Hugh Dallas
Encyclopedia
Hugh Dallas MBE
(born 26 October 1957 in Allanton
, near Shotts
) is a Scottish
former football
referee. He officiated at two FIFA World Cup
tournaments, in 1998
and 2002
; he was appointed fourth official for the 2002 FIFA World Cup Final
. Dallas also officiated at the 1996 Olympic Games
, the 1999 UEFA Cup Final
and several UEFA Champions League
matches.
From June 2009 until November 2010, Dallas was the SFA
's Referee Development Officer.
and Carl Zeiss Jena
. While running the line at the 1993 Toulon Tournament
, Dallas stopped a match between Czechoslovakia
and Portugal
after spotting a serious injury to Czech player Martin Svedik. Dallas was credited with saving the player's life and thanked by Ivan Kopecky
, the coach of the Czech team, for his intervention.
Early in his career, Dallas took the advice of Brian McGinlay
and began to referee international matches in a different way to those in Scotland
. Dallas contends that foreign players dive
more than their Scottish
counterparts and that the diving
of foreign players who enter Scottish football
is reduced by Scottish match officials.
match between Spain
and the Czech Republic
. Early in the second half, Alfonso Pérez
fell over in the Czech penalty area at least two metres away from Czech
goalkeeper Pavel Srníček
, but Dallas awarded a penalty kick
to Spain. In 2003, Dallas rated the mistake as the worst of his career. Dallas admitted to embarrassment and guilt after the match, as the penalty kick proved decisive in giving a 1–0 win to Spain. Their defeat cost the Czech Republic
any chance of qualifying for the 1998 FIFA World Cup
.
The first match at the 1998 FIFA World Cup
for Dallas was a 2–2 draw between Mexico
and Belgium. He sent off Pavel Pardo
and Gert Verheyen during the match, decisions which divided opinion. Martin O'Neill
and Alan Hansen
criticised Dallas, but Trevor Steven
thought he performed well. Dallas was also the referee for the quarter final match between Italy and France. More than a decade later, Dallas admitted to surprise and disappointment at being overlooked for the later stages of the competition.
fixture. Celtic
needed to beat Rangers
in this match to prevent their rivals winning the Scottish Premier League
championship at Celtic Park
. The match was given a Sunday evening kick-off for reasons of live Sky Sports
television coverage.
It began in a frenzied atmosphere, with Dallas penalising two fouls within the first minute. There were several flashpoints both during and after the game. This included an incident in which Dallas was hit on the head by a coin thrown by a Celtic
supporter. The match was stopped for several minutes while Dallas received treatment for a resulting head wound. Dallas sent off three players (two Celtic, one Rangers) and awarded a penalty kick
to Rangers. Over the course of the match at least four Celtic fans invaded the field of play to confront Dallas, while a Celtic fan fell from an upper section of terracing and was taken to hospital. Rangers won the match 3-0 and therefore won the league championship.
Later that evening, a brick was thrown through a window in Dallas' home.
A behavioural psychologist was hired by Celtic to investigate his behaviour during the match. Celtic chief executive Allan MacDonald claimed the report criticised Dallas for making friendly gestures towards Rangers players. However the report largely supported Dallas' performance in the match, and blamed the behaviour of players instead. Since the events of that day, Old Firm league matches have normally been played in the early afternoon and the possibility of an Old Firm title decider has been deliberately avoided.
offered Dallas police protection after he awarded Italy
a controversial late penalty in their 2–1 win over Turkey
at Euro 2000. Turkey
coach Mustafa Denizli
called the decision "unforgivable" while furious Turkish
fans jeered and pelted Dallas with missiles. The Sabah
newspaper termed Dallas "the ref of nightmares" the following day and Clive Thomas
suggested Dallas' performance was marked by a lack of courage and an inability to keep up with play. Dallas' former colleague Brian McGinlay
agreed that the penalty decision was wrong, but nevertheless claimed Dallas was "the best referee in Britain."
After refereeing another group game in which he was criticised, Dallas was reduced to a fourth official role in the semi–final match between France
and Portugal
.
UEFA
's decision to overlook Dallas for the final stages was met with disappointment in the Scottish
newspaper media, since they had hoped that he would be in charge of at least one of the semi-final matches. Dallas in response to this said; ‘I wouldn't say that I was disappointed because I never imagined that the final was a possibility.’ In spite of events at the tournament, Dallas' stated "There have been 28 games so far and very little controversy with regards the decisions that have been made".
During the routine review of matches, which highlights correct decisions as well as errors, Dallas' performance in the early matches was given the equivalent of a gold star by UEFA committee member Ken Ridden. The committee were also impressed by his man management skills.
, in a 1–1 draw at the San Siro
which The New York Times
described as "a game of two dubious penalties." A sequence of controversial decisions saw the crowd pelt Dallas with missiles including coins, fruit, bottles and cigarette lighters as he left the field under police protection.
tournament, Portugal
objected to Dallas' selection for their group-stage game with Poland
, referring to their experience with Dallas during UEFA Euro 2000. Portugal went on to win the match 4-0.
Dallas refereed the quarter–final between the USA
and Germany
. Early in the second half, he declined to award a penalty kick
to the USA after a shot by Gregg Berhalter
was blocked on the goalline by the outstretched arm of defender Torsten Frings
. After what was described as the "refereeing oversight," German goalkeeper Oliver Kahn
admitted "we were lucky." Dallas defended his decision on the grounds that Frings did not intend to handle the ball, commenting "If it's not intentional it's not a foul, no matter where it is." In the same match Dallas cautioned Oliver Neuville
for a foul committed by his teammate Jens Jeremies, having mistaken their identities. Although Dallas attested to the backing of his refereeing inspector over the incidents, FIFA
remarked upon their "concern [at] one or two major mistakes." Pele
described the general standard of refereeing at the tournament as "very, very poor."
Dallas was selected as fourth official for the 2002 FIFA World Cup Final
between Brazil
and Germany. According to Dallas, the Brazilian players insisted he join them following their celebratory team huddle dance around the World Cup
trophy.
Writing in 2010, Graham Poll
paid tribute to Dallas, describing him as "a superb referee who was respected throughout the world of football".
, a year earlier than the mandatory retirement age. He then acted as a referee observer for the Scottish Premier League
and was appointed to the UEFA
Referees' Committee. Dallas was also appointed to a new Referee Certification Panel, one of two panels introduced in connection with UEFA's Referee Convention, while he continued his role as a UEFA referee observer.
Dallas was appointed Head of Referee Development by the Scottish Football Association
in 2009. He was soon involved in a public dispute with Motherwell
manager Jim Gannon
over refereeing decisions. In February 2010, Dallas expressed disappointment at refereeing standards in the SPL
, after several high-profile refereeing errors were made in a short space of time.
In November 2010, assistant referee Steven Craven accused Dallas of exerting pressure on him to support referee Dougie McDonald
, who had lied about a disallowed penalty incident in a match at Tannadice Park
. Dallas himself had publicly repeated McDonald's false version of events but denied allegations of "bullying and harrassment". Dallas was supported personally by the SFA
, though the body promised an overhaul of referee discipline.
Later in November 2010, Dallas faced an inquiry after it emerged that he had allegedly sent what has been described as a sectarian and offensive email referring to the Pope
from his SFA email account. The SFA issued a statement on 10 November stating that an investigation would be carried out. On 24 November, the Roman Catholic Church in Scotland wrote to the SFA demanding that they remove Dallas from his position if the allegation was proved. Dallas was sacked by the SFA on 26 November, after chief executive Stewart Regan
had concluded the investigation into the allegations. Four other SFA employees were also sacked; three of whom were later reinstated. Dallas planned to sue the SFA for unfair dismissal, but the case was settled before it reached court.
After Dallas was sacked there was concern from referees in Scotland that standards of officiating could drop. Fifa listed Scottish referee Craig Thomson
said, "I see him as a world-class individual within Scottish football, There is a lot of work behind the scenes that I'm hoping won't be lost." Referee John McKendrick said, "It's certainly a major blow for Scottish refereeing, At the peak of his game, there are very few figures in Scottish football who have been at the level Hugh Dallas was at."
in 2002. In December 2002, Dallas was awarded an MBE
for his services to football.
As discovered by TV show Fantasy Football League
, Dallas was once a contestant on Family Fortunes
. Dallas has also worked as an after-dinner speaker.
His son Andrew is also a referee.
Dallas replaced Pierluigi Collina
at Soccer Aid
2008, after Collina was injured.
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...
(born 26 October 1957 in Allanton
Allanton, North Lanarkshire
Allanton is a village on the A71, in North Lanarkshire, Scotland, UK.Allanton Colliery was the last colliery to be built and the first colliery to be taken over by the National Coal Board in 1951.Places nearby include Hartwood, Newmains, Shotts and Wishaw....
, near Shotts
Shotts
Shotts is a small rural town in North Lanarkshire, Scotland. It is located almost halfway between Glasgow and Edinburgh . As of the 2001 census, the population was 8,235...
) is a Scottish
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...
former football
Football in Scotland
Association football is the national sport in Scotland and highly popular throughout the country. There is a long tradition of "football" games in Orkney, Lewis and southern Scotland, especially the Scottish Borders, although many of these include carrying the ball and passing by hand, and despite...
referee. He officiated at two FIFA 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...
tournaments, in 1998
1998 FIFA World Cup
The 1998 FIFA World Cup, the 16th FIFA World Cup, was held in France from 10 June to 12 July 1998. France was chosen as host nation by FIFA on 2 July 1992. The tournament was won by France, who beat Brazil 3-0 in the final...
and 2002
2002 FIFA World Cup
The 2002 FIFA World Cup was the 17th staging of the FIFA World Cup, held in South Korea and Japan from 31 May to 30 June. It was also the first World Cup held in Asia, and the last in which the golden goal rule was implemented. Brazil won the tournament for a record fifth time, beating Germany 2–0...
; he was appointed fourth official for the 2002 FIFA World Cup Final
2002 FIFA World Cup Final
The 2002 FIFA World Cup Final the final match of the 2002 FIFA World Cup, played between Germany and Brazil at the International Stadium in Yokohama, Japan. It was the first World Cup meeting between the two sides. Brazil won the match 2–0, winning a record fifth title...
. Dallas also officiated at the 1996 Olympic Games
Football at the 1996 Summer Olympics
The association football competition at the 1996 Summer Olympics was held in Birmingham, Alabama; Washington, D.C; Orlando, Florida; Miami, Florida; and Athens, Georgia....
, the 1999 UEFA Cup Final
1999 UEFA Cup Final
The 1999 UEFA Cup Final a football match that took place at Luzhniki Stadium, Moscow, on 12 May 1999 between Parma A.C. of Italy and Olympique de Marseille of France. Parma won the match 3–0...
and several UEFA Champions League
UEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
matches.
From June 2009 until November 2010, Dallas was the SFA
Scottish Football Association
The Scottish Football Association is the governing body of football in Scotland and has the ultimate responsibility for the control and development of football in Scotland. Members of the SFA include clubs in Scotland, affiliated national associations as well as local associations...
's Referee Development Officer.
Early career
Dallas refereed his first amateur match in 1982 between Motherwell Bridgeworks and Victoria AFC. His first foreign engagement came in 1988 when he was a linesman at a Cup Winners' Cup tie between SampdoriaU.C. Sampdoria
Unione Calcio Sampdoria is an Italian association football club based in Genoa. The club was formed in 1946 from the merger of two existing sports clubs whose roots can be traced back to the 1890s, Sampierdarenese and Andrea Doria...
and Carl Zeiss Jena
FC Carl Zeiss Jena
FC Carl Zeiss Jena is a German association football club based in Jena, Thuringia.-History:The club was founded in May 1903 by workers at the Carl Zeiss AG optics factory as the company-sponsored Fussball-Club der Firma Carl Zeiss. The club underwent name changes in 1911 to Fussball Club Carl Zeiss...
. While running the line at the 1993 Toulon Tournament
Toulon Tournament
The Toulon Tournament is a football tournament which traditionally features invited national teams composed of under-21 players, although the first tournament in 1967 featured club teams...
, Dallas stopped a match between 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...
and Portugal
Portugal national football team
The Portugal national football team represents Portugal in association football and is controlled by the Portuguese Football Federation, the governing body for football in Portugal. Portugal's home ground is Estádio Nacional in Oeiras, and their head coach is Paulo Bento...
after spotting a serious injury to Czech player Martin Svedik. Dallas was credited with saving the player's life and thanked by Ivan Kopecky
Ivan Kopecký
Ivan Kopecký is a Czech football manager and former player.Kopecký coached several Czech football clubs. His biggest success as a coach was with TJ Vítkovice. Kopecký led the club in the 1985/1986 season to the Czechoslovak First League championship...
, the coach of the Czech team, for his intervention.
Early in his career, Dallas took the advice of Brian McGinlay
Brian McGinlay
Brian McGinlay is a retired football referee from Scotland, who officiated in 98 European club competition and international matches....
and began to referee international matches in a different way to those in Scotland
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...
. Dallas contends that foreign players dive
Diving (football)
In association football, diving is an attempt by a player to gain an unfair advantage by diving to the ground and possibly feigning an injury, to appear as if a foul has been committed. Dives are often used to exaggerate the amount of contact present in a challenge...
more than their Scottish
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...
counterparts and that the diving
Diving (football)
In association football, diving is an attempt by a player to gain an unfair advantage by diving to the ground and possibly feigning an injury, to appear as if a foul has been committed. Dives are often used to exaggerate the amount of contact present in a challenge...
of foreign players who enter Scottish football
Football in Scotland
Association football is the national sport in Scotland and highly popular throughout the country. There is a long tradition of "football" games in Orkney, Lewis and southern Scotland, especially the Scottish Borders, although many of these include carrying the ball and passing by hand, and despite...
is reduced by Scottish match officials.
1996 Summer Olympics
Dallas was one of 12 referees selected to officiate at the 1996 summer olympics in the USA. During the tournament Dallas was the referee at three group matches.1998 FIFA World Cup
In June 1997, Dallas refereed an important 1998 FIFA World Cup qualification1998 FIFA World Cup qualification
-Qualified teams:The following 32 teams qualified for the 1998 FIFA World Cup: - qualified automatically as hosts - qualified automatically as defending champions-Notes:...
match between Spain
Spain national football team
The Spain national football team represents Spain in international association football and is controlled by the Royal Spanish Football Federation, the governing body for football in Spain. The current head coach is Vicente del Bosque...
and the Czech Republic
Czech Republic national football team
The Czech Republic national football team represents the Czech Republic in association football and is controlled by the Football Association of the Czech Republic, the governing body for football in the Czech Republic. Their current head coach is Michal Bílek...
. Early in the second half, Alfonso Pérez
Alfonso Pérez
Alfonso Pérez Muñoz , simply Alfonso, is a retired Spanish footballer who played as a striker.Having represented both Real Madrid and FC Barcelona during his career, Alfonso possessed above-average heading ability despite not reaching 180 cms; he appeared in 307 La Liga games for three teams ,...
fell over in the Czech penalty area at least two metres away from Czech
Czech Republic national football team
The Czech Republic national football team represents the Czech Republic in association football and is controlled by the Football Association of the Czech Republic, the governing body for football in the Czech Republic. Their current head coach is Michal Bílek...
goalkeeper Pavel Srníček
Pavel Srnícek
Pavel Srníček is a Czech former football goalkeeper.-Career:Srníček was originally signed by Newcastle in December 1990 on loan from Banik Ostrava by manager Jim Smith, who left within months to be succeeded by Ossie Ardiles - by this time his transfer had been made permanent, and he was soon...
, but Dallas awarded a penalty kick
Penalty kick
A penalty kick is a type of direct free kick in association football, taken from twelve yards out from goal and with only the goalkeeper of the defending team between the penalty taker and the goal.Penalty kicks are performed during normal play...
to Spain. In 2003, Dallas rated the mistake as the worst of his career. Dallas admitted to embarrassment and guilt after the match, as the penalty kick proved decisive in giving a 1–0 win to Spain. Their defeat cost the Czech Republic
Czech Republic national football team
The Czech Republic national football team represents the Czech Republic in association football and is controlled by the Football Association of the Czech Republic, the governing body for football in the Czech Republic. Their current head coach is Michal Bílek...
any chance of qualifying for the 1998 FIFA World Cup
1998 FIFA World Cup
The 1998 FIFA World Cup, the 16th FIFA World Cup, was held in France from 10 June to 12 July 1998. France was chosen as host nation by FIFA on 2 July 1992. The tournament was won by France, who beat Brazil 3-0 in the final...
.
The first match at the 1998 FIFA World Cup
1998 FIFA World Cup
The 1998 FIFA World Cup, the 16th FIFA World Cup, was held in France from 10 June to 12 July 1998. France was chosen as host nation by FIFA on 2 July 1992. The tournament was won by France, who beat Brazil 3-0 in the final...
for Dallas was a 2–2 draw between Mexico
Mexico national football team
The Mexican national football team represents Mexico in association football and is governed by the Mexican Football Federation , the governing body for football in Mexico. Mexico's home stadium is the Estadio Azteca and their head coach is José Manuel de la Torre...
and Belgium. He sent off Pavel Pardo
Pavel Pardo
Pável Pardo Segura , is a Mexican international footballer, who currently plays for the Chicago Fire in Major League Soccer.- Biography :...
and Gert Verheyen during the match, decisions which divided opinion. Martin O'Neill
Martin O'Neill
Martin Hugh Michael O'Neill, OBE, is a Northern Irish football manager and former player.Until resigning the post on 9 August 2010, he was manager of Aston Villa. Starting his career in his native Northern Ireland, O'Neill moved to England where he spent most of his playing career with Nottingham...
and Alan Hansen
Alan Hansen
Alan David Hansen is a Scottish former football player and BBC television football pundit. He played as a central defender for Partick Thistle, Liverpool and Scotland...
criticised Dallas, but Trevor Steven
Trevor Steven
Trevor McGregor Steven is a football talent scout. He was formerly an England footballer who shot to fame with the successful Everton side of the 1980s....
thought he performed well. Dallas was also the referee for the quarter final match between Italy and France. More than a decade later, Dallas admitted to surprise and disappointment at being overlooked for the later stages of the competition.
Celtic v Rangers, May 1999
In May 1999, Dallas presided over an important Old FirmOld Firm
The Old Firm is a common collective name for the association football clubs Celtic and Rangers, both based in Glasgow, Scotland.The origin of the term is unclear. One theory has it that the expression derives from Celtic's first game in 1888, which was played against Rangers. However, author,...
fixture. Celtic
Celtic F.C.
Celtic Football Club is a Scottish football club based in the Parkhead area of Glasgow, which currently plays in the Scottish Premier League. The club was established in 1887, and played its first game in 1888. Celtic have won the Scottish League Championship on 42 occasions, most recently in the...
needed to beat Rangers
Rangers F.C.
Rangers Football Club are an association football club based in Glasgow, Scotland, who play in the Scottish Premier League. The club are nicknamed the Gers, Teddy Bears and the Light Blues, and the fans are known to each other as bluenoses...
in this match to prevent their rivals winning the Scottish Premier League
Scottish Premier League
The Scottish Premier League , also known as the SPL , is a professional league competition for association football clubs in Scotland...
championship at Celtic Park
Celtic Park
Celtic Park is a football stadium in the Parkhead area of Glasgow, which is the home ground of Celtic FC. Celtic Park, an all-seater stadium with a capacity of 60,832, is the largest football stadium in Scotland and the sixth-largest stadium in the United Kingdom, after Murrayfield, Old Trafford,...
. The match was given a Sunday evening kick-off for reasons of live Sky Sports
Sky Sports
Sky Sports is the brand name for a group of sports-oriented television channels operated by the UK and Ireland's main satellite pay-TV company, British Sky Broadcasting. Sky Sports is the dominant subscription television sports brand in the United Kingdom and Ireland...
television coverage.
It began in a frenzied atmosphere, with Dallas penalising two fouls within the first minute. There were several flashpoints both during and after the game. This included an incident in which Dallas was hit on the head by a coin thrown by a Celtic
Celtic F.C.
Celtic Football Club is a Scottish football club based in the Parkhead area of Glasgow, which currently plays in the Scottish Premier League. The club was established in 1887, and played its first game in 1888. Celtic have won the Scottish League Championship on 42 occasions, most recently in the...
supporter. The match was stopped for several minutes while Dallas received treatment for a resulting head wound. Dallas sent off three players (two Celtic, one Rangers) and awarded a penalty kick
Penalty kick
A penalty kick is a type of direct free kick in association football, taken from twelve yards out from goal and with only the goalkeeper of the defending team between the penalty taker and the goal.Penalty kicks are performed during normal play...
to Rangers. Over the course of the match at least four Celtic fans invaded the field of play to confront Dallas, while a Celtic fan fell from an upper section of terracing and was taken to hospital. Rangers won the match 3-0 and therefore won the league championship.
Later that evening, a brick was thrown through a window in Dallas' home.
A behavioural psychologist was hired by Celtic to investigate his behaviour during the match. Celtic chief executive Allan MacDonald claimed the report criticised Dallas for making friendly gestures towards Rangers players. However the report largely supported Dallas' performance in the match, and blamed the behaviour of players instead. Since the events of that day, Old Firm league matches have normally been played in the early afternoon and the possibility of an Old Firm title decider has been deliberately avoided.
UEFA Euro 2000
UEFAUEFA
The Union of European Football Associations , almost always referred to by its acronym UEFA is the administrative and controlling body for European association football, futsal and beach soccer....
offered Dallas police protection after he awarded 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...
a controversial late penalty in their 2–1 win over Turkey
Turkey national football team
The Turkey national football team represents Turkey in association football and is controlled by the Turkish Football Federation, the governing body for football in Turkey. They are affiliated with UEFA...
at Euro 2000. Turkey
Turkey national football team
The Turkey national football team represents Turkey in association football and is controlled by the Turkish Football Federation, the governing body for football in Turkey. They are affiliated with UEFA...
coach Mustafa Denizli
Mustafa Denizli
Mustafa Denizli is a former Turkish football player and coach. He has won the Turkish League title five times, all with the 'Istanbul Big Three' . He is currently the only manager in history to win the Turkish league with three different clubs...
called the decision "unforgivable" while furious Turkish
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
fans jeered and pelted Dallas with missiles. The Sabah
Sabah (newspaper)
Sabah is a popular Turkish daily newspaper, with a circulation of around 330,000 as of 2011. Its name means "morning" in the Turkish language originating from Arabic...
newspaper termed Dallas "the ref of nightmares" the following day and Clive Thomas
Clive Thomas
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.-Career:...
suggested Dallas' performance was marked by a lack of courage and an inability to keep up with play. Dallas' former colleague Brian McGinlay
Brian McGinlay
Brian McGinlay is a retired football referee from Scotland, who officiated in 98 European club competition and international matches....
agreed that the penalty decision was wrong, but nevertheless claimed Dallas was "the best referee in Britain."
After refereeing another group game in which he was criticised, Dallas was reduced to a fourth official role in the semi–final match between France
France national football team
The France national football team represents the nation of France in international football. It is fielded by the French Football Federation , the governing body of football in France, and competes as a member of UEFA, which encompasses the countries of Europe...
and Portugal
Portugal national football team
The Portugal national football team represents Portugal in association football and is controlled by the Portuguese Football Federation, the governing body for football in Portugal. Portugal's home ground is Estádio Nacional in Oeiras, and their head coach is Paulo Bento...
.
UEFA
UEFA
The Union of European Football Associations , almost always referred to by its acronym UEFA is the administrative and controlling body for European association football, futsal and beach soccer....
's decision to overlook Dallas for the final stages was met with disappointment in the Scottish
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...
newspaper media, since they had hoped that he would be in charge of at least one of the semi-final matches. Dallas in response to this said; ‘I wouldn't say that I was disappointed because I never imagined that the final was a possibility.’ In spite of events at the tournament, Dallas' stated "There have been 28 games so far and very little controversy with regards the decisions that have been made".
During the routine review of matches, which highlights correct decisions as well as errors, Dallas' performance in the early matches was given the equivalent of a gold star by UEFA committee member Ken Ridden. The committee were also impressed by his man management skills.
AC Milan v Deportivo de La Coruña March 2001
Dallas presided over AC Milan's exit from the 2000–01 UEFA Champions LeagueUEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
, in a 1–1 draw at the San Siro
San Siro
The Stadio Giuseppe Meazza, originally and commonly referred to as the San Siro because of its location, officially given its current name on 3 March 1980, is a football stadium located in the San Siro district in Milan, Italy. It is the home of both A.C. Milan and F.C. Internazionale Milano...
which The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
described as "a game of two dubious penalties." A sequence of controversial decisions saw the crowd pelt Dallas with missiles including coins, fruit, bottles and cigarette lighters as he left the field under police protection.
2002 FIFA World Cup
During the 2002 FIFA World Cup2002 FIFA World Cup
The 2002 FIFA World Cup was the 17th staging of the FIFA World Cup, held in South Korea and Japan from 31 May to 30 June. It was also the first World Cup held in Asia, and the last in which the golden goal rule was implemented. Brazil won the tournament for a record fifth time, beating Germany 2–0...
tournament, Portugal
Portugal national football team
The Portugal national football team represents Portugal in association football and is controlled by the Portuguese Football Federation, the governing body for football in Portugal. Portugal's home ground is Estádio Nacional in Oeiras, and their head coach is Paulo Bento...
objected to Dallas' selection for their group-stage game with 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...
, referring to their experience with Dallas during UEFA Euro 2000. Portugal went on to win the match 4-0.
Dallas refereed the quarter–final between the USA
United States men's national soccer team
The United States men's national soccer team represents the United States in international association football competitions. It is controlled by the United States Soccer Federation and competes in CONCACAF...
and Germany
Germany national football team
The Germany national football team is the football team that has represented Germany in international competition since 1908. It is governed by the German Football Association , which was founded in 1900....
. Early in the second half, he declined to award a penalty kick
Penalty kick
A penalty kick is a type of direct free kick in association football, taken from twelve yards out from goal and with only the goalkeeper of the defending team between the penalty taker and the goal.Penalty kicks are performed during normal play...
to the USA after a shot by Gregg Berhalter
Gregg Berhalter
Gregg Berhalter is a retired American soccer player who currently is an assistant coach for Los Angeles Galaxy in Major League Soccer.-Youth and College:...
was blocked on the goalline by the outstretched arm of defender Torsten Frings
Torsten Frings
Torsten Frings is a German football midfielder who plays for Toronto FC in Major League Soccer and is known for his vision and an explosive, powerful shot.-Early career:...
. After what was described as the "refereeing oversight," German goalkeeper Oliver Kahn
Oliver Kahn
Oliver Rolf Kahn is a former German football goalkeeper. He started his career in the Karlsruher SC Junior team. He had his debut game in the professional squad in 1987...
admitted "we were lucky." Dallas defended his decision on the grounds that Frings did not intend to handle the ball, commenting "If it's not intentional it's not a foul, no matter where it is." In the same match Dallas cautioned Oliver Neuville
Oliver Neuville
Oliver Patric Neuville is a retired German footballer who played as a striker.During an 18-year professional career, he played mainly for Bayer Leverkusen and Borussia Mönchengladbach , amassing Bundesliga totals of 334 games and 91 goals.Neuville gained almost 70 caps for the German national...
for a foul committed by his teammate Jens Jeremies, having mistaken their identities. Although Dallas attested to the backing of his refereeing inspector over the incidents, 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...
remarked upon their "concern [at] one or two major mistakes." Pele
Pelé
However, Pelé has always maintained that those are mistakes, that he was actually named Edson and that he was born on 23 October 1940.), best known by his nickname Pelé , is a retired Brazilian footballer. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest football players of all time...
described the general standard of refereeing at the tournament as "very, very poor."
Dallas was selected as fourth official for the 2002 FIFA World Cup Final
2002 FIFA World Cup Final
The 2002 FIFA World Cup Final the final match of the 2002 FIFA World Cup, played between Germany and Brazil at the International Stadium in Yokohama, Japan. It was the first World Cup meeting between the two sides. Brazil won the match 2–0, winning a record fifth title...
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 Germany. According to Dallas, the Brazilian players insisted he join them following their celebratory team huddle dance around the 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...
trophy.
Writing in 2010, Graham Poll
Graham Poll
Graham Poll is an English former football referee in the Premier League and is considered the best English referee of the last 25 years in a list maintained by the International Federation of Football History and Statistics...
paid tribute to Dallas, describing him as "a superb referee who was respected throughout the world of football".
Head of Referee Development
Dallas retired as a match referee at the end of the 2004–05 Scottish football season2004-05 in Scottish football
The 2004–05 season was the 108th season of competitive football in Scotland.-2004:*6 July 2004 - Nacho Novo from Dundee to Rangers, £450,000*1 July 2004 - Dado Prso from AS Monaco to Rangers, Bosman...
, a year earlier than the mandatory retirement age. He then acted as a referee observer for the Scottish Premier League
Scottish Premier League
The Scottish Premier League , also known as the SPL , is a professional league competition for association football clubs in Scotland...
and was appointed to the UEFA
UEFA
The Union of European Football Associations , almost always referred to by its acronym UEFA is the administrative and controlling body for European association football, futsal and beach soccer....
Referees' Committee. Dallas was also appointed to a new Referee Certification Panel, one of two panels introduced in connection with UEFA's Referee Convention, while he continued his role as a UEFA referee observer.
Dallas was appointed Head of Referee Development by the Scottish Football Association
Scottish Football Association
The Scottish Football Association is the governing body of football in Scotland and has the ultimate responsibility for the control and development of football in Scotland. Members of the SFA include clubs in Scotland, affiliated national associations as well as local associations...
in 2009. He was soon involved in a public dispute with Motherwell
Motherwell F.C.
Motherwell Football & Athletic Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Motherwell, North Lanarkshire. The club compete in the Scottish Premier League and are one of only seven teams to have remained in this league since it was founded in 1998...
manager Jim Gannon
Jim Gannon
James Paul "Jim" Gannon is a former footballer and football manager, who is now Director of football and manager of Conference National team Stockport County...
over refereeing decisions. In February 2010, Dallas expressed disappointment at refereeing standards in the SPL
Scottish Premier League
The Scottish Premier League , also known as the SPL , is a professional league competition for association football clubs in Scotland...
, after several high-profile refereeing errors were made in a short space of time.
In November 2010, assistant referee Steven Craven accused Dallas of exerting pressure on him to support referee Dougie McDonald
Dougie McDonald
Douglas "Dougie" McDonald was a Scottish football Category I referee from 1997 until his retirement in 2010.McDonald refereed two Scottish Cup Finals, the 2006 match between Hearts and Gretna, and the 2010 match between Dundee United and Ross County...
, who had lied about a disallowed penalty incident in a match at Tannadice Park
Tannadice Park
Tannadice Park, usually referred to as Tannadice, is a football stadium located on Tannadice Street in the Scottish city of Dundee. The stadium is home of Dundee United F.C. and has a capacity of 14,209.-Early days :...
. Dallas himself had publicly repeated McDonald's false version of events but denied allegations of "bullying and harrassment". Dallas was supported personally by the SFA
Scottish Football Association
The Scottish Football Association is the governing body of football in Scotland and has the ultimate responsibility for the control and development of football in Scotland. Members of the SFA include clubs in Scotland, affiliated national associations as well as local associations...
, though the body promised an overhaul of referee discipline.
Later in November 2010, Dallas faced an inquiry after it emerged that he had allegedly sent what has been described as a sectarian and offensive email referring to the Pope
Pope
The Pope is the Bishop of Rome, a position that makes him the leader of the worldwide Catholic Church . In the Catholic Church, the Pope is regarded as the successor of Saint Peter, the Apostle...
from his SFA email account. The SFA issued a statement on 10 November stating that an investigation would be carried out. On 24 November, the Roman Catholic Church in Scotland wrote to the SFA demanding that they remove Dallas from his position if the allegation was proved. Dallas was sacked by the SFA on 26 November, after chief executive Stewart Regan
Stewart Regan
Stewart Regan is the current Chief Executive of the Scottish Football Association. He was appointed to the position on 28 July 2010, replacing Gordon Smith....
had concluded the investigation into the allegations. Four other SFA employees were also sacked; three of whom were later reinstated. Dallas planned to sue the SFA for unfair dismissal, but the case was settled before it reached court.
After Dallas was sacked there was concern from referees in Scotland that standards of officiating could drop. Fifa listed Scottish referee Craig Thomson
Craig Thomson (referee)
Craig Alexander Thomson is a Scottish football referee, who has been a match official since 1988. He originates from Paisley, Renfrewshire.-Career:...
said, "I see him as a world-class individual within Scottish football, There is a lot of work behind the scenes that I'm hoping won't be lost." Referee John McKendrick said, "It's certainly a major blow for Scottish refereeing, At the peak of his game, there are very few figures in Scottish football who have been at the level Hugh Dallas was at."
Outside football
Dallas was the managing director of his own window and construction company, until it went into receivershipReceivership
In law, receivership is the situation in which an institution or enterprise is being held by a receiver, a person "placed in the custodial responsibility for the property of others, including tangible and intangible assets and rights." The receivership remedy is an equitable remedy that emerged in...
in 2002. In December 2002, Dallas was awarded an MBE
MBE
MBE can stand for:* Mail Boxes Etc.* Management by exception* Master of Bioethics* Master of Bioscience Enterprise* Master of Business Engineering* Master of Business Economics* Mean Biased Error...
for his services to football.
As discovered by TV show Fantasy Football League
Fantasy Football League
Fantasy Football League is a British television programme hosted by Frank Skinner and David Baddiel. The Programme began on BBC Radio 5 and was hosted by Dominik Diamond before transferring to BBC 2, with three series being broadcast from January 1994 to May 1996...
, Dallas was once a contestant on Family Fortunes
Family Fortunes
Family Fortunes is a British game show, based on the American game show Family Feud. The programme ran on ITV from 6 January 1980 to 6 December 2002 before being revived by the same channel in 2006 under the title of All Star Family Fortunes...
. Dallas has also worked as an after-dinner speaker.
His son Andrew is also a referee.
Dallas replaced Pierluigi Collina
Pierluigi Collina
Pierluigi Collina is a former Italian football referee. He is still involved in football as non-paid consultant to the Italian Football Referees Association , and is a member of the UEFA Referees Committee...
at Soccer Aid
Soccer Aid
-Event schedule:*22 May 2006 – Start of the television coverage, presented by Ant and Dec. Rest of the World defeats England in a penalty shoot-out*23 May 2006 – Practice match: England 1–0 England Legends...
2008, after Collina was injured.