TO THE LEGEND'S CENTENNIAL ANNIVERSARY

Anyone with even a passing interest in football in Azerbaijan knows this name. In the republic, the second-largest stadium in Baku is named after this renowned football referee. Azerbaijan was the first country in the world to name a stadium after a referee. Yes, we are talking about Tofig Bahramov.

Azerbaijan is one of the rare countries known globally not for its footballers but for its referees. Tofig Bahramov was born on January 29, 1925. This year, Azerbaijani football is celebrating the 100th anniversary of his birth. On this occasion, it seems fitting to share some insights about this famous referee and aspects of his life that many might not be aware of.

From Footballer to Referee

Interestingly, according to close relatives, Tofig Bahramov never set out to become a referee. His greatest dream was to be a footballer. Driven by this ambition, he joined Baku's FC Spartak in 1940, where he quickly distinguished himself. His performance caught the attention of the top team in the country at the time—Neftchi (formerly Neftyanik)—who invited him to join their ranks. However, an unfortunate leg injury forced him to end his playing career prematurely. 

For Bahamov, whose life revolved around football, stepping away from the game was unimaginable. Soon after, he found himself on a new path—as a referee. Ironically, Bahramov, who had been notorious for vocally arguing with referees during matches, was now a part of the officiating team himself.

Beginning in 1951, Bahramov started officiating matches in the USSR Championship. Veteran referee Rustam Rahimov, who knew him personally, remarked that it was Bahramov's determination and strong character that earned him widespread respect. It was no coincidence, then, that he achieved global recognition for his pivotal decision in the 1966 World Cup final—the legendary clash between England and Germany.

Bahramov was known for his sharp judgment and unwavering integrity. Players who tried to feign fouls to gain free kicks or penalties quickly learned that such tricks would not work on him. Having once been a player himself, he was immune to these tactics. One particularly interesting fact: throughout his entire refereeing career, he never issued a single red card.

Awards for Fairness

At the height of his career, Bahramov was appointed to officiate international matches, further cementing his reputation. Notably, he served as the main referee for a European Champions Cup match (now known as the UEFA Champions League) between Real Madrid and Manchester United.

Bahramov became only the second referee—after the famous Russian official Nikolai Latyshev—to officiate in the final stages of a World Cup. He was also the first Soviet referee to oversee a European Cup final. His accomplishments didn’t stop there: in 1972, he served as the main referee for the Intercontinental Cup match between Ajax and Independiente.

Few people know that Bahramov was also appointed as the main referee for the semifinal match of the 1970 World Cup between Brazil and Uruguay—a testament to his skill and standing in the world of football refereeing.

Although he participated in numerous prestigious international matches, it was the 1966 World Cup in England that introduced Tofig Bahramov to the world. The correctness of Bahramov's decision, which counted Geoffrey Hurst's controversial goal in the final between Germany and England, was confirmed years later. The linesman, Tofig Bahramov, was awarded a replica of the Golden Goddess by Queen Elizabeth II after that game. At the time, this award was given only to head referees. Bahramov entered the history of world football as the only linesman ever to receive the Golden Whistle.

We Will Never Forget Him

The renowned English writer Arthur Hopcraft dedicated a chapter of his book The Football Man to the Azerbaijani referee. In it, he wrote about Bahramov's historic decision: "When Bahramov waved his flag, not only Wembley but all of England rose to their feet. Everyone wondered: what does this Russian want? But ten years later, everyone realized he wasn't Russian but the son of a wonderful country, Azerbaijan. Later, players confessed to me that they barely restrained themselves from kissing the linesman—not because of the ‘gift,' but because he carried out his duty professionally."

The England national team, which became world champions for the first time in history thanks to Tofig Bahramov's historic decision, has not been able to repeat that success since 1966. After retiring from refereeing, Bahramov continued his teaching activities. Following the establishment of the Association of Football Federations of Azerbaijan (AFFA), he served as chairman of the refereeing committee and later as general secretary. He was also the first chairman of AFFA's refereeing committee. Tofig Bahramov passed away in 1993 at the age of 68.

Today, his name adorns the Republican Stadium, the second-largest sports arena in Azerbaijan. On October 14, 2004, a ceremony unveiling his monument took place in front of the arena. Among those present were then-presidents of FIFA, Joseph Blatter, UEFA, Michel Platini, and Geoffrey Hurst, the author of the goal that made Tofig Bahramov famous worldwide in 1966.

In 2010, ahead of the 85th anniversary of Tofig Bahramov's birth, shirts bearing the inscription "We will never forget this legendary Man in Black" went on sale in England. A bronze statuette of Tofig Bahramov has been installed in the Football Museum in London. English fans who traveled to Baku in 2004 for the Azerbaijan-England match wore shirts emblazoned with the words "Thank you, Bahramov."

A Lasting Legacy

Veteran Azerbaijani referee Rustam Ragimov, who worked alongside Tofig Bahramov for over 15 years, said: “Before gaining independence, we jointly headed the refereeing committee. Moreover, during Soviet times, he participated as one of the leaders in training camps. Tofig Bahramov left such a mark that it is hard to believe any Azerbaijani referee or referee from Muslim countries will replicate his achievements in World Cup finals. Bahramov also officiated the 1972 Intercontinental Cup final between Argentina's Independiente and Holland's Ajax and participated in prestigious games both within the Soviet Union and abroad. In 1971, he oversaw a match featuring the legendary goalkeeper Lev Yashin.

Bahramov made an immense contribution to the training of our referees. His birthday is a celebration for us, referees. In connection with his 100th anniversary, we visited Tofig Bahramov's grave, and an event dedicated to this date was organized, during which veterans shared memories of him. Footage from the games he officiated was shown.”

The grandson of the legendary football referee Tofig Bahramov told Region Plus that his grandfather was always highly respected: "I lived with my grandfather until I was 12 years old. Being his grandson is an honour. I was born in my grandfather's house and grew up there… I am his only grandson, so he gave me his name. And I proudly carry it."

According to his grandson, even a hundred years from now, Bahramov's famous decision at the 1966 World Cup will still be remembered: “My grandfather made the right decision. He always emphasized that. True, today the rules of football have changed, and the ball must cross the goal line to count as a goal. But according to the rules of that time, the decision he made was correct.