The affect of soccer referees can’t be remoted in each soccer sport; refereeing was created when the directors considered giving the sport some readability and sanity.
Though, since then, some choices in soccer matches have been controversial it’s an empirical incontrovertible fact that the sport of soccer shall be much less loved with out referees.
Soccer, devoid of its greatest referees, loses its aesthetic enchantment and turns into difficult to understand.
The referee performs a vital function in imposing the rules throughout a soccer match, being the only official on the sphere empowered to provoke and stop play and administer penalties.
Referees make determinations relating to all points of the sport, working in collaboration with assistant referees and, at instances, the fourth official to make sure the sleek development of matches.
First printed on Oct 16 2023, up to date Sept 3 2024
Greatest Soccer Referees Of All Time
The function of a referee is each difficult and undervalued, demanding appreciable effort to take care of equity in matches. Sadly, referees usually face abuse from gamers, followers, and media scrutiny as a thankless a part of their job.
All through the years, some referees have achieved iconic standing within the sport.
The checklist under highlights the highest 20 greatest referees in historical past.
1. Pierluigi Collina (191 – Factors)
Collina is undeniably probably the most well-known and greatest soccer referee in historical past.
Along with his distinctive bald head (on account of alopecia) and intense gaze, he’s immediately recognizable. Famend for his aggressive nature, authoritative demeanor, and no-nonsense method, Collina earned respect from followers, gamers, and managers alike.
Beginning his refereeing profession in 1997, Collina shortly established himself as one of many best soccer referees ever.
Notable highlights embody officiating the 1996 Olympic Males’s Last between Argentina and Nigeria and the 1999 UEFA Champions League Last that includes Manchester United and Bayern Munich—an encounter etched in historical past for its dramatic conclusion.
Collina’s accolades embody an unprecedented six consecutive IFFHS ‘World Greatest Referee Of The 12 months’ awards earlier than overseeing his remaining main match at Euro 2004.
Retiring in 2005, he transitioned into an advisory function for the UEFA Referees Committee. Pierluigi Collina stays an everlasting determine, without end etched on the prime of the checklist of the best soccer referees of all time.
2. Markus Merk (184 – Factors)
At simply 25, he grew to become the youngest official ever to guide a Bundesliga match. As one of many most interesting soccer referees, he additionally holds the document for overseeing probably the most German league video games.
Merk’s monitor document boasts prestigious matches, together with the 1997 UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup Last, the 2003 Champions League Last, and the 2004 European Championship Last between Greece and Portugal.
His achievements embody successful FIFA’s ‘Greatest Referee of the 12 months’ thrice and being named ‘DFB German Referee of the 12 months’ a document six instances!
In 2008, after a thirty-year profession, Merk hung up his boots, shifting to punditry for Sky Deutschland and embracing roles as a philanthropist and motivational speaker.
3. Felix Brych (161- Factors)
This 44-year-old German began officiating within the Bundesliga in 2004 and bagged his FIFA badge in 2007.
He will certainly be acknowledged by most Chelsea followers, he was the person within the center throughout Chelsea’s first-leg victory over Barcelona within the 2011/2012 Champions League semi-final.
Exterior soccer, Brych is a professional physician of regulation; having written his doctorate about sport.
4. Kim Milton Nielsen (159- Factors)
Danish former referee Kim Milton Nielsen stood out for his spectacular 6 ft 6 inches peak, making him taller than many soccer gamers. Over his profession, he oversaw 154 worldwide matches and 53 UEFA Champions League video games.
Changing into a FIFA-affiliated referee at simply 28 in 1988, Nielsen continued till he hit the age restrict of 45, retiring on Might 16, 2006.
He officiated two matches within the 1998 FIFA World Cup in France and took cost of the Brazil vs. Turkey semi-final on the 2002 FIFA World Cup in Korea and Japan.
Nielsen dealt with key UEFA matches, together with the 1994 UEFA Cup remaining, the 2004 UEFA Champions League Last, and the 2005 UEFA Champions League quarterfinal. Alongside refereeing, he additionally labored as an IT Supervisor.
5. Howard Webb (156 – Factors)
Howard Webb is commonly hailed as one of many best referees in Premier League and English soccer historical past.
Like anybody in his function, Webb confronted criticism throughout his profession, however he persistently upheld a excessive commonplace till he retired in 2014. Webb joined the Premier League in 2005, overseeing a heated League Cup remaining in 2007.
Coming into the FIFA checklist in 2005, Webb officiated many high-profile matches, together with the 2010 and 2014 World Cups. He was on the helm for each the 2010 Champions League remaining and the 2010 World Cup remaining.
Webb additionally took cost of a number of vital video games in England, such because the FA Cup remaining, the FA Group Protect, and the League Cup remaining.
6. Björn Kuipers (152 – Factors)
Subsequent is Holland’s greatest Referee, Kuipers.
He was awarded his FIFA badge in 2006. Throughout the preliminary phases of his profession, Kuipers officiated in junior-level tournaments just like the UEFA European Below-17 Championship and the UEFA European Below-21 Championship.
Recognized for his energetic model of refereeing, the 46-year-old has finished the enterprise of match officiating extraordinarily effectively for himself; having officiated on the highest stage within the sport.
7. Peter Mikkelsen (142- Factors)
He’s usually thought of the trailblazer of Danish refereeing excellence. Throughout his prime, he served as a FIFA-affiliated referee. Mikkelsen managed two matches in the course of the 1990 FIFA World Cup in Italy when he was simply 30 years outdated.
Later, he officiated in three matches on the 1994 FIFA World Cup within the USA.
Past worldwide soccer, Mikkelsen officiated video games at UEFA European Soccer Championship tournaments in 1992 and 1996.
The Worldwide Federation of Soccer Historical past and Statistics honored Mikkelsen because the World’s Greatest Referee in 1991 and 1993. Following the 1998 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers, he introduced his retirement from energetic refereeing.
He devoted 10 years to the Human Assets division of the Danish firm F-Group. Sadly, after a chronic battle with most cancers, this esteemed referee handed away on January 30, 2019.
8. Cüneyt Çakır (140 – Factors)
Cakir, a seasoned member of the FIFA and UEFA referee rosters, has achieved notable strides within the soccer world.
This Turkish referee, to some extent, performed a task in Nigeria’s lack of ability to advance to the second spherical of the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. This was evident when he kept away from awarding a second penalty to the Tremendous Eagles of their Group B remaining sport in opposition to Argentina. Nonetheless, this incident doesn’t diminish his general competence.
He debuted internationally within the 2008–09 UEFA Cup, overseeing two matches, together with the group stage fixture between FC Twente and FC Schalke 04 in December 2008. Like his fellow referees, he has officiated in among the most important soccer matches.
Considered the most effective soccer referees on the earth, the Turkish official has been overseeing home matches in his homeland since 2001.
He has presided over essential Turkish Tremendous Lig video games and worldwide matches.
Notable highlights embody his standout performances within the UEFA Champions League remaining between Barcelona and Juventus in 2015 and the UEFA Champions League semifinal between Barcelona and Chelsea in 2012.
9. Oscar Ruiz (132- Factors)
Oscar Ruiz is acknowledged as one among Colombia’s greatest referees.
He made his worldwide debut on July 12, 1995, in a match between Paraguay and Venezuela. Moreover, he served because the referee in three consecutive FIFA World Cups, ranging from the 2002 version and concluding with the 2010 match.
Ruiz confronted vital criticism for his determination to ship off Yoann Gourcuff within the remaining group-stage match between France and South Africa.
10. Nicola Rizzoli (121 – Factors)
Rizzoli, the previous Italian soccer referee, officiated in Serie A from 2002 to 2017 and held a FIFA-listed referee standing from 2007 to 2017.
He oversaw the 2014 FIFA World Cup Last between Germany and Argentina on July 13 on the Estádio do Maracanã, in addition to the 2013 Champions League Last between Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich at Wembley Stadium.
Rizzoli obtained the AIC Serie A Referee of the 12 months Award for seven consecutive years, from 2011 to 2017. Soccer 360, on February 18, 2017, acknowledged him as one of many prime 5 referees within the twenty first century.
His awards embody seven Serie A Referee of the 12 months titles (2011-2017) and two IFFHS World’s Greatest Referee awards (2014, 2015).
11. Sándor Puhl (119 – Factors)
Often known as the most effective referees in soccer historical past, he sadly drew vital criticism in Spain for his lapses in the course of the 1994 World Cup quarter-final between Italy and Spain.
In that match, Mauro Tassotti’s elbow struck Luis Enrique within the face inside the penalty field throughout harm time, leading to a damaged nostril for Enrique.
FIFA additionally strongly rebuked him for neglecting to award a penalty or concern a card in that match, subsequently imposing an eight-match suspension on him on the worldwide degree.
He gained prominence because the referee for the 1994 FIFA World Cup remaining between Brazil and Italy. The IFFHS bestowed upon him the title of World’s Greatest Referee for 4 consecutive years, from 1994 to 1997.
12. Pedro Proença
The Portuguese worldwide has earned recognition as the most effective soccer referees in trendy instances and continues to supervise worldwide soccer matches.
He holds the document of being the primary referee to preside over each the UEFA Champions League and UEFA European Championship finals in the identical calendar 12 months, particularly the matches between Chelsea and Bayern Munich within the former, and the European Championship Last the place Spain triumphed over Italy.
Proença joined the ranks of FIFA-affiliated referees in 2003 and achieved Elite standing in UEFA’s classification in 2009.
Acknowledging his excellence, the Portuguese Soccer Federation honored him with the Greatest Referee of The 12 months award in 2007 and 2011.
In 2012, the Worldwide Federation of Soccer Historical past & Statistics (IFFHS) acknowledged him because the World’s Greatest Referee.
Proença has officiated quite a few essential membership matches, together with the finals of the Taça de Portugal, Taça da Liga, and Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira. His officiating prowess was additionally showcased on the worldwide stage, with vital contributions in the course of the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil.
13. Martin Atkinson
He began his refereeing profession at a comparatively early age of 16 years.
He made his first look as an official within the Soccer League as an assistant referee in 1995.
Since he was promoted to the checklist of Choose Group Referees in 2005 he has officiated a lot of notable matches, together with the FA Group Protect and the finals of the FA Trophy, Soccer League Cup, FA Cup, and UEFA Europa League.
14. Frank De Bleeckere
In 1984, Frank De Bleeckere made his debut as a match official.
From 1998 to 2012, he served as an official FIFA referee. Acknowledged as one of many world’s prime referees, Bleeckere obtained a record-tying seven Belgian skilled referee of the 12 months awards.
Throughout the FIFA World Cup Qualifier for 2002, he officiated the match between Cyprus and Eire.
Frank de Bleeckere served because the referee in numerous FIFA competitions, together with the World Cup, Youth Championship, U-17 World Cup, and others.
He holds the document of being the one Belgian referee to officiate in seven World Cup video games.
15. Damir Skomina
Damir Skomina is one other prime referee in Europe; he’s from Slovenia.
He officiated principally as a fourth official however one reality is that he’s the most effective in terms of officiating each in Europe and the World at giant.
He was chosen to officiate within the 2019 UEFA Champions League Last between English golf equipment Tottenham and Liverpool on the Wanda Metropolitano in Madrid on 01 June 2019.
Skomina is the nineteenth Referee to win the IFFHS Award since 1987, Italy’s Prime Referee Pier-Luigi Collina holds the Document with 6 consecutive Awards (1998 to 2003).
16. Antonio Mateu Lahoz
Antonio Mateu Lahoz is a Spanish referee who has refereed La Liga matches since 2008.
He’s additionally a world referee with expertise on the Champions League, 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, and the 2018 FIFA World Cup. He’s identified for his talkative and “quirky” method to refereeing.
And in addition, he has officiated the most-watched soccer sport on the earth (El-Clasico) numerous instances.
READ ALSO: We Bribed Referee And Injected Psychotropic Drug In PSG’s Plastic Bottles
17. Milorad Mažić
A Serbian. He grew to become a FIFA referee in 2009. In addition to working within the Serbian soccer league system, Mažić officiated quite a few matches within the UEFA Champions League (together with the 2018 Last sport) and the Europa League, in addition to the 2016 UEFA Tremendous Cup.
He officiated matches on the 2014 FIFA World Cup, UEFA Euro 2016, and 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup (together with the ultimate match).
His first worldwide look occurred in March 2009 on the European Below-17 Championship {qualifications}, and in addition on the Championship itself, the place he officiated the match between Germany and Italy.
18. Szymon Marciniak
Marciniak, 39, grew to become a FIFA listed referee in 2011.
He refereed on the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, starting with the Group F match between Portugal and Azerbaijan. The Polish soccer referee has a handful of expertise in each on-field officiating and the job on the sidelines.
On 29 March 2018, FIFA introduced that he would officiate some matches on the 2018 FIFA World Cup together with Pawel Sokolnicki and Tomasz Listkiewicz as assistant referees.
He officiated two group-stage matches: Argentina-Iceland and Germany-Sweden.
19. Gianluca Rocchi
This Italian was born in 1973, and on the age of 17, he grew to become a referee in 1990 with Italy’s third-tier soccer league (Serie C). He was promoted to the upper SERIE within the 2003/2004 soccer season in Italy.
In 2010, when the Nationwide Referee Committee for Serie A and Serie B cut up, he was assigned to Serie A’s Committee and has since then been dealing with Italian Serie A matches.
Rocchi’s first made his worldwide debut on 26 Might 2008, in a pleasant match between Holland and Greece Nationwide U19 sides. He’s since then officiated matches on the world degree and different European competitions.
20. Michel Vautrot
Considered the most effective referees from France, he, nonetheless, made a comically curious determination in the course of the 1990 FIFA World Cup.
Within the semifinal between Italy and Argentina, he added 8 minutes of stoppage time, later admitting that he forgot to verify his watch.
His officiating historical past consists of two matches within the 1982 FIFA World Cup and three within the 1990 FIFA World Cup. He presided over the 1983 FIFA Membership World Cup remaining at Tokyo Nationwide Stadium.
Past his worldwide profession, Vautrot refereed matches in three European Championships from 1984 to 1988. He additionally oversaw the 1986 Euro Cup Last between FC Barcelona and FC Steaua Bucharest.
The IFFHS honored him because the World’s Greatest Referee on two consecutive events.
Nonetheless, he confronted enormous criticism after FIFA banned FC Roma for allegedly bribing him with £50,000. This incident occurred earlier than the 1986 European Cup semi-final.
20. Nestor Pitana
Nestor Pitana, an Argentine former soccer referee and actor, stands out as the most effective soccer referees on the earth.
He officiated on the 2014 and 2018 FIFA World Cups, in addition to the 2015 Copa América.
His distinctive season culminated with the honour of being nominated because the World’s Greatest Referee for 2018 by the IFFHS Awards.
FAQs
Who’s one of the best referee in soccer historical past?
Pierluigi Collina.
He’s extensively thought to be one of many best referees within the historical past of soccer. His distinctive officiating expertise had been acknowledged by the Worldwide Federation of Soccer Historical past & Statistics, as he earned the title of The World’s Greatest Referee for a formidable six consecutive years.
How a lot do faculty soccer referees make per sport?
Referees can earn as much as $50 per sport, relying on the staff’s measurement.
Notably, the highest-paid referees within the MLS command $6,354 per sport, whereas their counterparts in Spain obtain $900 per sport. Regardless of various charges, referees in each leagues earn a considerable earnings.
Who’s one of the best soccer referee?
Pierluigi Collina is arguably one of the best referee on the earth. He officiated quite a few high-profile matches.
Which referee provides probably the most playing cards within the Premier League?
Mike Dean (4 playing cards per sport)
Dean holds a notable lead when it comes to playing cards per match, comfortably registering a formidable 4.03 playing cards per sport.
He’s inarguably probably the most iconic official within the league’s 30-year historical past and the one referee to indicate greater than 100 crimson playing cards
Who’s one of the best soccer referee in Europe?
Among the many prime soccer referees in Europe, notable names embody Felix Brych, Mateu Lahoz, and Cüneyt Çakır.
Who’s one of the best referee in the entire world?
Pierluigi Collina
What’s the wage of a Premier League referee?
Reportedly, officers obtain an annual retainer starting from £38,500 ($46,600) to £42,000 ($50,820), contingent on expertise.
This contributes to their complete earnings, which may attain as excessive as £70,000 ($84,700). It’s noteworthy that Championship referees, regardless of a decrease match price within the second tier, obtain the same wage.
Who’s one of the best referee within the Premier League?
The very best referees within the Premier League embody Michael Oliver, Anthony Taylor, Paul Tierney, Simon Hooper, Andy Madley, and Robert Jones.
Why is Pierluigi Collina one of the best referee?
Collina was one of the best referee as a result of he was extremely revered by the gamers, managers, and followers. He had a peaceful authority and a way of honest play beneath nice stress.
Who’s the youngest referee within the Premier League?
Michael Oliver: the youngest-ever Premier League referee
Since then, he has gone on to officiate a complete of 344 matches within the English prime flight.
Who’s one of the best referee in Africa?
The very best African soccer referees are Djamel Haimoudi, Badara Diatta, Noumandiez Doue, Eddy Maillet and Gladys Lengwe
The very best soccer referees on the earth have officiated any high-profile and worldwide matches. They’re revered for facilitating equity amongst all gamers on the pitch
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