Reg Leafe
Encyclopedia
Reginald James Leafe was a FIFA
referee in the 1950s and early 1960s.
, taking charge of the Group A game between West Germany
and Argentina
on June 8, 1958. He then refereed a quarter-final tie as Sweden
defeated the Soviet Union 2-0 on June 19, 1958.
match in 1954 (his award of a penalty against Kovaks allowing Wolves to come back into the tie), Leafe is known on the continent as the referee who once disallowed 4 goals in the "El Clásico
" match-up between Real Madrid
and FC Barcelona
in a 2nd round match in the European Cup.
In the first leg Arthur Ellis
had awarded a late, controversial equaliser for Barcelona when Sandor Kocsis
was fouled in the Madrid penalty area. In the second leg at the Nou Camp Leafe took charge. Kenneth Wolstenholme
, for the BBC, called it "the game of all time". The mood of the evening was summed up, later, by the normally dignified Santiago Bernabeu commenting that Leafe was Barcelona's best player.
There are doubts as to whether Leafe was the man for the job. In total he disallowed three Real goals (an early goal for Barca as well), and the game finished 2-1 to Barcelona. Phil Ball, an historian for Madrid, who saw footage of the game, remarked that the protests carried some substance since none of the goals "appear to be illegal in any way". Later Alfredo Di Stéfano
remarked: "UEFA people didn't like us dominating 'their' cup. That's why they got English referees to make sure we didn't. After all, English referees were supposed to be the best. No one would suspect anything."†
had dived in the Benfica penalty area in the last minutes of the game. Various appeals to restore calm fell on deaf ears and the tie became the first European Cup match in history to be abandoned.
With Benfica winning the tie 4-1, Béla Guttmann
later said to Leafe: “You should have let them have their penalty...It would have saved us a lot of trouble, and it wouldn’t have helped them reach the final anyway.”
“Even if a team were leading by a hundred goals to nil,” Leafe is said to have replied, “I would still not grant their opponents an unwarranted penalty.”
Print
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...
referee in the 1950s and early 1960s.
Career
He was appointed to the 1955 FA Cup Final at Wembley on May 7, 1955, when Newcastle United beat Manchester City 3-1. He was subsequently an English representative at the 1958 FIFA World Cup1958 FIFA World Cup
The 1958 FIFA World Cup, the sixth staging of the World Cup, was hosted by Sweden from 8 June to 29 June. The tournament was won by Brazil, who beat Sweden 5–2 in the final for their first title. To date, this marks the only occasion that a World Cup staged in Europe was not won by a European...
, taking charge of the Group A game between West 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....
and 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...
on June 8, 1958. He then refereed a quarter-final tie as 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...
defeated the Soviet Union 2-0 on June 19, 1958.
Barcelona v Real Madrid, European Cup 1960
Despite being the man in the middle for the famous Wolves versus HonvédBudapest Honvéd FC
Budapest Honvéd FC |football]] team. "Honved" means the Homeland Defense. Originally formed as Kispest AC, they became Kispest FC in 1926 before reverting to their original name in 1944. The team enjoyed a golden age during the 1950s when it was renamed Budapest Honvéd SE and became the Hungarian...
match in 1954 (his award of a penalty against Kovaks allowing Wolves to come back into the tie), Leafe is known on the continent as the referee who once disallowed 4 goals in the "El Clásico
El Clásico
El Clásico , also known as El derbi Español, is the name given in football to a match between Real Madrid and Barcelona. It is contested twice a year in the Spanish La Liga competition, and more often if the clubs meet in other competitions...
" match-up between Real Madrid
Real Madrid
Real Madrid Club de Fútbol , commonly known as Real Madrid, is a professional football club based in Madrid, Spain. The club have won a record 31 La Liga titles, the Primera División of the Liga de Fútbol Profesional , 18 Copas del Rey, 8 Spanish Super Cups, 1 Copa Eva Duarte and 1 Copa de la...
and FC Barcelona
FC Barcelona
Futbol Club Barcelona , also known as Barcelona and familiarly as Barça, is a professional football club, based in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain....
in a 2nd round match in the European Cup.
In the first leg Arthur Ellis
Arthur Edward Ellis
Arthur Edward Ellis was an English football referee.Ellis was a referee in The Football Association competitions and in FIFA international competitions...
had awarded a late, controversial equaliser for Barcelona when Sandor Kocsis
Sándor Kocsis
Sándor Kocsis Péter was a Hungarian footballer who played for Ferencváros TC, Budapest Honvéd, Young Fellows Zürich, FC Barcelona and Hungary. During the 1950s, along with Ferenc Puskás, Zoltán Czibor, József Bozsik and Nándor Hidegkuti, he was a member of the Mighty Magyars...
was fouled in the Madrid penalty area. In the second leg at the Nou Camp Leafe took charge. Kenneth Wolstenholme
Kenneth Wolstenholme
Kenneth Wolstenholme DFC & Bar was the football commentator for BBC television in the 1950s and 1960s, most notable for his commentary during the 1966 FIFA World Cup which included the famous phrase "some people are on the pitch...they think it's all over....it is now!", as Geoff Hurst scored...
, for the BBC, called it "the game of all time". The mood of the evening was summed up, later, by the normally dignified Santiago Bernabeu commenting that Leafe was Barcelona's best player.
There are doubts as to whether Leafe was the man for the job. In total he disallowed three Real goals (an early goal for Barca as well), and the game finished 2-1 to Barcelona. Phil Ball, an historian for Madrid, who saw footage of the game, remarked that the protests carried some substance since none of the goals "appear to be illegal in any way". Later Alfredo Di Stéfano
Alfredo Di Stéfano
Alfredo Stéfano Di Stéfano Laulhé, born into a family of Italian immigrants from Capri, is a former Argentinian footballer and coach, widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time...
remarked: "UEFA people didn't like us dominating 'their' cup. That's why they got English referees to make sure we didn't. After all, English referees were supposed to be the best. No one would suspect anything."†
Rapid Vienna v Benfica, European Cup, 1961
Later that season in the second leg of the semi-final in Austria, Leafe was at the centre of a massive row when deciding that the Rapid Vienna forward Robert DienstRobert Dienst
Robert Dienst was an Austrian football forward. He died in 2000 after a long illness.-Club career:Robert Dienst started his career at Florisdsdorfer AC, where he played his first game as a midfielder during World War II...
had dived in the Benfica penalty area in the last minutes of the game. Various appeals to restore calm fell on deaf ears and the tie became the first European Cup match in history to be abandoned.
With Benfica winning the tie 4-1, Béla Guttmann
Béla Guttmann
Béla Guttmann was a Jewish Hungarian footballer and coach. He played as a midfielder for MTK Hungária FC, SC Hakoah Wien, Hungary and several clubs in the United States. However he is perhaps best remembered as a coach and manager of some the world’s leading football teams, including AC Milan, São...
later said to Leafe: “You should have let them have their penalty...It would have saved us a lot of trouble, and it wouldn’t have helped them reach the final anyway.”
“Even if a team were leading by a hundred goals to nil,” Leafe is said to have replied, “I would still not grant their opponents an unwarranted penalty.”
- †50 Years of the European Cup and Champions' League (ed. Radnedge), 2006, p. 45