Football world mourns former referee Sándor Puhl

World-famous referee Sándor Puhl, who officiated in such historic events as the 1994 FIFA World Cup final and the 1997 UEFA Champions League final, has passed away at the age of 65.

The enormously-talented Puhl began his top-flight Hungarian refereeing career in 1984 and became famous throughout football in the 1990s when he was voted the world's best referee four times in a row between 1994 and 1997 by the International Federation of Football Statisticians (IFFHS). The 1994 World Cup final between Brazil and Italy in Los Angeles, USA, took place under Puhl's guidance, as did German club Borussia Dortmund's 1997 Champion League final victory over Juventus of Italy.

Sándor Puhl, Vice-President of MLSZ's Refereeing Committee, was born in Miskolc on July 14, 1955. He passed his refereeing exam at the age of fifteen and gradually moved up the ranks step by step until he officiated for the first time in the Hungarian top flight in the Vasas vs Csepel match at Fay utca in 1984. During a long career, he blew the whistle at 225 NB I matches.

The renowned referee passed his refereeing exam in Mezőkövesd, but his civilian career was completed in Heves county. He recalled these years in an earlier interview: “Since that time working in Eger, unfortunately I've rarely visited the area, but I always come with a huge love for Eger and Heves county in my heart,” Puhl said. "I've visited quite a few places around the world, and I'm still sure Eger is one of the most beautiful cities on earth."

Puhl joined the FIFA international list in 1988 and reached the summit of world football refereeing six years later when he oversaw the Brazil-Italy final with his Paraguayan and Iranian assistants in front of 94,000 spectators at the Rose Bowl Stadium in Pasadena. This was the fifteenth World Cup final in the history of football, Puhl becoming the 10th European, the first Hungarian to do so.

Two years later, he was the main official for the England v Germany European Championship semi-final and the following year, in 1997, he refereed the Borussia Dortmund v Juventus Champions League final (3-1). It was his second European final, having already overseen the 1993 UEFA Cup Final between Borussia Dortmund and Juventus. He retired at the turn of the millennium.

Off the pitch, in civilian life, many people met Sándor Puhl in his capacity as the director of Eger's Domus Department Store for many years. He later became an honorary citizen of the Hungarian towns of Ernőd and Eger.

From 2000 to 2006, he was a vice-president of MLSZ, a member of the FIFA Refereeing Committee and represented football in the Olympic movement as a member of the Hungarian Olympic Committee. From 2000 to 2007, he was chairman of MLSZ's Refereeing Committee. He has also served as an observer of international referees at European Football's governing body, UEFA, and since 2010 he has been the vice-president of MLSZ's Refereeing Committee.

On August 20, 2000, he was awarded the Officer's Order of Merit of the Republic of Hungary for his outstanding work in promoting Hungary internationally, and received a golden whistle from the Minister of the Interior.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino has expressed his condolences:

"I would like to express my sincere condolences for the passing of Sándor Puhl, a former FIFA referee. There is no doubt that Sándor has made a significant contribution to the development of refereeing and the promotion of our sports and values ​​in Hungary, Europe and around the world. His legacy, widely recognised as one of the most outstanding referees of his age, will not be forgotten on and off the pitch. On behalf of the international football community, I would like to express our deepest condolences to the Hungarian Football Federation and to Sándor's family, friends and loved ones. We hope that these memories and our words of support can provide some consolation during this difficult time".

Sándor Puhl was also commemorated by UEFA via former Italian international referee Roberto Rosetti, current chairman of UEFA's Refereeing Committee:

"Sándor Puhl was my idol and a good friend. He was a referee with tremendous talent. I owe a lot to Sándor. His constant advice and encouragement was invaluable in my development. I am deeply saddened by his loss and express my sincere condolences to his family".

Sándor Puhl died on 20th May 2021, aged 65.