Ray Tinkler

Raymond Tinkler (born 1935), who comes from Boston, Lincolnshire, is an English former football referee, most notable for making a controversial decision in the 1970-71 season.

Leeds controversy

During a game between Leeds United and West Bromwich Albion at Elland Road on April 17, 1971, with the score already at 1-0 to West Brom, Tinkler allowed play to continue when a linesman flagged for offside. Albion player Tony Brown had intercepted a ball and carried on running. However, Colin Suggett appeared to be in an offside position and the Leeds players stopped when they saw the flag was raised. This resulted in West Bromwich's Jeff Astle scoring a goal to make it 2-0.

Although the offside law has changed over the years, Tinkler's decision to overrule the linseman was apparently not correct as at the time. Unlike today's rulings on players being "active" or "interfering with play", this interpretation was not part of the laws of the game at the time. Even though the ball was never actually played to Suggett he was offside.

Tinkler's decision caused outrage at the time; he was surrounded by Leeds players, several Leeds fans invaded the pitch having to be escorted off by police, and even Leeds manager Don Revie approached the linesman to plead with him to discuss it with Tinkler. Leeds pulled a goal back but lost the game 1-2. Despite winning their final three matches of the season they missed out on the title to Arsenal by one point with Tinkler's decision perceived to be critical.

Later career

Tinkler's 15 year refereeing career ended with his retirement in 1976 and he would later become Chairman of the Football Association Referees’ Committee and The Referees' Association.

In 2005, Tinkler became chairman of Lincolnshire FA. He retired from this role in the summer of 2010.