Said Belqola

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Said Belqola ( Arabic سعيد بلقولة, DMG Saʿīd Balqūla ; * August 30, 1956 in Tiflet ; † June 15, 2002 ) was a soccer referee from Morocco , who led the final of the 1998 World Cup between Brazil and France , making him the first African referee in this role. He was also the first referee to show a player ( Marcel Desailly ) a yellow-red card in the World Cup final .

Live and act

Belqola's international career began when he was listed on the FIFA list by his association in 1993. He was among the referees of the Africa Cups in 1996 and 1998 and headed two games at both tournaments. In 1997 he directed the game between France and England at the Tournoi de France . At the 1998 World Cup he also directed two group matches ( Germany - USA and Argentina - Croatia ).

Belqola was born in Tiflet , Morocco and worked in Fez as a customs officer. He handed over the 1998 World Cup final ball to the French Football Association for a fee that he donated to local charities in Tiflet.

Belqola died of cancer on June 15, 2002 after a long battle. He was buried in Tiflet.

proof

  1. Weltfussball.de accessed on June 15, 2010
  2. BBC Sport. Retrieved January 30, 2010