Jonny Ditlefsen

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Jonny Ditlefsen (born May 19, 1964). is a Norwegian referee from Mo I.L.. Ditlefsen came into the spotlight when, according to popular opinion, he subjectively decided the outcome of the 2003 play-off final for the Norwegian Premier League between Vålerenga I.F. Fotball and Sandefjord Fotball with three highly controversial decisions, all in Sandefjord's disfavour. He annulled two goals and failed to send Vålerenga defender Rajo Piiroja off after tackling as last man. Referee veteran Svein-Inge Thime was one of those criticizing Ditlefsen, stating at least two of these decisions were incorrectly handled. Later, the national team coach Åge Hareide used the match as an example of how small the margins are in football, stating that, "Vålerenga would have been in the first division with a proper referee."