Ben Haverkort is a Dutch

Netherlands

The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...

 former football player and referee. He played professional football in the Dutch second division before taking up refereeing, officiating in the Dutch first division and international football.

Playing career

After playing youth football for Ajax Haverkort spent time at Eerste Divisie

Eerste Divisie

The Eerste Divisie is the second-highest division of football in the Netherlands. It is linked with the top-level Eredivisie via a promotion/relegation system. It is also known as the Jupiler League due to sponsorship, which is the same name as the top league in Belgium...

 teams Telstar, SC Cambuur and Emmen

FC Emmen

FC Emmen is a Dutch football club based in Emmen, Drenthe, and currently playing in the Eerste Divisie, the second tier of football in the Netherlands.-History:...

.

Refereeing career

After retiring from playing Haverkort took up refereeing in 1995 getting to national league level in 1999. In 2002 Haverkort created controversy in 2003 when he poked his tongue out at Patrick Lodewijks

Patrick Lodewijks

Patrick Lodewijks is a retired Dutch footballer who played as a goalkeeper.He played in 374 Eredivisie games in a 20-year professional career, in representation of three clubs.-Football career:...

 when he objected to one of his decisions.

Haverkort retired from refereeing in 2011 to take up a management role for FC Groningen.