Romualdo Arppi

Brazilian Romualdo Arppi Filho was an international football referee for 26 years from 1963-89, and is one of two officials from his country (along with Arnaldo Coelho) to have officiated in a FIFA World Cup Final.

Just 24-years-of-age when he became an international referee, Arppi took charge of the 1986 World Cup Final between Argentina and West Germany in Mexico City, having previously refereed the France-Soviet Union (group and match) Bulgaria-Mexico (round of 16). In the final, Arppi booked six players, including the legendary Diego Armando Maradona, after just 17 minutes. Arppi also officiated in three editions of the Olympics, just one behind the record four participations of Hungarian Istvàn Zsolt and Colombian Guillermo Velàzquez.

In 1973 Arppi officiated the second leg of the final of the Copa Libertadores between Independiente (Argentina) and Colo Colo (Chile). At Tokyo in 1984, he refereed the final of the Intercontinental Cup between Liverpool and the Argentinian side Independiente. Having officiated in the Copa America in 1975 and 1979, Arppi had the honour of refereeing the 1987 final of the biggest tournament for South American nations, when he took charge of the Uruguay - Chile game at Buenos Aires. In the same year, he became the first recipient of the IFFHS Best Referee of the Year Award. Arppi retired in 1990 after attaining the upper age limit for international referees, and in 1996 was awarded a FIFA Special Award.