Bob Davidson (referee)
Encyclopedia
Robert Holley "Bobby" Davidson (19 July 1928 – 17 December 1993) was a Scottish
football
referee who also operated for FIFA
.
, 1970
and 1974
World Cups. He additionally took charge of the match
between England
and the Rest of the World in October 1963 which celebrated the centenary of The Football Association
, and refereed the 1975 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup Final
between Dynamo Kiev
and Ferencváros.
Davidson refereed four matches over his World Cup career; two games in 1962, and a single game in each of the other competitions. In the 1962 tournament in Chile
, he took charge of the Group B match between Italy
and West Germany on 31 May 1962, plus West Germany against Chile
on 6 June 1962, in the same group. He was also one of the linesmen during the Final
between Brazil
and Czechoslovakia
on 17 June 1962 at the Estadio Nacional, Santiago
under referee Nikolay Latyshev
.
The match he handled in 1970 was the group stage tie between Uruguay
and Israel
on 2 June 1970. He was also a linesman for the group match involving the Soviet Union versus Belgium on 6 June 1970, and again for the quarter-final on 14 June 1970, when Uruguay beat the Soviet Union 1–0.
In Germany four years later, he refereed Holland against Argentina
in a second phase group game on 29 June 1974. He was linesman for Poland
against Argentina in a group game on 15 June 1974, and also for Chile versus East Germany
in another group match played on 18 June 1974. In addition, Davidson was a linesman during the second phase group match between Holland and Brazil
on 3 July 1974.
Before the 1974 Final there was much speculation in the Scottish press that he would referee the final, some suggesting this as a sort of 'consolation prize' for Scotland
being eliminated from that year's tournament without losing a game. The final was actually refereed by England
's Jack Taylor
.
Davidson's son is goalkeeper Alan Davidson
of Airdrieonians
and Queen of the South F.C.
Bobby Davidson later became a director and honourary chairman of Airdrieonians and served on the Scottish league management committee. He died on 17 December 1993, at the age of 65.
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
football
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
referee who also operated for FIFA
FIFA
The Fédération Internationale de Football Association , commonly known by the acronym FIFA , is the international governing body of :association football, futsal and beach football. Its headquarters are located in Zurich, Switzerland, and its president is Sepp Blatter, who is in his fourth...
.
Career
He was Scotland's representative at the 19621962 FIFA World Cup
The 1962 FIFA World Cup, the seventh staging of the World Cup, was held in Chile from 30 May to 17 June. It was won by Brazil, who retained the championship by beating Czechoslovakia 3–1 in the final...
, 1970
1970 FIFA World Cup
The 1970 FIFA World Cup, the ninth staging of the World Cup, was held in Mexico, from 31 May to 21 June. The 1970 tournament was the first World Cup hosted in North America, and the first held outside South America and Europe. In a match-up of two-time World Cup champions, the final was won by...
and 1974
1974 FIFA World Cup
The 1974 FIFA World Cup, the tenth staging of the World Cup, was held in West Germany from 13 June to 7 July. The tournament marked the first time that the current trophy, the FIFA World Cup Trophy, created by the Italian sculptor Silvio Gazzaniga, was awarded...
World Cups. He additionally took charge of the match
England v Rest of the World (1963)
England v Rest of the World was a 1963 friendly match. England won 2–1, with a goals from Paine and Greaves. It was the celebration match of 100 years of The Football Association.-Match details:...
between England
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
and the Rest of the World in October 1963 which celebrated the centenary of The Football Association
The Football Association
The Football Association, also known as simply The FA, is the governing body of football in England, and the Crown Dependencies of Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man. It was formed in 1863, and is the oldest national football association...
, and refereed the 1975 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup Final
1975 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup Final
The 1975 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup Final was a football match contested between FC Dynamo Kyiv of the Soviet Union and Ferencvárosi TC of Hungary. It was the final match of the European Cup Winners' Cup 1974–75 and the 15th European Cup Winners' Cup Final. The final was held at St. Jakob Stadium in...
between Dynamo Kiev
FC Dynamo Kyiv
FC Dynamo Kyiv is a professional football club based in the Ukrainian capital city of Kyiv. Founded in 1927, the club currently participates in the Ukrainian Premier League and has spent its entire history in the top league of Soviet and later Ukrainian football...
and Ferencváros.
Davidson refereed four matches over his World Cup career; two games in 1962, and a single game in each of the other competitions. In the 1962 tournament in Chile
Chile
Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
, he took charge of the Group B match between Italy
Italy national football team
The Italy National Football Team , represents Italy in association football and is controlled by the Italian Football Federation , the governing body for football in Italy. Italy is the second most successful national team in the history of the World Cup having won four titles , just one fewer than...
and West Germany on 31 May 1962, plus West Germany against Chile
Chile national football team
The Chilean national football team represents Chile in all major international football competitions. The team is controlled by the Federación de Fútbol de Chile which was established in 1895. They have appeared in eight World Cup tournaments and were hosts of the 1962 FIFA World Cup finishing in...
on 6 June 1962, in the same group. He was also one of the linesmen during the Final
1962 FIFA World Cup Final
The 1962 FIFA World Cup Final was the deciding match of the 1962 FIFA World Cup. It was contested by Czechoslovakia and Brazil. Brazil won the game 3-1 to record their second consecutive World Cup victory....
between Brazil
Brazil national football team
The Brazil national football team represents Brazil in international men's football and is controlled by the Brazilian Football Confederation , the governing body for football in Brazil. They are a member of the International Federation of Association Football since 1923 and also a member of the...
and Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia national football team
The Czechoslovakia national football team was the national association football team of Czechoslovakia from 1922 to 1993. At the dissolution of Czechoslovakia at the end of 1992, the team was participating in UEFA qualifying Group 4 for the 1994 World Cup; it completed this campaign under the name...
on 17 June 1962 at the Estadio Nacional, Santiago
Estadio Nacional de Chile
The Estadio Nacional Julio Martínez Prádanos is the national stadium of Chile, and is located in the Ñuñoa district of Santiago). It is the largest stadium in Chile with an official capacity of 47,000, and is part of a 62 ha sporting complex which also features tennis courts, an aquatics center, a...
under referee Nikolay Latyshev
Nikolay Latyshev
Nikolay Gavrilovich Latyshev was the referee in the 1962 FIFA World Cup Final staged in Santiago between Brazil and Czechoslovakia.He was the first FIFA referee from the Soviet Union , as well as the first Soviet to be appointed to officiate in a World Cup final.Prior to the referee career,...
.
The match he handled in 1970 was the group stage tie between Uruguay
Uruguay national football team
The Uruguayan national football team represents Uruguay in international association football and is controlled by the Uruguayan Football Association, the governing body for football in Uruguay. The current head coach is Óscar Tabárez...
and Israel
Israel national football team
The Israel national football team is the national football team of Israel, controlled by the Israel Football Association .Israel National Football is the direct successor of the Eretz Yisrael National Team during British Mandate...
on 2 June 1970. He was also a linesman for the group match involving the Soviet Union versus Belgium on 6 June 1970, and again for the quarter-final on 14 June 1970, when Uruguay beat the Soviet Union 1–0.
In Germany four years later, he refereed Holland against Argentina
Argentina national football team
The Argentina national football team represents Argentina in association football and is controlled by the Argentine Football Association , the governing body for football in Argentina. Argentina's home stadium is Estadio Monumental Antonio Vespucio Liberti and their head coach is Alejandro...
in a second phase group game on 29 June 1974. He was linesman for Poland
Poland national football team
The Poland national football team represents Poland in association football and is controlled by the Polish Football Association, the governing body for football in Poland...
against Argentina in a group game on 15 June 1974, and also for Chile versus East Germany
East Germany national football team
The East Germany national football team was from 1952 to 1990 the football team of East Germany, playing as one of three post-war German teams, along with Saarland and West Germany....
in another group match played on 18 June 1974. In addition, Davidson was a linesman during the second phase group match between Holland and Brazil
Brazil national football team
The Brazil national football team represents Brazil in international men's football and is controlled by the Brazilian Football Confederation , the governing body for football in Brazil. They are a member of the International Federation of Association Football since 1923 and also a member of the...
on 3 July 1974.
Before the 1974 Final there was much speculation in the Scottish press that he would referee the final, some suggesting this as a sort of 'consolation prize' for Scotland
Scotland national football team
The Scotland national football team represents Scotland in international football and is controlled by the Scottish Football Association. Scotland are the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside England, whom they played in the world's first international football match in 1872...
being eliminated from that year's tournament without losing a game. The final was actually refereed by England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
's Jack Taylor
Jack Taylor (referee)
John Keith "Jack" Taylor is an English former football referee, famous for officiating in the 1974 FIFA World Cup Final where he awarded two penalties during the first 30 minutes.-Refereeing career:...
.
Davidson's son is goalkeeper Alan Davidson
Alan Davidson (Scottish footballer)
Alan Davidson is a former Scottish football goalkeeper. Davidson is the son of former FIFA referee Bob Davidson.-Early years:...
of Airdrieonians
Airdrieonians F.C.
Airdrieonians Football Club, more commonly known as Airdrie, were a Scottish professional football team from the town of Airdrie, in the Monklands area of Lanarkshire....
and Queen of the South F.C.
Queen of the South F.C.
Queen of the South Football Club is a Scottish professional football club founded in 1919 and located in Dumfries. The club currently plays in the Scottish First Division, the second tier of Scottish football. They are officially nicknamed The Doonhamers, but usually referred to as Queens or QoS...
Bobby Davidson later became a director and honourary chairman of Airdrieonians and served on the Scottish league management committee. He died on 17 December 1993, at the age of 65.