Football has always been close to the heart of many. The passion it evokes from fans can be compared to only a limited number of other sports and human activities. There is a very sad story that happened just before the World Cup of 1970.

During the qualifiers a year earlier, El Salvador and Honduras were to play in qualifiers despite the disputed border and underground envy of one another. In modern climes, it can be likened to Palestine and Israel playing World Cup qualifiers in Jerusalem.

The night before the first leg clash, the El Salvador team’s hotel was invaded, with bricks thrown through the windows by Honduran fans. Roberto Cardona scored the only goal as the host team won. There was a football-crazed young girl Amelia Bolanios who was heartbroken with the treatment meted out to the Salvador team and how they lost, almost ruining any chance of playing in Mexico 1970. She took her father’s guy and committed suicide.

Newspapers carried the story on their front page, blaming the national team for the death of the young girl due to their loss to their much hated neighbours. There was a national mourning for the dead teenage girl, with the national team walking the coffin of the dead through the streets.

During the second leg at Salvador, her picture was everywhere. Fans returned the favour when the Honduran team was hosted in San Salvador. The army had to protect the team ahead of the game. The Honduran flag was burned in the stadium as El Salvador won the game 3-0.
Honduran fans were slaughtered and many more that night. A lot of properties were lost but that was only the beginning. After complaints of the conditions of the return leg, the game was rescheduled to Mexico. El Salvador won the rescheduled match 3-2 and qualified for the World Cup.
The tension that had been building since the death of Bolanios tipped over into 100 hours of soccer induced war. Six thousand were confirmed dead, and double the figure was injured. Honduras made international appeals and finally a peace treaty was made but it was until 1980 before it was eventually signed. Till date El Salvador honours Amelia Bolanios.