English referee Jack Taylor, who
awarded the first penalty in a World Cup final in 1974, has died
aged 82, the Premier League said on Friday.
Taylor officiated in more than 1,000 league matches and over
100 internationals in a career spanning more than 30 years, but
earned a lasting place in the history books following the 1974
FIFA World Cup final between West Germany and the Netherlands in
Munich.
After only a minute of the game, and before a German player
touched the ball, he awarded the Dutch a penalty after ruling
that Uli Hoeness fouled Johan Cruyff. Johan Neeskens scored from
the spot to give the Dutch the lead.
He awarded a second penalty 25 minutes later, this time to
the Germans who equalised and went on to win the game 2-1.
Among the other major matches he refereed was the 1966 FA
Cup final between Everton and Sheffield Wednesday and the 1971
European Cup final between Ajax Amsterdam and Panathinakos, both
at Wembley.
He was inducted into FIFA's Hall of Fame in 1999.
Premier League chief executive Richard Scudamore said he was
extremely sad to hear of Taylor's death.
"Jack was one of English football's finest ambassadors who
reached the pinnacle of refereeing and, until his very last
days, continued to help the development of young referees," he
said.
"From our first meeting he remained a constant source of
encouragement and I will miss him. The game has lost a great
servant and a true friend."
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