Tony Evangelista
Encyclopedia
Tony Evangelista is a Canadian
FIFA
referee and important builder to Canadian soccer.
Evangelista was born in Sora, Italy
, and came to Canada
with his family when he was 13. He began refereeing when he was 23, and was for many years one of Canada's top referee
s. Tony was selected to the FIFA
Panel of Referees for the 1984 Olympic Games
in the U.S. and was in the middle for the game between West Germany and Morocco. Later in the competition he was a linesman in one of the semi-finals.
Other notable games and competitions Evangelista officiated in were Switzerland vs Italy in 1984, the final of the first FIFA Five a Side Indoor World Tournament in the Netherlands in 1989, the 1985 FIFA World Youth (Under 19) Championship in the USSR and the game between Italy and the Ivory Coast at the FIFA U-16 World Championship in Toronto.
Perhaps the most important game Tony ever handled was that between Honduras and El Salvador in Tegucigalpa immediately following the so called "Soccer War" between the two countries. The fact that he was chosen to handle such a potentially volatile game underlines the high esteem in which he was held by FIFA.
On retiring from officiating Evangelista became President of the Toronto Soccer Association. He was inducted as a Builder in 2003 in the Canadian Soccer Hall of Fame
.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
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...
referee and important builder to Canadian soccer.
Evangelista was born in Sora, Italy
Sora, Italy
Sora is a city and comune of Lazio, Italy, in the province of Frosinone. It is built in a plain on the banks of the Liri. This part of the valley is the seat of some important manufactures, especially of paper-mills....
, and came to Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
with his family when he was 13. He began refereeing when he was 23, and was for many years one of Canada's top referee
Referee
A referee is the person of authority, in a variety of sports, who is responsible for presiding over the game from a neutral point of view and making on the fly decisions that enforce the rules of the sport...
s. Tony was selected to the 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...
Panel of Referees for the 1984 Olympic Games
1984 Summer Olympics
The 1984 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIII Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event held in Los Angeles, California, United States in 1984...
in the U.S. and was in the middle for the game between West Germany and Morocco. Later in the competition he was a linesman in one of the semi-finals.
Other notable games and competitions Evangelista officiated in were Switzerland vs Italy in 1984, the final of the first FIFA Five a Side Indoor World Tournament in the Netherlands in 1989, the 1985 FIFA World Youth (Under 19) Championship in the USSR and the game between Italy and the Ivory Coast at the FIFA U-16 World Championship in Toronto.
Perhaps the most important game Tony ever handled was that between Honduras and El Salvador in Tegucigalpa immediately following the so called "Soccer War" between the two countries. The fact that he was chosen to handle such a potentially volatile game underlines the high esteem in which he was held by FIFA.
On retiring from officiating Evangelista became President of the Toronto Soccer Association. He was inducted as a Builder in 2003 in the Canadian Soccer Hall of Fame
Canadian Soccer Hall of Fame
The Canadian Soccer Hall of Fame in Vaughan, Ontario, was founded in 1997. It was incorporated by the Ontario Soccer Association. The Hall aims to celebrate and highlight the achievements of top Canadian Footballers and Builders who have played and developed the game in Canada...
.