Gottfried Dienst

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Gottfried Dienst (9 September 1919 – 1 June 1998) was a Swiss football referee who was born in Basle.

He is most known for being the referee in the 1966 FIFA World Cup Final, in which he awarded a controversial goal to the home team England after consulting his Azerbijani linesman Tofik Bakhramov. In addition, he awarded a goal to England in the final seconds when spectators had entered the field.

At the time he was considered the best referee in the world (Dienst is one of only four men to have twice refereed a European Champions' Cup Final which he did in 1961 and 1965), he also refereed the 1968 European Football Championship final. In that game, a 1-1 draw between Italy and Yugoslavia which was played in Rome, Dienst came to be accused of favouring the home team. The final was replayed later (the Italians winning 2-0); a game refereed by the Spaniard José Maria Ortiz de Mendibil.

Preceded by Latychev Nickolaj (Soviet Union)

FIFA World Cup final match referees 1966

Succeeded by Rudi Glöckner (East Germany)

Preceded by Arthur Holland (England)

UEFA European Championship final match referees 1968

Succeeded by Ferdinand Marschall (Austria)