Tofiq Bahramov
{{short description|Soviet football referee (1925–1993)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2021}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Tofiq Bahramov
| birth_name = Tofiq Bəhram oğlu Bəhramov
| image = Tofiq Bahramov.jpg
| image_size = 250
| image_caption = Bahramov in 1967
| native_name = Tofiq Bəhramov
| native_name_lang = az
| birth_date = {{Birth date|df=yes|1925|01|29}}
| birth_place = Aghdam, Azerbaijan SSR, Transcaucasian SFSR, USSR
| death_date = {{Death date and age|df=yes|1993|03|26|1925|01|29}}
| death_place = Baku, Azerbaijan
| occupation = Football player and referee
| nationality = USSR
Azerbaijan
| signature = Tofiq Bahramov signature.png
| signature_alt = Tofiq Bahramov signature
}}
Tofiq Bahramov ({{langx|az|Tofiq Bəhramov}}; {{langx|ru|Тофик Бахрамов}}; 29 January 1925 – 26 March 1993){{cite web|title=(Photo of gravestone inscription): Tofiq Bəhramovun yubileyi qeyd olunub (fotolar) |language=az|archive-date=8 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150908081637/http://www.affa.az/index.php/news/tofiq-bhramovun-yubileyi-qeyd-olunub-fotolar/45538|url=http://www.affa.az/index.php/news/tofiq-bhramovun-yubileyi-qeyd-olunub-fotolar/45538|publisher=Azerbaijan Football Association}} was a Soviet footballer and football referee from Azerbaijan.
He was notable for being the linesman who helped to award a dubious goal for England in the 1966 FIFA World Cup Final against West Germany. He came to be wrongly referred to as "the Russian linesman" in England as a result of his decision and his Soviet citizenship, although he was not Russian but Azerbaijani.[http://www.realclearsports.com/lists/refs_trump_sport/russian_linesman.html The Russian linesman] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180528215829/http://www.realclearsports.com/lists/refs_trump_sport/russian_linesman.html|date=28 May 2018}} Top 10 Times Referees Trumped Sport by www.realclearsports.com{{cite web|date=13 October 2004|title=Baku memorial for 1966 linesman|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/3740556.stm|publisher=BBC}}[http://eastofelveden.wordpress.com/2012/05/30/tofiq-bahramov-the-russian-linesman/ Tofiq Bahramov, the ‘Russian linesman’] http://eastofelveden.wordpress.com
After his death in 1993, Azerbaijan's then national stadium was renamed the Tofiq Bahramov Republican Stadium in his honor.
Career
Bahramov was originally a footballer playing for Neftçi PFK, but a serious leg injury prevented him from continuing his playing career and he became a referee.{{cite web|script-title=ru:Сын Тофика Бахрамова рассказал о своем отце (Интервью)|url=http://www.azerifootball.com/ru/7/news/17162.html|work=Azerifootball.com|access-date=16 April 2013|language=ru}} He was elected onto the FIFA panel of referees in 1964. In the 1966 World Cup he officiated as a linesman for both the opening match{{cite web|url=https://int.soccerway.com/matches/1966/07/11/world/world-cup/england/uruguay/156853/?ICID=PL_MS_01|access-date=7 September 2015|publisher=Soccerway|title=England vs. Uruguay 11 July 1966}} and the Final, and refereed a first round match. In the 1970 World Cup he officiated at three matches including a semi-final.{{cite web|publisher=Soccerway|access-date=7 September 2015|title=Azerbaijan - T. Bakhramov|url=https://int.soccerway.com/referees/tofik-bakhramov/108221/}} In 1972, he refereed the first leg of the UEFA Cup Final between the English clubs Wolverhampton Wanderers and Tottenham Hotspur.{{cite web|title=1971/72 UEFA Cup|url=https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/match/64112--wolves-vs-tottenham/|publisher=UEFA|access-date=1 July 2014}} After retiring as a referee, he subsequently served for some years as general secretary of the Football Federation of Azerbaijan.[http://www.affa.az/index.php?r=1&id=1336&lang=az Tofiq Bəhramovun xatirəsi əziz tutulur ] {{in lang|az}}
="Wembley Goal"=
In the 1966 World Cup Final, with the score at 2–2 and after 11 minutes of the first period of extra time, Geoff Hurst of England fired a shot on goal which bounced off the crossbar sharply downwards, hit the ground, and then spun backwards away from the goal. There were some moments of indecision by referee Gottfried Dienst before he noticed that Bahramov, who was the linesman at that end of the ground, was signalling to him. Eventually, Dienst awarded a goal to England, who went on to win the game 4–2.
The decision to award the third England goal is still debated. It is generally believed in Germany that Bahramov made a mistake. The goal has entered the German vernacular, as any situation in which a ball hits the crossbar and is reflected downwards, landing just before or behind the goal line before spinning back into the penalty area, is described as a "Wembley-Tor". In England, many newspapers referred to the "Russian linesman" who awarded the goal, as Azerbaijan was part of the Soviet Union at the time, and the nickname stuck to the point where his real name was all but forgotten.{{Citation needed|date=September 2021}}
According to the Laws of the Game, for a goal to be awarded, the ball must cross the goal line, with its full diameter behind the full width of the line. German players claimed to have seen chalk dust, which would indicate it was not a goal. Roger Hunt claimed to have seen the ball bounce behind the line.{{Citation needed|date=September 2021}}
When Bahramov wrote his memoirs, he stated that he believed the ball had bounced back not from the crossbar, but from the net, so the further movement of the ball was already insignificant, and not visible for him either. Bahramov loved refereeing and the game of football in general, and described football matches as, "duels...full of unforeseen turns and even real miracles. And who does not want to be a magician if even for just 90 minutes?"{{Cite web|url=https://iwpr.net/global-voices/baku-celebrates-its-wembley-hero|title=Baku Celebrates its Wembley Hero}}
Legacy
File:National Stadium named after Tofig Bahramov after major overhaul and reconstruction.jpg.]]
File:Tofig Bahramov 100 years, miniature sheet of Azerbaijan - 1989-1991.jpg
The Azerbaijan national stadium in Baku is named the Tofiq Bahramov Stadium in his honour. It was renamed in 1993, shortly after Azeri independence and Bahramov's death, having previously been named after the Soviet leader Vladimir Lenin.{{Citation needed|date=September 2021}}
When England were drawn in the same group as Azerbaijan in qualifying for the 2006 FIFA World Cup, a ceremony was held at the stadium to honour his memory, with attendees including Geoff Hurst, Michel Platini and Sepp Blatter. A statue of him was also unveiled as he became the first referee to have a stadium named after him.[http://www.kaspi.az/news/print-599.html Abidəsi olan ilk hakim] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110706130807/http://www.kaspi.az/news/print-599.html |date=6 July 2011 }} {{in lang|az}}[http://xazar.info/2008/01/29/tofiq_b601hramovun_anadan_olmas305ndan_78_il_ke231ir.html Tofiq Bəhramovun anadan olmasından 78 il keçir]{{Dead link|date=July 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=no }} {{in lang|az}} His son Bahram Bahramov met representatives of the English fans and expressed his pleasure that the famous "Russian linesman" of 1966 had finally regained his true nationality. "Now that Azerbaijan is independent it’s very right for him to be remembered as a member of the Azeri nation. People like Tofiq Bahramov are only born once in a hundred years".[http://www.chrishunt.biz/englandcolumns02.html Azerbaijan v England] article by Chris Hunt published in Football First newspaper, 17 October 2004
On January 29, 2025, commemorative postage stamps were issued to mark the 100th anniversary of Tofiq Bahramov at the initiative of AFFA. The product, prepared by "Azərpoçt", is presented as a block consisting of three stamps. The stamps feature a portrait of Tofiq Bahramov along with photographs from his refereeing career.{{Cite web |last= |first= |title=Tofig Bahramov 100 years |url=https://stamps.azerpost.az/en/Products/detail/4397?productGroupID=10 |access-date=2025-02-10 |website=stamps.azerpost.az |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2025-01-29 |title=Commemorative postage stamps issued to mark 100th anniversary of Tofiq Bahramov |url=https://report.az/en/football/commemorative-postage-stamps-issued-to-mark-100th-anniversary-of-tofiq-bahramov/ |access-date=2025-02-10 |website=Report News Agency |language=en}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category}}
- [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/3740556.stm BBC: Baku memorial for 1966 linesman]
- [http://iwpr.net/report-news/baku-celebrates-its-wembley-hero IWPR: Baku Celebrates its Wembley Hero] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714213746/http://iwpr.net/report-news/baku-celebrates-its-wembley-hero |date=14 July 2014 }}
{{Authority control}}
{{1966 FIFA World Cup referees}}
{{1970 FIFA World Cup referees}}
{{FIFA World Cup Final referees}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bahramov, Tofiq}}
Category:Soviet football referees
Category:Azerbaijani football referees
Category:Soviet men's footballers
Category:Azerbaijani men's footballers
Category:Recipients of the Order of the Red Banner of Labour
Category:FIFA World Cup finals match officials
Category:Footballers from Baku
Category:1970 FIFA World Cup referees
Category:1966 FIFA World Cup referees
Category:Men's association football players not categorized by position
Category:Burials at II Alley of Honor