Gottfried Dienst (9 September 1919 – 1 June 1998) was a Swiss football referee who was born in Basle. He is possibly best known for being the referee in the 1966 FIFA World Cup Final, in which he awarded a controversial goal to England after consulting his Soviet (Azerbaijani) linesman Tofik Bakhramov.
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 Cup final, which he did in 1961 and 1965, and one of only two (the other being the Italian Sergio Gonella) to have refereed both the European Championship final and the World Cup Final. However, his officiating in the 1968 European Championship final was marred by controversy. 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 Nikolaj Latychev |
FIFA World Cup final match referees 1966 Gottfried Dienst |
Succeeded by Rudi Glöckner |
| Preceded by Arthur Holland |
UEFA European Championship final match referees 1968 Gottfried Dienst |
Succeeded by Ferdinand Marschall |
| Preceded by European Cup Final 1960 Jack Mowat |
European Cup Referees Final 1961 Gottfried Dienst |
Succeeded by European Cup Final 1962 Leo Horn |
| Preceded by European Cup Final 1964 Josef Stoll |
European Cup Referees Final 1965 Gottfried Dienst |
Succeeded by European Cup Final 1966 Rudolf Kreitlein |