Forty-four years ago, Mt Smart Stadium hosted one of the most controversial and dramatic football matches in New Zealand’s sporting history. On October 10, 1981, the All Whites faced Kuwait in a Fifa World Cup qualifier, a clash that would become legendary for its high stakes, wild officiating, and theraw emotion it unleashed in the crowd ...
This week’s episode of Kärcher’s “Blast from the Past” podcast, featuring ACC Head G Lane, Jason Pine, and Dylan Cleaver, dives deep into the chaos and legacy of that day. The panel revisits the powderkeg atmosphere of 1981, a year already marked by civil unrest, and how those tensions spilled on to the pitch. With 21,000 fans packed into Mt Smart, the All Whites took an early lead thanks to Steve Wooddin’s clinical finish, only for the match to unravel under the whistle of Indonesian referee Hardjowasito Sudarso.
Sudarso’s decisions, 33 free kicks and two penalties awarded to Kuwait, compared to just 10 for New Zealand, sparked outrage. The crowd’s fury peaked when a local schoolboy hurled a can at the referee, halting the game and drawing police on to the field. The drama didn’t end there: Kuwait’s last-minute goal sealed a 2-1 win, leaving the All Whites and their supporters stunned.
But this wasn’t just a story of heartbreak. The episode explores how the All Whites rallied, embarking on a wild qualification campaign that would eventually take them to Spain for the 1982 World Cup. From improbable victories to unforgettable personalities, “Paying the Penalties” is a tale of adversity, passion, and the moment football truly arrived in New Zealand.
Want the full story, the inside jokes, and the untold details? Listen to the podcast episode embedded below and relive the madness of Mt Smart, 1981.
Blast From The Past is brought to you by the legends at Kärcher!
