Brian Winter

{{Short description|Scottish football referee}}

{{Use British English|date=October 2012}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2021}}

{{Infobox football official

| name = Brian Winter

| fullname = Brian Winter

| birth_place = Scotland

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1968|1|21}}

| otheroccupation =

| years1 = 1993–2012

| league1 = Scottish Football Association

| role1 = Referee

| years2 = 1998–2012

| league2 = SFL / SPL

| role2 = Referee

}}

Brian Winter (born 21 January 1968) is a Scottish former football referee.{{cite web| url=http://www.scottishfa.co.uk/scottish_football_referees.cfm?page=720| title=SFA Profile| accessdate=29 March 2011| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110709102301/http://www.scottishfa.co.uk/scottish_football_referees.cfm?page=720| archive-date=9 July 2011| url-status=dead}}

In September 2010 he had to be talked out of quitting as a referee after he failed to send off Steven Anderson despite showing two yellow cards to the player in the space of 12 minutes.{{cite web | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/scot_prem/9037802.stm | title=Referee Brian Winter considered quitting after blunder | publisher=BBC | work=BBC Sport | date=27 September 2010 | accessdate=14 August 2011}}

He retired in 2012 due to injury,[https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/17702715 Referee Brian Winter dismisses claims of favouritism], BBC Sport, 13 April 2012 a short time after taking charge of one of his highest-profile appointments, the 2012 Scottish Challenge Cup Final. He was appointed as a 'referee observer' by the Scottish Football Association a few months following his retirement.[https://spfl.co.uk/news/ramsdens-cup-ref-takes-on-observer-role Ramsdens Cup ref takes on observer role], Scottish Football League, 13 December 2012 In 2017, he was given responsibility for overseeing officials in the Lanarkshire and Stirlingshire regions.[http://stirlingshirereferees.co.uk/welcome-from-brian-winter/?page_number_0=20 Welcome from Brian Winter], Stirlingshire Refeees Association, 11 August 2017

His son Andy Winter is a footballer who began his career with Hamilton Academical.[https://www.eveningexpress.co.uk/sport/winter-hopes-to-shine-on-field-despite-seeing-referee-dad-criticised-in-the-past/ Winter hopes to shine on field despite seeing referee dad criticised in the past], Evening Express, 17 January 2020[https://www.hamiltonacciesfc.co.uk/andrew-winter-insists-he-will-be-ready-when-accies-chance-comes/ Andrew Winter Insists 'I Will Be Ready When Accies Chance Comes'], Hamilton Academical F.C., 18 January 2020