Clive Thomas
Encyclopedia
Clive Thomas is a Welsh
former football
referee, who operated in the English Football League
and for FIFA
during his career. He came from Treorchy
in the Rhondda Valley
.
and 1978
World Cup
s, and in the 1976 European Championship. During a long and sometimes controversial career as a referee in the old English First Division he was known as "The Book" for his strict interpretation of the laws of the game.
fans when, during a 1975 FA Cup
semi-final against West Ham
, he disallowed a goal from Bryan Hamilton
which seemed legitimate by giving offside despite a better-placed linesman not flagging for it.
At the European Championship of 1976 in Yugoslavia, Thomas was the referee of the semi-final between Czechoslovakia
and Holland. In the extra time of that match, he failed to notice a rough foul by Antonín Panenka
on Johan Cruyff
, after which Zdenek Nehoda
was able to score the decisive goal. The Dutch were furious about this decision, and Willem van Hanegem
, who refused to play on, received a red card. In a 2008 documentary by the Dutch TV program Andere Tijden Sport, Thomas admitted he made a mistake by not noticing the foul.
Thomas drew the ire of Everton
fans when, during a 1977 FA Cup
semi-final against city rivals Liverpool
, he disallowed a late goal, also from Bryan Hamilton, which seemed legitimate and had gone largely uncontested by even the Liverpool supporters, and would have taken Everton to the cup final as 3-2 winners.
He also blew the final whistle seconds before Zico
of Brazil
scored what would have been the winning goal from a corner in a 1978 World Cup match against Sweden
. He was also strongly opposed to extravagant goal celebrations, going so far as to break up celebrations and order players back to their positions for the re-start.
In 2004 he was elected to the largely ceremonial position of High Sheriff of Mid Glamorgan
for 2005. He currently lives in Porthcawl
, Wales
.
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
former 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 operated in the English Football League
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
and 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...
during his career. He came from Treorchy
Treorchy
Treorchy is a village, although it used to be and still has characteristics of a town, in the county borough of Rhondda Cynon Taf, Wales, lying in the Rhondda Fawr valley...
in the Rhondda Valley
Rhondda
Rhondda , or the Rhondda Valley , is a former coal mining valley in Wales, formerly a local government district, consisting of 16 communities built around the River Rhondda. The valley is made up of two valleys, the larger Rhondda Fawr valley and the smaller Rhondda Fach valley...
.
Career
Thomas officiated in both the 19741974 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...
and 1978
1978 FIFA World Cup
The 1978 FIFA World Cup, the 11th staging of the FIFA World Cup, was held in Argentina between 1 June and 25 June. The 1978 World Cup was won by Argentina who beat the Netherlands 3–1 after extra time in the final. This win was the first World Cup title for Argentina, who became the fifth...
World Cup
FIFA World Cup
The FIFA World Cup, often simply the World Cup, is an international association football competition contested by the senior men's national teams of the members of Fédération Internationale de Football Association , the sport's global governing body...
s, and in the 1976 European Championship. During a long and sometimes controversial career as a referee in the old English First Division he was known as "The Book" for his strict interpretation of the laws of the game.
Controversy
Thomas drew the ire of IpswichIpswich Town F.C.
Ipswich Town Football Club are an English professional football team based in Ipswich, Suffolk. As of 2011, they play in the Football League Championship, having last appeared in the Premier League in 2001–02....
fans when, during a 1975 FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
semi-final against West Ham
West Ham United F.C.
West Ham United Football Club is an English professional football club based in Upton Park, Newham, East London. They play in The Football League Championship. The club was founded in 1895 as Thames Ironworks FC and reformed in 1900 as West Ham United. In 1904 the club relocated to their current...
, he disallowed a goal from Bryan Hamilton
Bryan Hamilton
Bryan Hamilton is a Northern Irish former professional football player and manager. He gained 50 caps for Northern Ireland between 1969 and 1980, and later managed the national team for four years. He is currently Technical Director at Antigua Barracuda F.C.-Playing career:Born in Belfast,...
which seemed legitimate by giving offside despite a better-placed linesman not flagging for it.
At the European Championship of 1976 in Yugoslavia, Thomas was the referee of the semi-final between Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia or Czecho-Slovakia was a sovereign state in Central Europe which existed from October 1918, when it declared its independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, until 1992...
and Holland. In the extra time of that match, he failed to notice a rough foul by Antonín Panenka
Antonín Panenka
Antonín Panenka is a Czech former footballer.- Club career :An attacking midfielder known for the quality of his passing and his free kicks, Panenka played for Bohemians Prague for most of his career, joining the club as a youth in 1959. In 1981 Panenka left Bohemians for Austrian club Rapid...
on Johan Cruyff
Johan Cruyff
Hendrik Johannes Cruijff OON , known as Johan Cruyff, is a retired Dutch footballer and is currently the manager of the Catalan national team as well as a member of the AFC Ajax board of directors. He won the Ballon d'Or three times, in 1971, 1973 and 1974, which is a record jointly held with...
, after which Zdenek Nehoda
Zdenek Nehoda
Zdeněk Nehoda is a Czech football forward. He played for Czechoslovakia, for which he played 90 matches and scored 31 goals as a tricky right-winger.He was a participant in the 1982 FIFA World Cup...
was able to score the decisive goal. The Dutch were furious about this decision, and Willem van Hanegem
Willem van Hanegem
Willem "Wim" van Hanegem is a Dutch football player and coach born in Breskens, Zeeland. In a playing career spanning over 20 years he won several domestic honours in the Netherlands, as well as two UEFA trophies, all with Feyenoord. He was also a finalist in the FIFA World Cup 1974...
, who refused to play on, received a red card. In a 2008 documentary by the Dutch TV program Andere Tijden Sport, Thomas admitted he made a mistake by not noticing the foul.
Thomas drew the ire of Everton
Everton F.C.
Everton Football Club are an English professional association football club from the city of Liverpool. The club competes in the Premier League, the highest level of English football...
fans when, during a 1977 FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
semi-final against city rivals Liverpool
Liverpool F.C.
Liverpool Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Liverpool, Merseyside. Liverpool has won eighteen League titles, second most in English football, seven FA Cups and a record seven League Cups...
, he disallowed a late goal, also from Bryan Hamilton, which seemed legitimate and had gone largely uncontested by even the Liverpool supporters, and would have taken Everton to the cup final as 3-2 winners.
He also blew the final whistle seconds before Zico
Zico
Arthur Antunes Coimbra , better known as Zico , is a Brazilian coach and former footballer. He is the current head coach of the Iraq national football team. Often called the "White Pelé", he is commonly considered one of the most skilled finishers and one of the best passers ever and possibly the...
of 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...
scored what would have been the winning goal from a corner in a 1978 World Cup match against Sweden
Sweden national football team
The Swedish national football team represents Sweden in association football and is controlled by the Swedish Football Association, the governing body for Football in Sweden. Sweden's home ground is Råsunda Stadium in Stockholms län and their head coach is Erik Hamrén. Sweden made their first...
. He was also strongly opposed to extravagant goal celebrations, going so far as to break up celebrations and order players back to their positions for the re-start.
Post-career
In 1984 he published his autobiography, By the Book.In 2004 he was elected to the largely ceremonial position of High Sheriff of Mid Glamorgan
High Sheriff of Mid Glamorgan
The office of High Sheriff of Mid Glamorgan was established in 1974 as part of the creation of the county of Mid Glamorgan in Wales following the Local Government Act 1972, and, together with the High Sheriff of West Glamorgan and the High Sheriff of South Glamorgan, effectively replaced the office...
for 2005. He currently lives in Porthcawl
Porthcawl
Porthcawl is a town on the south coast of Wales in the county borough of Bridgend, 25 miles west of the capital city, Cardiff and 19 miles southeast of Swansea...
, Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
.