Football War, also called the 100 Hours War since that was how long it lasted, was a video by Oversimplified a Centroamerican War, fought between Hondurasball and
El Salvadorball. The reason why the war has it's name is because the war started during a football (soccer) game between the two countries.
History[edit]
Buildup[edit]
Although the name implies the war was started due to a football match, the causes of the war go much deeper. The main causes were over land reforms in Hondurasball, and immigration and population problems in
El Salvadorball.
Hondurasball was more than 5 times larger than
El Salvadorball but at the time
Hondurasball had 40% less population. At the beginning of the 21st century, many
El Salvadorballs were illegally immigrating into
Hondurasball. Most of these Salvadorans were farmers, and there was not enough farmland in
El Salvadorball for them to work on. These Salvadorans immigrants made up 20 percent of the population of
Hondurasball. In 1962,
Hondurasball enacted a land reform law that took clay from Salvadoran immigrates and distributed it to native-born Hondurans. The Salvadorans were forced to move back into
El Salvadorball.
El Salvadorball protested them doing this, as
El Salvadorball was getting greatly overpopulated. Tensions were high, but by then the World Cup was starting.
And nothing stops the World Cup...File:FIFAtangle-icon.png
Qualifying Matches[edit]
It's the 1970 World Cup qualifiers and both countries have finished at the top of their qualifying tables. They will play against each other in a series of matches to decide who will play in the World Cup.
First Match (8th June 1969, Played in
Tegucigalpaball,
Hondurasball victory; 1-0)[edit]
The night before the first match, Hondurans gathered outside of the hotel where El Salvadorball's team was sleeping. They made noise and taunted the players, causing them to be exhausted the next day, and allowing
Hondurasball's team to win. After watching the match on TV, 18 year old Salvadoran Amelia Bolaños shot herself in the heart.
El Salvadorball declared her a martyr, her funeral was shown on Salvadorian state TV, and pictures of her were brought to the second match.
Second Match (15th June 1969, Played in
San Salvadorball,
El Salvadorball victory; 0-3)[edit]
As a response to what Hondurans did the night before the first match, Salvadorans did the same to Hondurasball's team on the night of the second match. Instead of a
Hondurasball flag being raised before the match, a dirty rag was raised.
El Salvadorball won a easy victory, and tensions increased even further. Viewers of the match brawled in the stadium, and
Hondurasball's team had to ride in armored trucks while rocks were thrown at them. In response to the loss,
Hondurasball began terrorizing the Salvadorans living on it's clay, forcing them to flee back to
El Salvadorball.
Third Match (27th June 1969, Played in
Mexico Cityball,
El Salvadorball victory; 2-3)[edit]
El Salvadorball won, meaning it would play in the world cup. Hondurans were outraged by this, rioting and increasing the attacks on the Salvadoran immigrants increased. It became too much for
El Salvadorball to bear, and it severed all diplomatic ties with
Hondurasball, declaring war.
The War[edit]
14-15 July 1969[edit]
Military action begins. El Salvadorball began by carrying out air raids in strategic locations within
Hondurasball. One such location was Toncontín International Airport, leaving
Hondurasball unable to react quickly. The Salvadoran Army launched major offensives along the two main roads connecting the two nations and invaded
Hondurasball.
Nicaraguaball aids
Hondurasball with weapons and ammo.
El Salvadorball was rapidly advancing to the capital of
Tegucigalpaball, but by the 15th, the momentum was lost. Also on the 15th,
OASball calls an emergency meeting. It asks for an immediate cease-fire and a withdrawal of
El Salvadorball's forces from
Hondurasball.
El Salvadorball resists for many days, as it wants
Hondurasball to guarantee the safety of its immigrants.
16 July 1969[edit]
Hondurasball, with aid from
Nicaraguaball, is able to carry strikes on the Salvadoran Ilopango airbase, ports, and oil facilities. This crippled the Salvadoran Army's supply line. By evening, pillars of smoke rose from
El Salvadorball's coastline.
17-18 July 1969[edit]
Conflict in the air occurs. On the night of the 18th, OASball calls for a ceasefire, which took full effect on 20 July 1969.
Aftermath[edit]
El Salvadorball keeps its troops in
Hondurasball until 2 August 1969, when
OASball threatens economic sanctions.
Hondurasball promised it would take good care of the Salvadorans living on its clay, but rejected paying them any reparations.
El Salvadorball lost every match it played in the World Cup. There was not enough clay for the returning Salvadoran immigrates, a crisis that eventually led to a civil war. The war left behind land disputes of the Gulf of Fonseca, and still creates tensions to this day. There were no winners of the war, and nobody achieved anything.