The 1983–84 British Home Championship was the 100th anniversary of the
British Home Championship and the final
football tournament between the
Home Nations to be held, with both England and Scotland announcing their withdrawal from future competition, citing waning interest in the games, crowded international fixture lists and a sharp rise in
hooliganism. Although the
football competition was instituted in 1884, it was only the eighty-seventh tournament to be completed due to a five-year hiatus during
World War I, a seven-year gap in
World War II and the cancellation of the
1981 competition following threats of violence during
The Troubles in
Northern Ireland.
The tournament was surprising in its outcome, as the favourites in England and Scotland played each other into a 1–1 draw in the final game, thus allowing Northern Ireland to claim victory on goal difference, with Wales second. This was only the third time in 87 tournaments that (Northern) Ireland were undisputed champions, and the only time goal difference was used to determine a champion. It also marked the first time since 1928 that neither Scotland nor England placed in the top two. The trophy was permanently awarded to the
Irish FA.[1]
Source: [citation needed] Rules for classification: 1) points 2)
goal difference. The points system worked as follows: 2 points for a win and 1 point for a draw. (C) Champions