Following a number of

Following a number of unfortunate incidents at the 00 FIFA World Cup in Korea/Japan, expectations on referees for the tournament in Germany are high, and rightly so. We all hope for top performances from the players, so we cannot demand anything less from the referees. Working closely with the referees, FIFA responded by commencing preparations for the 00 World Cup as soon as the 00 finals were over much earlier than ever before. Organisation is the most important thing for the men in the middle. FIFA has staged training courses and put its message across. Referees were able to test their form and the interpretation of the Laws of the Game under competitive conditions in 00 at the Confederations Cup and at the World Youth Championship. I welcome the changes that have been made, i.e. fixed trios, the communication system and the fifth official. Fixed teams of referees provide continuity, while the communication system has a calming effect on the game, as I was able to see for myself at a UEFA Cup match I observed in Strasbourg recently. Whenever a referee runs over to his assistant on the touchline, a delay, and thus a certain tension ensues as everyone waits to see what will happen next. Being in radio contact allows decisions to be made quickly, which settles things down inside the stadium. A good referee must be able to deal with people. He is able to create a positive atmosphere on the pitch. Good or bad conduct by those involved can, metaphorically speaking, make waves to a greater or lesser extent. Players and coaches should refrain from making exaggerated gestures, as otherwise problems will arise. Protect the game FIFA made clear what it expects of coaches and players when it took a hard line against cheats. Those who love our wonderful game agree on what they do not want to see, i.e. diving, timewasting and kicking the ball away. Demanding that an opposition player be shown a yellow card is simply childish. Everyone on the pitch has a role to play. Players are responsible for playing the game, coaches for coaching and referees for ensuring the rules are observed. Each should respect the role of the other and accept that all three tasks can be difficult at times. Referees are, of course, in a twoway competition. In 00, for example, I had at the back of my mind the thought that I would have to depart early were Sweden to have a good run in the tournament. I went to the round of match between my home country and Senegal and became so engrossed in the game that I forgot all about my own ambitions; I was blueandyellow through and through. Any referee who is forced to go home because his country does well leaves the tournament as a winner. The men in the middle need luck at a tournament, too. A referee who makes a bad mistake in a game should subject his performance to thorough analysis after the final whistle and own up to his error. Wrong decisions at a World Cup cause a huge commotion in the media. Ideally the BY ANDERS FRISK* referee should attempt to explain why the mistake came about. This is a challenge, but ought not referees, in particular, be even more honest than others? In situations like these, it also helps to speak to your family and friends. As far as the Laws of the Game are concerned, I am very conservative. I have never spent time considering possible changes to the rules. Football has a tradition we must uphold and the rulebook is perfectly suited for protecting the game as it is. I have already said everything there is to say on my resignation last year. I want to let bygones be bygones. My decision was made under sad and extraordinary circumstances, but I much prefer to look back on all the positive experiences football has given me. And I was absolutely delighted when Joseph S. Blatter presented me with the Presidential Award at the FIFA World Player Gala in Zurich in December 00. It was a great honour for me and a strong signal of the values for which FIFA stands. The evening was a belated highlight of my career. I have a feeling that referees and players have moved closer together recently. I will say it again: we all have a responsibility to nurture the game. The finest game in the world, our game, should fill people with enthusiasm. It can do so only if it has a positive aura. *Anders Frisk,, was one of the world s best referees. The Swede became a FIFA referee at the age of and officiated in a total of international matches, including the EURO 000 final. Frisk announced his resignation in 00 following incidents at two UEFA Champions League matches. Last December, he was presented with the Presidential Award by FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter, an award that honours people and institutions who have made an outstanding contribution to football. PHOTO: IMAGO JUNE/JULY 00

Unprecedented preparations The twentythree referees officiating the matches of the 00 FIFA World Cup Germany come from twentyone countries. For the first time ever, wellrehearsed trios of referees will be in action at each match. At its meeting in Zurich on March 00, the FIFA Referees Committee had the difficult task of whittling down the list of prospective match officials to the final. When making their decision, the committee members evaluated the candidates performances during FIFA competitions, continental championships and in national leagues over the past months. The referees performances at the two FIFA workshops in Frankfurt were likewise taken into account. From to February 00 and again from to March 00, the aspiring candidates were subject to close scrutiny. At the second workshop, the match officials underwent comprehensive medical checks as well as a fitness test. In addition, they all completed a psychological test, and members of the FIFA Referees Committee held interviews with the candidates. Never before have referees been subjected to such intensive, comprehensive and professional preparation for World Cup finals. Lady luck finally smiled on twentythree match officials from six confederations (UEFA:, CONMEBOL:, CONCACAF:, AFC:, CAF:, OFC: ). GREAT EXPECTATIONS During the course of the second workshop in Frankfurt, the referees were also brought up to speed on the interpretations of the Laws of the Game passed by the International Football PHOTOS: ANDREA BOWINKELMANN Association Board (IFAB), the custodians of the Laws, at its recent meeting. The IFAB stressed that at the World Cup, the referees and their assistants will have to follow these directives and clamp down on timewasting, reckless play (including elbows and brutal fouls), shirtpulling and simulation, all with the ultimate objective of protecting the players, and with it, the game in general. The rd team at the World Cup the referees who will be in action in Germany are currently the best match officials in the world, said FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter. That is the way it has to be as they will have a crucial role to play in this tournament, and great demands will be placed upon them. Germany 00 will be the first FIFA World Cup to feature only refereeing trios from the same country, or at least from the same confederation. The FIFA General Secretary Urs Linsi was an interested observer at the World Cup referees medical tests in Frankfurt. Referees Committee noted the benefit of having wellrehearsed teams in terms of the speed and the accuracy of their reactions, and stressed that this could only help to improve the level of the match officials performances. The upcoming World Cup will also be the first with a support and development group composed of five referees and ten assistant referees, who will only see action in Germany in the event of another match official being unable to take part for whatever reason, such as illness or injury. These fifteen match officials will be fully integrated into the team of referees for the World Cup. They will take part in all training sessions and meetings, and as such, they will be ready to spring into action at any time. They will also have the opportunity to gain crucial experience of a FIFA World Cup. awe JUNE/JULY 00

EGY 0.. cm/kg 00 CAIRO Morocco v. Sierra Leone, 0.0.0 Pilot Arabic ABD EL FATAH Essam African zone..0 Ethiopia v. Malawi (0)..0 Kenya v. Guinea ().0.0 Algeria v. Rwanda 0 (00) 0.0.0 Ghana v. Burkina Faso (0).0.0 Nigeria v. Angola (0) 0.0.0 Zambia v. Senegal 0 (00) 0..0 Tunisia v. Morocco () Reading, tennis, football Athens 00 Olympic Games; Seminar for prospective referees for the 00 FIFA World Cup ; Two Egypt cup finals; African Cup of Nations Tunisia 00; FIFA U0 World Cup Netherlands 00 00 African Super Cup final: Enyimba (NGA) v. Hearts of Oak (GHA) PAR..0 cm/kg ASUNCION Uruguay v. Ecuador,.. Electrical engineer Portuguese, English AMARILLA Carlos South American zone 0.0.0 Colombia v. Uruguay 0 (0)..0 Chile v. Argentina 00.0.0 Brazil v. Peru 0 (00) 0.0.0 Argentina v. Colombia 0 (00) 0.0.0 Brazil v. Chile 0 (0) Spending time with family, listening to music, reading, cinema, sports FIFA World Youth Championship Argentina 00; FIFA Confederations Cup France 00; FIFA Confederations Cup Germany 00; Copa America, Peru 00 MEX.0. 0cm/kg TLALNEPANTLA USA v. Greece,.0. Lawyer and economist ARCHUNDIA Benito CONCACAF zone.0.0 Grenada v. Guyana 0 (0).0.0 Cuba v. Costa Rica () 0.0.0 Canada v. Honduras (00) 0..0 Costa Rica v. Guatemala 0 (0)..0 Panama v. El Salvador 0 (0) 0.0.0 Trinidad and Tobago v. USA (0) 0.0.0 Costa Rica v. Guatemala (0) 0.0.0 Trinidad & T. v. Guatemala (0) 0..0 Costa Rica v. USA 0 (0) Playing football, video games, reading Making friends at tournaments Copa Interamericana: Velez Sarsfield (ARG) v. Sport Cartagines (CRC); Copa Interamericana: Vasco da Gama (BRA) v. DC United (USA); 00 CONCACAF Champions Cup: CA Monarcas Morelia (MEX) v. CD Toluca FC (MEX); FIFA Club World Cup Japan 00: Sao Paulo (BRA) v. Liverpool (ENG) ESP 0.0. cm/kg 00 TOMARES (SEVILLE) Turkey v. Georgia, 0.0.0 Referee MEDINA CANTALEJO Luis 0.0.0 Turkey v. Georgia (00).0.0 Romania v. Netherlands 0 (0) 0.0.0 Slovenia v. Norway () 0..0 England v. Austria 0 (0) South America/Oceania playoff..0 Australia v. Uruguay 0 a.e.t (0, 0) PSO Music, literature, sport, nature, travelling Birth of my daughters; Barcelona (ESP) v. Real Madrid (ESP) in 00; UEFA Under Championship 00; WCPreliminary Competition 00, Playoff: Australia v. Uruguay The referees for the 00 World Cup SUI 0.0. 0cm/kg MONTE CARASSO Northern Ireland v. Bulgaria, 0.0.0 Proprietor Italian, French, German, Spanish BEN 0.. cm/kg COTONOU Ghana v. Niger,.0. Maritime inspector Fon French, English CODJIA Coffi African zone..0 Gambia v. Liberia 0 (00) 0.0.0 Liberia v. Mali 0 (00) 0.0.0 Guinea v. Tunisia (0).0.0 Zimbabwe v. Angola 0 (00) 0.0.0 Burkina Faso v. South Africa (0) 0..0 Malawi v. Kenya 0 (0) Cycling, reading, football BUSACCA Massimo Asian zone 0..0 Uzbekistan v. Bahrain ()..0 Iceland v. Sweden (0)..0 Russia v. Estonia 0 (0) 0.0.0 Serbia & Montenegro v. Spain 00 0.0.0 Northern Ireland v. England 0 (00)..0 Norway v. Czech Republic 0 (0) Skiing, holidays 000 UEFA Cup: Liverpool (ENG) v. Slovan Liberec (CZE); 00 UEFA Champions League final: Real Madrid (ESP) v. Bayer Leverkusen (GER) as th Official; Semifinal FIFA Youth World Championship Netherlands 00: Brazil v. Argentina FIFA Confederations Cup Mexico ; 00 FIFA World Cup Korea/Japan ; FIFA Confederations Cup France 00; FIFA World Youth Championship Argentina 00; 000, 00 and 00 African Cup of Nations; FIFA U0 World Cup Netherlands 00 African Cup Winners Cup final: Esperance (TUN) v. Primeiro Agosto (ANG); CAF Cup final: Etoile du Sahel (TUN) v. WAC Casablanca (MOR); 00 African Champions Cup final: Mamelodi Sundowns (RSA) v. Al Ahly (EGY) KEY FIFA country code; Date of birth; Height and weight; Referee since; Place of residence; First international match; Occupation; Mother tongue; Other languages spoken; 00 FIFA World Cup Germany Preliminary Competition; Hobbies; Fondest memory; International club matches (finals only) As at March 00 BEL 0.0. cm/0kg OUDENAARDE Cyprus v. Ireland Republic,.0.0 PR manager Dutch French, English, German ARG 0.. cm/kg PARADA ROBLES Ecuador v. Colombia, 0.. Physical education teacher ELIZONDO Horacio South American zone 0.0.0 Colombia v. Brazil ()..0 Brazil v. Uruguay (0) 0.0.0 Chile v. Brazil (0) 0..0 Colombia v. Paraguay (0) 0.0.0 Paraguay v. Chile (0) 0.0.0 Uruguay v. Colombia (0) 0..0 Venezuela v. Paraguay 0 (00)..0 Chile v. Ecuador 00 Playing golf, writing poems DE BLEECKERE Frank Asian zone 0.0.0 Korea DPR v. Japan 0 (00) 0..0 Slovenia v. Italy 0 (00)..0 Armenia v. Romania (0) 0.0.0 Sweden v. Bulgaria 0 (00) 0..0 Denmark v. Greece 0 (0)..0 Turkey v. Switzerland () Tennis, travelling 00 UEFA Champions League quarterfinal: Liverpool (ENG) v. Juventus (ITA); FIFA U World Cup Peru 00 final: Mexico v. Brazil ITA 0.0. cm/kg 000 ROME Malta v. Canada,..0 Police chief constable Italian DE SANTIS Massimo 0.0.0 BosniaHerzegovina v. Spain (00)..0 Denmark v. Turkey (0).0.0 France v. Switzerland 00 0.0.0 Netherlands v. Romania 0 (0) 0.0.0 Poland v. Austria (0) 0..0 Croatia v. Sweden 0 (00)..0 Spain v. Slovakia (0) Books 00 Olympic Games in Athens Officiating preliminary matches in different confederations (Central America, Asia and Europe) 00 Copa Libertadores final: Olimpia (PAR) v. Sao Caetano (BRA); 00 Supercopa final: Gremio (BRA) v. Flamengo (BRA); Copa Libertadores 00 : Atletico Paranaense (BRA)Sao Paulo FC (BRA) RUS 0.0. cm/0kg MOSCOW Luxemburg v. Poland, 0.0. Teacher Russian IVANOV Valentin..0 Norway v. Slovenia 0 (0).0.0 Israel v. Ireland Republic (0) 0.0.0 Serbia & Monten. v. Belgium 00 0.0.0 Wales v. England 0 (00)..0 Sweden v. Iceland () Music, volleyball UEFA EURO 00 in Portugal; FIFA Confederations Cup France 00 00 Toyota Cup: AC Milan (ITA) v. Boca Juniors (ARG) JPN 0.0. cm/kg EBINA CITY Hong Kong v. Oman, 0.. Referee Japanese KAMIKAWA Toru Asian zone 0.0.0 Iran v. Jordan 0 (00) 0.0.0 Uzbekistan v. Saudi Arabia (00) 0.0.0 Saudi Arabia v. Kuwait 0 (0) Reading, cycling 00 FIFA World Cup Korea/Japan URU 0.0. cm/kg MONTEVIDEO Chile v. Bolivia, 0.0. Clerk LARRIONDA Jorge South American zone 0.0.0 Peru v. Venezuela 00..0 Brazil v. Colombia 00.0.0 Bolivia v. Argentina (00) 0..0 Bolivia v. Brazil (0) Breeding animals (birds, dogs, parrots etc.) FIFA Confederations Cup France 00 semifinal: France v. Turkey 00 Copa Libertadores final: Boca Juniors (ARG) v. Santos (BRA); 00 Toyota Cup final: Once Caldas (COL) v. Porto (POR) SIN.0. cm/kg SINGAPORE Korea Rep. v. Indonesia, 0.. Referees department official Malay MAIDIN Shamsul Asian zone.0.0 Tajikistan v. Bahrain 00 0.0.0 Palestine v. Uzbekistan 0 (0)..0 Iraq v. Uzbekistan () 0.0.0 Korea Republic v. Kuwait 0 (0).0.0 Iran v. Japan ().0.0 Bahrain v. Korea DPR (0) Oceanian zone 0.0.0 Solomon Islands v. Australia (0) Football FIFA World Youth Championship UAE 00; FIFA Confederations Cup Germany 00 MEX.. cm/kg MEXICO, D.F. Paraguay v. Guatemala, 0.0. Physical education teacher Spanish English RODRIGUEZ Marco CONCACAF zone.0.0 Cuba v. Cayman Islands 0 (0) 0.0.0 Guatemala v. Surinam (0).0.0 Costa Rica v. Honduras () 0.0.0 Panama v. USA (00)..0 Guatemala v. Canada 0 (00).0.0 Costa Rica v. Panama (0).0.0 USA v. Trinidad and Tobago 0 (0) 0.0.0 Guatemala v. USA 00 Music, cycling, swimming, reading the Bible Birth of my daughters GER.0. cm/kg OTTERBACH Switzerland v. Bulgaria,.0. Dentist German, French MERK Markus 0.0.0 Netherlands v. Czech Rep. 0 (0) 0.0.0 Israel v. France (00) 0.0.0 Turkey v. Greece 00 0.0.0 Russia v. Portugal 00..0 Ireland Republic v. Switzerland 00..0 Slovakia v. Spain (00) Longdistance running, crosscountry skiing, social work, travelling UEFA EURO 00 final: Greece v. Portugal UEFA Cup Winners Cup final: Barcelona (ESP) v. Paris St. Germain (FRA); 00 UEFA Champions League final: AC Milan (ITA) v. Juventus (ITA) 0 JUNE/JULY 00 JUNE/JULY 00

SVK.0. cm/kg PRESOV Liechtenstein v. Northern Ireland,.. Manager Slovak, Russian ENG.0. cm/kg LONDON Azerbaijan v. Finland, 0.0. Football referee English FRA 0.. cm/kg CHARLIEU Poland v. Armenia,.0.0 Computer scientist French POULAT Eric African zone.0.0 Egypt v. Libya (00)..0 Lithuania v. Spain 00 0.0.0 Russia v. Latvia 0 (00) 0..0 Italy v. Slovenia 0 (00) Stamp collecting 00 Olympic Games in Athens POLL Graham Asian zone..0 Bahrain v. Uzbekistan 00 0.0.0 Latvia v. Portugal 0 (00).0.0 Latvia v. Russia () 0.0.0 Spain v. Serbia & Montenegro (0)..0 Czech Republic v. Norway 0 (0) Reading, keep fit, travelling Wedding day on June MICHEL Lubos 0.0.0 Austria v. England (0) 0.0.0 Ukraine v. Denmark 0 (00) 0.0.0 Scotland v. Italy (0) 0..0 Belgium v. Spain 0 (00)..0 Switzerland v. Turkey 0 (0) History, tennis, reading 00 FIFA World Cup Korea/Japan ; Confederations Cup Germany 00 00 UEFA Cup final: Celtic (SCO) v. Porto (POR) JAM.0. cm/kg KINGSTON USA v. Ireland Rep., 0.0. Businessman English Spanish PRENDERGAST Peter CONCACAF zone.0.0 Surinam v. Aruba () 0.0.0 Costa Rica v. Cuba () 0.0.0 Honduras v. Guatemala (0)..0 Canada v. Costa Rica (0) 0.0.0 Panama v. Guatemala 00 0.0.0 Trinidad & Tobago v. Panama 0 (0) 0..0 Mexico v. Guatemala () Watching football, playing football, watching movies A reception in my honour by my association after my return from the 00 FIFA World Cup COL 0.. cm/kg VILLAVICENCIO (META) Paraguay v. Venezuela,.0. Lawyer Portuguese and English RUIZ Oscar South American zone.0.0 Paraguay v. Uruguay ()..0 Peru v. Brazil (0).0.0 Paraguay v. Brazil 00 0.0.0 Brazil v. Argentina (0)..0 Paraguay v. Peru (0)..0 Ecuador v. Brazil 0 (00).0.0 Chile v. Uruguay (0) Music, reading, watching sport on TV 00 FIFA World Cup Korea/Japan ; 000 Toyota Cup: Real Madrid (ESP) v. Boca Juniors (ARG) 000 Toyota Cup: Real Madrid (ESP) v. Boca Juniors (ARG); Copa Merconorte: Deportivo Cali (COL) v. Atletico Nacional (PAN); 00 Copa Mercosur: Flamengo (BRA) v. San Lorenzo (ARG); Supercopa: Cruzeiro (BRA) v. Velez Sarsfield (ARG); 00 Copa Libertadores: Sao Caetano (BRA) v. Olimpia (PAR); 00 Copa Libertadores: Boca Juniors (ARG) v. Santos (BRA); 00 FIFA World Youth Championship AUS 0.0. cm/kg FORTITUDE VALLEY QLD New Zealand v. Norway,.0. Company director English ITA.0. 0cm/kg 00 TURIN Tunisia v. Cameroon,.0.0 Hospital manager Italian, French 0..0 Czech Republic v. Romania 0 (0).0.0 Georgia v. Greece () 0.0.0 Switzerland v. Israel ()..0 Slovakia v. Russia 00 Tennis, movies, books FIFA World Youth Championship UAE 00; Confederations Cup Germany 00 00 UEFA Intertoto Cup final: Schalke 0 (GER) v. Slovan Liberec (CZE) SHIELD Mark 0..0 Israel v. Switzerland ()..0 Northern Ireland v. Austria () Oceanian zone.0.0 Vanuatu v. Solomon Islands 0 (00) 0.0.0 New Zealand v. Tahiti 0 (0) Asia/CONCACAF playoff..0 Trinidad & Tobago v. Bahrain (00) Squash, fishing 00 FIFA World Cup Korea/Japan BRA 0.0. cm/kg PORTO ALEGRE RS Ecuador v. Peru,.0.00 Journalist Portuguese Spanish and English SIMON Carlos South American zone..0 Colombia v. Argentina (0) 0.0.0 Argentina v. Paraguay 00 0.0.0 Peru v. Argentina (0)..0 Uruguay v. Paraguay 0 (00).0.0 Venezuela v. Colombia 00 0.0.0 Colombia v. Ecuador 0 (0) 0.0.0 Paraguay v. Argentina 0 (0) Reading, sport 00 FIFA World Cup Korea/Japan 00 Toyota Cup: Real Madrid (ESP) v. Olimpia (PAR); 00 Recopa final: Olimpia (PAR) v. San Lorenzo de Almagro (ARG) ROSETTI Roberto Support and development group KSA 0.0.0 cm/kg 00 RIYADH Teacher Arabic English AL GHAMDI Khalil Asian zone 0.0.0 Yemen v. United Arab Emirates () 0.0.0 Japan v. Korea DPR (0) 0.0.0 Iran v. Korea DPR 0 (0) 0.0.0 Slovenia v. Belarus (0) Swimming FIFA U World Championship Finland 00 CHI.. cm/kg 00 CHILLAN Industrialist CHANDIA Carlos South American zone..0 Colombia v. Venezuela 0 (0) 0..0 Venezuela v. Brazil (0) 0.0.0 Peru v. Ecuador () Music, watching TV, reading Birth of my children 00 Copa Libertadores: Once Caldas (COL) v. Boca Juniors (ARG); 00 Copa Sudamericana: Boca Juniors (ARG) v. Bolivar (BOL) RSA 0.0. cm/kg 000 CAPE TOWN Swaziland v. Botswana,.0.00 Teacher English Afrikaans DAMON Jerome African zone..0 Zimbabwe v. Mauritania 0 (0) 0.0.0 Zambia v. Togo 0 (0) 0.0.0 Angola v. Rwanda 0 (00) 0.0.0 Congo v. Senegal 00.0.0 Cote d Ivoire v. Egypt 0 (0) 0..0 Sudan v. Cote d Ivoire (0).0.0 Croatia v. Iceland 0 (0) Watching sports (rugby & cricket), working with young people Nomination as referee for 00 FIFA World Cup Germany ; 00 African Cup of Nations: Tunisia v. Congo DR; Semifinal 00 African Cup of Nations: Côte d IvoireNigeria; birth of my son Asher James MAR 0.. cm/ kg KENITRA Eritrea v. Senegal, 0.0. History and geography teacher Arabic French, English GUEZZAZ Mohamed African zone 0.0.0 Benin v. Sudan () 0.0.0 Cameroon v. Cote d Ivoire 0 (00) 0.0.0 Mali v. Senegal () 0.0.0 Togo v. Zambia ().0.0 South Africa v. Ghana 0 (00) 0.0.0 Congo DR v. Cape Verde Islands () 0..0 Rwanda v. Angola 0 (00) Rowing, travelling, reading 00 FIFA World Cup Korea/Japan ; FIFA Club World Cup Japan 00 00 African Confederation Cup: Hearts of Oak (GHA) v. Asante Kotoko (GHA) USA 0.0. cm/kg RANCHO CUCAMONGA Teacher English STOTT Kevin 00 FIFA World Cup preliminary competition (CONCACAF zone).0.00 Haiti v. Turks and Caicos Islands 0 (0).0.00 Haiti v. Jamaica (0).0.00 Mexico v. Dominica 0 (0) 0.0.00 Guatemala v. Costa Rica (0) 0..00 Honduras v. Canada (00)..00 Mexico v. St. Kitts and Nevis 0 (0).0.00 Guatemala v. Trinidad and Tobago () 0.0.00 Mexico v. Trinidad and Tobago 0 (00) 0.0.00 Panama v. Costa Rica (0) Golf, reading, coaching Friends made on each trip The upcoming World Cup will also be the first with a support and development group composed of five referees and ten assistant referees who will only see action in Germany in the event of another match official being unable to take part for whatever reason, such as injury or illness. JUNE/JULY 00 JUNE/JULY 00

From Langenus to Collina Who took charge of the previous seventeen FIFA World Cup finals? Here is a summary of the men in the middle and the matches that they officiated. BY JOSE LUIS MACIAS MIJANGOS 0 The first referee to be granted the honour of officiating a World Cup final was John Langenus from Belgium. It proved to be a wise choice by the FIFA Competitions Committee. Unmistakeable in his distinctive cap and baggy trousers, Langenus refereed skilfully, completely unfazed by the masses filling the Centenario Stadium in Montevideo to bursting point for Uruguay s victory over Argentina. In, it was the FIFA Technical Committee who chose the referees. For the final between Italy and Czechoslovakia (), the responsibility fell on Ivan Eklind s shoulders. Seen as a whole, the refereeing in this World Cup has been rated the poorest ever, with the Swede s performance in the final fluctuating between good and average. The experience of the two previous tournaments made FIFA wake up to the fact that a Referees Committee was a fundamental necessity, and the first one was formed in the leadup to the World Cup. To ensure fairness in the final between Italy and Hungary (), Frenchman Pierre Georges Pierluigi Collina shows the yellow card to Germany s Miroslav Klose in the 00 final. PHOTO: KEYSTONE JUNE/JULY 00

Capdeville was appointed, earning himself full marks. To this day, Capdeville is the only referee from the host country to have officiated a final. 0 The 0s marked the dawn of the golden era for British referees. As this World Cup was not played in a knockout system, the decisive match between Brazil and Uruguay () was not officially a final. Englishman George Read was entrusted with taking charge in Rio de Janeiro, in what was later to be dubbed The Maracana drama. Reader had already refereed the opening game between Brazil and Mexico. In the final, his performance was simply Match officials in previous World Cup finals 0 Referee: John Langenus (Belgium) Assistants: Henri Christophe (Belgium), Ulises Saucedo (Bolivia) Referee: Ivan Eklind (Sweden) Assistants: Louis Andre Baert (Belgium), Mihaly Ivancsics (Hungary) Referee: Pierre Georges Capdeville (France) Assistants: Gustav Krist (Czechoslovakia), Hans Wuthrich (Switzerland) 0 Referee: George Reader (England) Assistants: Arthur Edward Ellis (England), George M. Mitchell (Scotland) Referee: William H. G. Ling (England) Assistants: Vicenzo Orlandini (Italy), Benjamin Marvyn Griffiths (Wales) Referee: Maurice Alexandre Guigue (France) Assistants: Albert Dusch (Germany), Juan Gardeazabal Garay (Spain) superb, radiating confidence and authority despite being on the wrong side of 0. The final saw West Germany and Hungary face each other for the second time in the tournament () after a previous encounter in Group B which Hungary had sailed through. Oddly enough, the referee in both games was Englishman William H. G. Ling, who replaced his compatriot, Ellis, in the final. Ellis had been pinpointed for the decisive match ever since the quarterfinals but was hastily substituted after a disastrous performance in the game between Hungary and Brazil. Ling Referee: Nikolai Gravrilovicz Latychev (USSR) Assistants: Robert Holley Davidson (Scotland), Leopold Horn (Netherlands) Referee: Gottfried Dienst (Switzerland) Assistants: Karel Galba (Czechoslovakia), Tofik Bakhramov (USSR) 0 Referee: Rudolf Georg Gloeckner (DDR) Assistants: Rudolf Scheurer (Switzerland), Angel Norberto Coerezza (Argentina) Referee: John Keith Taylor (England) Assistants: Ramon I. Barreto Ruiz (Uruguay), Alfonso Gonzalez Archundia (Mexico) Referee: Sergio Gonella (Italy) Assistants: Ramon I. Barreto Ruiz (Uruguay), Erich Linemayr (Austria) John Langenus. Referee: Arnaldo David Cezar Coelho (Brazil) Assistants: Abraham Klein (Israel), Vojtech Christov (Czechoslovakia) Referee: Romualdo Arppi Filho (Brazil) Assistants: Erik Fredriksson (Sweden), Berny Ulloa Morera (Costa Rica) 0 Referee: Edgardo Enrique Codesal Mendez (Mexico) Assistants: Michal Listkiewicz (Poland), Armando Perez Hoyos (Colombia) Referee: Sandor Puhl (Hungary) Assistants: Venancio Zarate Vazquez (Paraguay), Mohammed Fanaei (Iran) Referee: Said Belqola (Morocco) Assistants: Mark Warren (England), Achmat Salie (South Africa) 00 Referee: Pierluigi Collina (Italy) Assistants: Leif Lindberg (Sweden), Phillip Sharp (England) conducted the final efficiently by letting the game flow. It was the turn of Frenchman Maurice Alexandre Guigue to oversee the final between Brazil and Sweden () in. For many onlookers, the choice should have fallen on Germany s Dusch but the Frenchman silenced his critics with an admirable and controlled performance, making a deep impression as a calm and collected master. Refereeing was causing controversy off the pitch after the announcements of the first and second appointments, with the South American referees striving to make their presence felt centre stage. But the situation calmed down after the Referees Committee openly rebuked them. It was a difficult choice for the showdown between Brazil and Czechoslovakia (), but finally the spotlight fell on the Soviet Union s Nikolai Gravrilovicz Latyshev, who truly excelled himself. At the time, Latyshev was also a member of the FIFA Referees Committee. Once again, refereeing was the object of heated debate both on and off the pitch, as the decisions taken in crucial matches had been controversial. Switzerland s Gottfried Dienst was appointed for the final between England final: John Keith Taylor talking to Johan Cruyff. Franz Beckenbauer (right). and West Germany (). His performance is remembered for the controversial goal that turned the course of events when linesman Tofik Bakhramov from the Soviet Union allowed a goal by England s Geoff Hurst. To this day, noone can say conclusively whether the decision was right or wrong and in there was no such thing as replays. 0 Mexico made history in a number of ways. Red and yellow cards hit the headlines, substitutes were allowed and the role of the fourth referee was born. West Germany s Rudolf Georg Glockner was the lucky man taking charge of the final between Brazil and Italy (). Many pundits described it as the best final ever and the referee played no small part in bringing the 0 minutes of entertainment to a successful conclusion. England s John Keith Taylor was selected for the match between West Germany and the Netherlands (). The late Javier Arriaga, a Mexican member of the FIFA Referees Committee, related that an official had told Taylor s roommate, Scotsman Davidson, in a moment of indiscretion that he, Davidson, would be the man of the moment. When Davidson heard the final choice, he stormed out of the competition. Completely unruffled by the incident, Taylor pulled off a supreme performance, which even now is regarded as the ultimate textbook example of World Cup refereeing. Italy s Sergio Gonella was entrusted with the final between Argentina and the Netherlands (). It turned out to be a bad day as violence Gottfried Dienst (left) and Arnaldo David Cezar Coelho were the men in charge of the and finals. PHOTOS: IMAGO ()/AFP/FIFA JUNE/JULY 00 JUNE/JULY 00

escalated and Gonella was unable to impose his authority on the pitch. This glitch did not, however, detract from the overall high standards of refereeing. The final between Italy and West Germany () was overseen by Brazilian Arnaldo David Cezar Coelho, the first noneuropean to be granted the honour. From the word go, the South American was in complete control, always close to the action and quick to lay down the law. His dynamic performance culminated in his picking up the ball just before the final whistle to signal the end of the game. Another Brazilian was chosen to supervise the final between Argentina and West Germany () Romualdo Arppi Filho. He competently managed an exciting game that crowned a long international career stretching back to. 0 Once again Argentina lined up against West Germany but this time the tide turned in favour of the Germans (0). Mexico s Edgardo Enrique Codesal Mendez, son of famous Uruguayan referee Codesal Spano, was the man in the limelight. Perhaps overwhelmed by the awe of the game, Codesal Mendez gave some controversial but courageous decisions, some of which were judged a little harsh at the time. Like his father, Codesal Mendez was a member of the FIFA Referees Committee. Hungarian Sandor Puhl was called upon to control the final between Brazil and Italy, which the South Americans won after a penalty shootout. His performance was rated as masterly, although not perfect. Puhl is currently a member of the FIFA Referees Committee. Morroco s Said Belqola was chosen for the final between France and Brazil (0). Belqola gave a good account of himself, lowkey but invariably in charge and swift to discipline offences. He died just before the 00 World Cup. 00 Italy s famous son, Pierluigi Collina, took charge of the final between Brazil and Germany (0). With his trademark bald head and steely stare, which came in useful when meting out discipline, he gave an exemplary display with natural flair and confidence that imbued the entire action with respect and deference. The great ones make it look simple. : Sandor Puhl and Mexico goalkeeper Jorge Campos. PHOTO: IMAGO JUNE/JULY 00