A rare white-metal Breitling Foot Ball Chronograph presented to 1954 World Cup Final referee William Ling, the case inscribed W. LING, ENGLAND, WORL

A rare white-metal Breitling Foot Ball Chronograph presented to 1954 World Cup Final referee William Ling, the case inscribed W. LING, ENGLAND, WORLD CUP 1954, inoperable It is believed the stopwatch was presented by F.I.F.A. to English referee William Ling to commemorate the Englishman taking charge of the 1954 World Cup Final. In the match played on 4th July 1954 at the Wankdorf Stadium in Bern, West Germany defeated the pre-match favorites Hungary 3-2   The case is marked and scuffed he watch movements have corroded and the watch is not functioning. It has been looked at by the watchmakers at Breitling in Bern Switzerland, and vendor was informed that it could not be restored  The 1954 World Cup final played between Hungary and West Germany, known as "the Miracle of Bern", is undoubtedly one of the most notable and historically significant football matches of all time. It was full of drama and, even to this day, the controversy persists with accusations of match-fixing, continued claims of multiple errors by officials.  In the middle of the pitch was the English FIFA referee William (Bill) Ling. After he retired in 1955, he and his wife moved to Canada which at that time certainly would not be mistaken as a footballing nation. Settling in a small town in the province of New Brunswick and spending some time at a second property in Nova Scotia meant that global footballing lore, legend, and infamy would be unlikely to ever follow them. So William, his wife, and this watch -- a beautiful piece of one of football's most significant moments -- slipped into obscurity. In fact, it wouldn't be until now, nearly 70 years later, that this item would ever be seen by the public. After William's death in 1984 in New Brunswick, he was survived by his wife, who would live for a couple of decades longer. It was upon her passing that their estate went to the highest bidder at auction in a small town in Nova Scotia. There, a pair of local antique shop owners would be blown away by the items they found amongst the Lings' possessions. The current owner of this watch visited the antique dealers to buy the watch from them.