch at the start of matches to the sound of the new FIFA anthem, composed by Franz Lambert.

7. Referee jerseys had different colours

For the first time referees could wears jerseys of different colours unlike the traditional black attire in previous years.

8. Numbers added to the front of shirts; names on the back

While numbers were introduced in 1954, the World Cup in USA was the first time squad numbers were also printed on the front

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9. First World Cup match to be played indoors

The Pontiac Silverdome hosted the first FIFA World Cup match to be played indoors on 18 June when hosts the USA held Switzerland to a 1-1 draw in front of a crowd of 73,425.

10. Five goals in a game and the oldest goalscorer

Russian forward Oleg Salenko became the first player to score five times in a single World Cup game as his side won 6-1 win over Cameroon who boasted Roger Milla who was the the oldest player (at 42-years-old) to score in a World Cup match.

Milla's team-mate Rigobert Song had become the youngest player, at 17, to be sent off in a World Cup for a rash challenge on Brazil’s Bebeto just a few days earlier.

11. Germany played as a United nation for the first time ever

For the first time ever Germany played as a United nation not as West Germany or East Germany. The Berlin wall had actually fallen November 1989.

Nigeria Super Eagles qualify for 2018 FIFA World Cup on NAIJ.com TV;