The “soccer” war – the 100 hours war: fortieth anniversary

The so-called “soccer war” between El Salvador and Honduras began forty years ago today.

Honduras was in a critical economic situation with lots of unrest, especially among trade unions and teachers. The government and some private groups began to blame the 300,000 plus undocumented Salvadorans living in Honduras. Salvadorans were forced off their land since the land available for land reform was only for Hondurans. This was, in part, a ploy of large land owners to maintain control of their large plantations

Tensions were high during two football (soccer) games between the two countries as part of the World Cup elimination matches and violence erupted at the second game in El Salvador. The press helped to stir up emotions in Honduras against Salvadorans. As a consequence Salvadorans were attacked within Honduras.

On July 14, 1969, the Salvadoran air force began bombing Honduras. By the evening of the next day Salvadoran troops had advanced to Nuevo Ocotopeque. The Organization of American States called for an immediate ceasefire; Salvadoran troops were to leave Honduras. The ceasefire was agreed to on July 18, though Salvadoran troops didn’t leave Honduran territory until the beginning of August.

Who won? I heave heard both sides claim victory, but – as is common – the poor lost. Between 60,000 and 130,000 Salvadorans fled or were expelled from Honduras. About 2000, mostly Honduran civilians were killed and thousands more left homeless. Another source says there were 4000 casualties.

Again the poor suffered; again the powers that be manipulated the press; again the system that kept the poor down was maintained.

There is a book that I should have read a while ago, Thomas Anderson’s The War of the Dispossessed. It’s now on my reading list.


For this little note, I referred to http://www.onwar.com/aced/data/sierra/soccer1969.htm and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Football_War - maybe not the best sources, but what I had on hand.