Jack Taylor (referee)

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John Keith ("Jack") Taylor (born April 21, 1930) was an international football referee born in Wolverhampton, England, who was famous for officiating in the 1974 FIFA World Cup Final when he awarded two penalties during the first 30 minutes.

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[edit] 1974 World Cup Final

Taylor was fortunate to be awarded the final since there had been a nomination for Scotland's Bob Davidson to referee the final. However, at the 11th hour, Taylor's appointment was assured and he went on to create history. Never before had a penalty been awarded in any of the previous 9 FIFA World Cup finals. In that final, Taylor would be assisted by Ramon Barreto of Uruguay and Archundia Gonzalez of Mexico.

[edit] The Penalties

The first he gave after Uli Hoeness threw himself into a challenge just on the right edge of the German area against Johann Cruyff after just over a minute of play. The second given against Holland's Wim Jansen for 'attempting to trip' the German left midfielder Bernd Holzenbein in the 26th minute. Replays of the incident indicated there to be no contact in the challenge. Taylor has said of the match: "I literally did swap my butcher's apron for the whistle to take charge of the World Cup final, but it was the norm. I had a job to pay the mortgage and another life refereeing around the world. It was a schoolboy dream to referee an FA Cup final (which he did in 1966. But the World Cup final, there's only one referee every four years that does that, it was the ultimate."

"The first penalty wasn't difficult to call. All I remember is thinking it was a 100% correct decision. As the ball went on the spot the whole stadium went quiet. Beckenbauer, the German skipper, came to me and said 'Taylor, you're an Englishman'. The kick went in and there was complete euphoria."

"What really does annoy me is the suggestion that I gave [the second penalty] to even things up. It was a trip or an attempted trip and the laws of the game are that's a penalty."

[edit] Life

Taylor grew up above the butcher's shop next to Wolverhampton Wanderers' Molineux ground and playing as a schoolboy for Wolverhampton Town. During 33 years as a referee he was in charge of more than 1,000 games, over 100 international fixtures played in 60 countries; inducted into the FIFA Hall of Fame on February 1, 1999 in Barcelona. Taylor refereed at the 1966 and 1970 FIFA World Cup Final tournaments and the 1971 European Champions' Cup Final at Wembley. After closing his butchers' shop he spent two seasons refereeing in Brazil; became Commercial Director at Wolverhampton Wanderers FC for four years from 1979 and became a coach to referees in South Africa and Saudi Arabia.

Preceded by
Rudi Glockner		 FIFA World Cup final match referees
1974		 Succeeded by
Sergio Gonella

[edit] References

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