Stanley Rous
Encyclopedia
Sir Stanley Ford Rous, CBE
(April 25, 1895 – July 18, 1986) was the 6th President of FIFA, serving from 1961 to 1974. He also served as secretary of the Football Association
from 1934 to 1962 and was an international referee.
near Lowestoft
in North Suffolk
and attended Sir John Leman School
in Beccles
. He was the eldest son of a provision master but trained as a teacher in Beccles before serving in World War I
as a non-commissioned officer in the 272nd brigade of the Royal Field Artillery
(East Anglian) in France, Palestine, Egypt, and Lebanon.
After the war Rous attended St Luke's College in Exeter
and then became a sports teacher at Watford Boys Grammar School.
, Antwerp on 13 March in the same year. He eventually officiated in a total of 34 international matches.
He rose to the top tier of the game when he was appointed to referee the 1934 FA Cup Final at Wembley Stadium, where Manchester City
defeated Portsmouth
by 2 goals to 1. The following day, after travelling to Belgium to control an international match, Stanley Rous retired from refereeing.
from 1934 to 1962, and president of FIFA
from 1961 to 1974. During his time as FIFA President, Rous witnessed the crowning of England as Champions of the World in 1966. Rous stood for re-election as president in 1974, but was defeated by the vigorous canvassing of João Havelange
, in the context of discontent of other nations at European domination of FIFA. Upon his retirement as president, on 11 June 1974, he was nominated Honorary President of FIFA.
Rous made a major contribution to the game by rewriting the Laws of the Game in 1938, making them simpler and easier to understand. He was also the first to employ the diagonal system of control
for referees as a standard practice. According to Belgian referee John Langenus
, who had been in charge of the 1930 FIFA World Cup Final
, he had seen referees from his country making a similar attempt at scientific positioning on the field of play.
The short-lived Rous Cup
was named after him, as is the Rous Stand at Watford F.C.
's Vicarage Road
ground. He wrote A History of the Laws of Association Football which was published in 1974.
in 1943 and knighted in 1949. He was a life long friend of the footballer and one of the founding members of FIFA, Dr. Ivo Schricker
(1877-1962).
, London
of leukaemia in 1986, at the age of 91. A service in his memory was held at Westminster Abbey
in the September of the same year.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(April 25, 1895 – July 18, 1986) was the 6th President of FIFA, serving from 1961 to 1974. He also served as secretary 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...
from 1934 to 1962 and was an international referee.
Early Life
Rous was born in MutfordMutford
Mutford is a small village and civil parish located south-west of Lowestoft in the English county of Suffolk. The village is located between Lowestoft and Beccles in a rural area south of the A146 at Barnby. Nearby villages include Gisleham and Henstead...
near Lowestoft
Lowestoft
Lowestoft is a town in the English county of Suffolk. The town is on the North Sea coast and is the most easterly point of the United Kingdom. It is north-east of London, north-east of Ipswich and south-east of Norwich...
in North Suffolk
Suffolk
Suffolk is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in East Anglia, England. It has borders with Norfolk to the north, Cambridgeshire to the west and Essex to the south. The North Sea lies to the east...
and attended Sir John Leman School
Sir John Leman High School
Sir John Leman High School is currently a mixed-sex, 13-18 comprehensive school serving part of the Waveney region in north Suffolk, England. The school is located on the western edge of the town of Beccles and serves the surrounding area, including Worlingham and parts of Lowestoft...
in Beccles
Beccles
Beccles is a market town and civil parish in the Waveney District of the English county of Suffolk. The town is shown on the milestone as from London via the A145 Blythburgh and A12 road, northeast of London as the crow flies, southeast of Norwich, and north northeast of the county town of...
. He was the eldest son of a provision master but trained as a teacher in Beccles before serving in World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
as a non-commissioned officer in the 272nd brigade of the Royal Field Artillery
Royal Field Artillery
The Royal Field Artillery of the British Army provided artillery support for the British Army. It came into being when the Royal Artillery was divided on 1 July 1899, it was reamalgamated back into the Royal Artillery in 1924....
(East Anglian) in France, Palestine, Egypt, and Lebanon.
After the war Rous attended St Luke's College in Exeter
Exeter
Exeter is a historic city in Devon, England. It lies within the ceremonial county of Devon, of which it is the county town as well as the home of Devon County Council. Currently the administrative area has the status of a non-metropolitan district, and is therefore under the administration of the...
and then became a sports teacher at Watford Boys Grammar School.
Referee
Rous played football at amateur level as a goalkeeper and developed an interest in refereeing whilst watching Norwich City. He later qualified as a referee while studying at St Luke’s and became a football league referee in 1927. He officiated in his first international match, a 2-0 friendly win for Belgium against Holland, in the BosuilstadionBosuilstadion
The Bosuilstadion is an association football stadium in the city of Antwerp, Belgium. The stadium was first opened in 1923 and is since then the home of Royal Antwerp FC. It has a capacity of 16,649, of which 800 indoor VIP seats, 13,253 outdoor seats and 2,596 standing places...
, Antwerp on 13 March in the same year. He eventually officiated in a total of 34 international matches.
He rose to the top tier of the game when he was appointed to referee the 1934 FA Cup Final at Wembley Stadium, where Manchester City
Manchester City F.C.
Manchester City Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Manchester. Founded in 1880 as St. Mark's , they became Ardwick Association Football Club in 1887 and Manchester City in 1894...
defeated Portsmouth
Portsmouth F.C.
Portsmouth Football Club is an English football club based in the city of Portsmouth. The club is nicknamed Pompey. Portsmouth's home matches have been played at Fratton Park since the club's formation in 1898. The team currently play in the Football League Championship after being relegated from...
by 2 goals to 1. The following day, after travelling to Belgium to control an international match, Stanley Rous retired from refereeing.
Administrator
He then moved into the sphere of football administration. He served as secretary of the Football AssociationThe 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...
from 1934 to 1962, and president of 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...
from 1961 to 1974. During his time as FIFA President, Rous witnessed the crowning of England as Champions of the World in 1966. Rous stood for re-election as president in 1974, but was defeated by the vigorous canvassing of João Havelange
João Havelange
Jean-Marie Faustin Goedefroid de Havelange , more commonly known as João Havelange , was the 7th President of FIFA, serving from 1974 to 1998. He received the title of Honorary President when leaving office. He succeeded Sir Stanley Rous and was succeeded by Joseph Blatter...
, in the context of discontent of other nations at European domination of FIFA. Upon his retirement as president, on 11 June 1974, he was nominated Honorary President of FIFA.
Rous made a major contribution to the game by rewriting the Laws of the Game in 1938, making them simpler and easier to understand. He was also the first to employ the diagonal system of control
Diagonal system of control
The diagonal system of control is the system of positioning used by match officials in association football...
for referees as a standard practice. According to Belgian referee John Langenus
John Langenus
John L. Langenus was a Belgian football referee, who officiated for FIFA in three World Cup competitions, including the first ever Final match in 1930.-Life and career:...
, who had been in charge of the 1930 FIFA World Cup Final
1930 FIFA World Cup Final
- External links :*...
, he had seen referees from his country making a similar attempt at scientific positioning on the field of play.
The short-lived Rous Cup
Rous Cup
The Rous Cup was a short-lived football competition in the second half of the 1980s, contested between England, Scotland and, in later years, a guest team from South America.-Overview:...
was named after him, as is the Rous Stand at Watford F.C.
Watford F.C.
Watford Football Club is an English professional football club based in Watford, Hertfordshire. It is often referred to as Watford F.C., Watford, or by the team's nickname The Hornets . Watford Rovers, Founded in 1881, entered the FA Cup for the first time in 1886, and the Southern League a decade...
's Vicarage Road
Vicarage Road
Vicarage Road, a stadium in Watford, Hertfordshire, England, is the home of the football club Watford and their tenants, the Saracens rugby union club. An all-seater stadium, its current capacity is 17,477.-History:...
ground. He wrote A History of the Laws of Association Football which was published in 1974.
Personal Life
Stanley Rous was married to Adrienne Gacon in 1924. The couple had no children. He was appointed CBECBE
CBE and C.B.E. are abbreviations for "Commander of the Order of the British Empire", a grade in the Order of the British Empire.Other uses include:* Chemical and Biochemical Engineering...
in 1943 and knighted in 1949. He was a life long friend of the footballer and one of the founding members of FIFA, Dr. Ivo Schricker
Ivo Schricker
Dr. Ivo Wolfgang Eduard Schricker was a German footballer and the 3rd General Secretary of FIFA, serving from 1932 to 1951 upon his resignation....
(1877-1962).
Death
Rous died in PaddingtonPaddington
Paddington is a district within the City of Westminster, in central London, England. Formerly a metropolitan borough, it was integrated with Westminster and Greater London in 1965...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
of leukaemia in 1986, at the age of 91. A service in his memory was held at Westminster Abbey
Westminster Abbey
The Collegiate Church of St Peter at Westminster, popularly known as Westminster Abbey, is a large, mainly Gothic church, in the City of Westminster, London, United Kingdom, located just to the west of the Palace of Westminster. It is the traditional place of coronation and burial site for English,...
in the September of the same year.