This white and black short-sleeved No.4 shirt was match worn by Karlheinz Förster for West Germany during the 1982 FIFA World Cup Group 2 fixture against Austria, played on 25 June in Gijón. The match, later known as the “Disgrace of Gijón,” became one of the most controversial in tournament history.
Manufactured by adidas, the size L shirt features a white body with a black V-neck polo collar and the trademark three stripes across the shoulders. The adidas trefoil is positioned on the right chest, opposite the embroidered Deutscher Fußball-Bund (DFB) crest. The reverse displays a large black outlined number 4, applied in heat transfer.
At the final whistle, Förster exchanged the shirt with Austrian striker Hans Krankl, and it originates directly from Krankl’s personal collection. The 1–0 German victory ensured progression for both nations and prompted significant criticism, leading FIFA to introduce simultaneous final group matches from 1986 onwards.
The shirt achieved £6,000 at auction, representing a rare surviving example of a match-worn World Cup shirt linked to a key turning point in football history. With firm provenance, authentic player use and clear historical context, it remains a valuable acquisition for serious collectors of match-worn international shirts and World Cup memorabilia.
This item was sold by Budds, a specialist in sporting memorabilia.
