Trip down memory lane reveals the ugly rivalry between Hungarian old firm

IMAGINE if Celtic and Rangers were owned by the same man. It could never happen, of course. More than 100 years of partisan rivalry, not to mention UEFA rules, would not allow it.

But in Budapest, somehow, that is exactly the way things stand with the capital’s two main clubs, Ferencvaros and MTK Hungaria, Celtic’s opponents in the third qualifying round of the Champions League. Majority stakes in both are owned by a company called Fotex, which is owned by retail tycoon Gabor Vrszegi. The situation has brought Vrszegi under scrutiny by UEFA and he is promising to sell his stake in one club, probably MTK.

If the scenario is unusual, not to mention irregular, then it is made even more remarkable by the troubled and antagonistic relationship between the two clubs. In terms of international recognition, MTK Hungaria have always been in Ferencvaros’ shadow, but that is not a true reflection of the balance of domestic power.

Between 1914 and 1925, MTK, as they were known then, won a record 10 titles on the trot (the league was suspended for two years during the First World War). For the latter five titles, they were managed by Englishman and former Bolton Wanderer Jimmy Hogan, whose side contained a handful of British players. Flash forward to recent times and, over the past decade, the title tally has been even, with MTK and "Fradi" winning three titles apiece.

The antipathy between the clubs is exacerbated by an undercurrent of anti-semitism that makes the sectarian shadow that darkens the Old Firm rivalry seem moderate. MTK’s origins are rooted in the Budapest Jewish community, one of several sporting associations formed as part of the Maccabi movement. Their Jewish connection has been preserved for most of their history and Vrszegi, one of Hungary’s most successful businessmen, is Jewish.

While Ferencvaros have Jewish roots of their own, which tends to be airbrushed out of the club hagiographies, in modern times they have become a focal point for a particularly virulent far-right following, which likes to indulge in Seig Heil salutes and anti-semitic chants directed at their rivals.

Already majority shareholder in MTK, Vrszegi purchased 80% in Fradi two years ago. It sparked a wave of protests and racist outbursts, not just among many of the team’s fans and the country’s right-wing parties.

Most controversial of all were the comments of Laszlo Bognar, deputy president of the right-wing Hungarian Justice and Life Party: "Those who consider themselves proper, working-class Hungarians oppose the spirit of business conduct practised by upper-class Hungarians with foreign roots. The upper- class supports MTK and Fradi supporters have always felt that they are the oppressed, ordinary children of the nation, while the Jews have secured their place in high society."

Last season’s title race - another head-to-head between the two clubs - turned into one of the most dramatic in Hungary’s history, and ended in a cloud of controversy. With five games to go MTK were eight points off the pace, but a late run, compounded by several Fradi slip-ups, brought them level as the clubs went into the final day on 30 May. Ferencvaros managed only a goalless draw against Debreceni VSC, while MTK beat Uspest 1-0 to clinch the title.

At the final whistle, dozens of angry Ferencvaros fans launched a pitch invasion, leaving large numbers of rival supporters and several Debreceni players injured. Subsequently, there have been mutterings about a Jewish conspiracy - orchestrated by Vrszegi - to deny their club the title. It was the latest show of ugliness that has come to characterise the hardcore support of Fradi.

The upshot earlier this week was that Ferencvaros had six points deducted by the Hungarian FA, who dished out a 150,000 fine and ordered them to play their first three home games of the season behind closed doors as a punishment for their fans’ behaviour. After two rounds of the new season, Ferencvaros have dropped to the bottom of the table, on minus four points.

For MTK, meanwhile, the first few weeks of the new campaign have been much happier, capped by the 3-2 aggregate win against Finnish champions HJK Helsinki, which set up their tie with Celtic, a fixture laden with historical nuance. The two sides last met in the semi-finals of the European Cup Winners Cup in 1964.

After cruising to a 3-0 lead in the first leg at Parkhead, the Bhoys travelled to Hungary with thoughts already turning to the final. They lost the second leg 4-0. Celtic’s centre forward that night, John Hughes, recalls: "We just went out and played our natural attacking game. It didn’t matter where we played - that was just how we went about our business. You might say we were a bit naive, yes."

Naivety is not something that Martin O’Neill would countenance in one of his sides, and few would perceive much cavalier attacking flair in the modern Celtic team.

But that said, Hungarian football is not what it used to be either; in fact, it is fair to say that the Magyars are now the forgotten men of European football. Long gone are the days when Hungary’s Golden Team of the 1950s (the one that thrashed the English 7-1 and 6-3 within a year) were one of the world’s finest, and when Puskas - the Beckham of his day - illuminated the Bernabau with his dazzling skills.

Today, Hungary boasts no star names. The MTK team that Celtic face will rely largely on the playmaking skills and goals of former Hungarian international midfield player Bela Illes - last season’s joint-leading scorer - complemented by current international midfielder Gabor Zavadszky and the unpredictable talents of the seemingly obligatory Brazilian striker, Welton da Silva.

For MTK it will be a trip down memory lane and a reminder of better days - for Celtic the chance to inflict some long overdue revenge.