Chapuisat vs. Favre: why an offense ended up in court

Favre’s left knee? A total loss!

review. Friday, September 13, 1985. In the eighth round of the National League A, leader Servette meets second-class Vevey in front of 4,800 spectators in Charmilles. Just before half-time, the Grenats led 2-1 thanks to a converted penalty from Pierre-Alain, better known as Gabet Chapuisat. In the 42nd minute, Lucien Favre got the ball, Servette’s director danced to the penalty area, easily and loosely dribbled around two Vevey players. What happens next will go down in the history books of Swiss football as the worst offense of all time.

Known for his rustic style of play and short fuse, Chapuisat, crazy, jumps with his legs outstretched and jumps first towards Favre. He clearly misses the ball, but not Favre’s left knee. Even the commentator on Swiss television finds unusually lucid words in his match summary: “An offense that cannot even be excused by the name of Chapuisat. Even in the heat of battle, this is an assault bordering on intentional bodily harm.”

But Chapuisat gets away with it on the field. Since referee Bruno Galler did not see the action, he allows the game to continue. What does the Aargauer think of the scene today? Call Galer. “Let me guess: you want to talk to me about Chapuisat, don’t you?” he immediately asks, then explains what he thinks happened 38 years ago. “The field of vision was given to me at the time. All I saw was Favre lying on the floor and Chapuisat pretending he hadn’t done anything. After that, Favre was sent off, supported by two helpers, and the match continued. Even after the final whistle, the violation was hardly an issue.”

It is only when the summary in the “Sports Panorama” runs on Saturday evening that the outrage increases and the outrage grows. Right in the middle referee Bruno Galler. “Suddenly everyone was pointing at me. Suddenly I was the bad guy and not a Chapuisat at all because I hadn’t punished the offense. It felt like I broke Favre’s knee.”

Favre’s left knee – it’s a total loss after this brutal foul. At the Clinique Générale in Geneva, doctors diagnose internal, lateral, and cruciate ligament tears. Two and a half hours of operation, eight months break! Professor Widmer, who operated on him, says: “I’ve never seen such severe knee damage. Even the kneecap still showed signs of aggression.”

But his action also has consequences for Chapuisat. While he cannot subsequently be suspended by the association, Vevey released him without notice a few days later. “It was the most brutal foul I’ve ever seen. And if everyone is screaming for fair play, then you have to act on it,” said chairman Paul Rinsoz in justifying Chapuisat’s expulsion.

Chapuisat himself cannot understand all the fuss in the days after the action. “I don’t even know why there is such a theater. There are such fouls in every game,” he justifies himself. And further: “I can’t help the fact that Favre is a football millionaire. With another player you probably wouldn’t have said anything. I am not aware of any guilt.”

“Favre died for me”

Normally this story would have ended at this point. But not in this case in 1985, because what follows is unique in Swiss football at the moment. Favre is filing a lawsuit in court for aggravated and intentional bodily harm. “Favre wants to put Chapuisat in jail,” Blick headlined at the time.

And so, almost two years later, this story continues. Bruno Galler, his linesman at the time, Favre’s doctor, a TV cameraman and even four spectators who saw the violation at the time are called to court as witnesses.

In court, Favre says, “He deliberately butchered me.” Chapuisat replies, “I didn’t see Favre in that scene. Referee Galler, one of the best in the country, didn’t even see the foul. It was a normal right-foot strike, slippery ground.” Favre’s lawyer takes the floor, quoting from a Geneva airport weather report: “On September 13, 1985, the slopes were dry.” Witness Galler then explains: “In the evening the terrain was wet and slippery.” The court sits for more than six hours. In the end, the public prosecutor demanded two months in prison.

The day after. The verdict will be announced at 2.10 p.m. The court cannot prove Chapuisat’s evil intentions. It convicted him of “plain bodily harm caused by negligence”. Chapuisat therefore only has to pay a fine of 5,000 francs and bear the court costs.

Reactions to the verdict varied. Favre: “Chapuisat got a deserved memory.” Chapuisat: “Favre died for me.”

Chapuisat admits mistakes

Today, 75-year-old Chapuisat seems almost mild in age when asked about his 1985 offense. “Mon dieu, journalists have been calling me over and over for 38 years and want to talk to me about it. Does that never end?” he explains on the phone, “if I don’t like your questions, I won’t answer you.”

Then he will talk. “It was an accident, I didn’t want to hurt him, it wasn’t on purpose. In my defense I want to say that everything happened very quickly on the pitch then. But yes, I made a mistake.”