You've probably noticed that this match was played in the aftermath of the Hungarian Revolution, in which over 2,500 Hungarians and 700 Soviet troops died after Hungary was invaded by Soviet forces.
It was the semi–final stage of the competition, on 6 December 1956. It probably wasn't as bad as it sounds, or as it might have been in the circumstances. Wikipedia reports that "Hungarian player Ervin Zádor emerged during the last two minutes with blood pouring from above his eye after being punched by Soviet player Valentin Prokopov", but adds, "Reports that the water in the pool turned red were, however, an exaggeration."
You can see pictures of Ervin Zádor, and the damage done by Propokov's fist, here ... and here.
Zádor later admitted that the Hungarians "had decided to try and make the Russians angry to distract them." Kicks and punches were exchanged from the beginning, and one punch thrown by Hungarian captain Dezső Gyarmati was caught on film. There was one minute remaining, and Hungary led 4–0, when a whistle was blown; it was during this interruption that Propokov landed his punch. Zádor (who had scored two of Hungary's four goals) was marking Propokov at the time, so you can draw your own conclusions as to what might have prompted the Soviet player to do what he did.
Anyway ... the sight of blood was the final straw for the spectators, who were already in a frenzy. Police entered the arena to avoid a riot. The match was stopped, and Hungary were declared the winners. They went on to defeat Yugoslavia in the final, to win their country's fourth Olympic gold medal; Zádor was unable to play due to his injury.
The story was told in a documentary film, Freedom's Fury, which was shown at New York's Tribeca Film Festival, in 2006 – the 50th anniversary of the event. It was narrated by the American Olympic swimmer Mark Spitz, who as a teenager had been coached by Ervin Zádor. Quentin Tarantino described it as "the best untold story ever".
A Hungarian version of the story, also released in 2006, was shown at the White House to President George W. Bush and various Hungarian–American dignitaries.
© Haydn Thompson 2020