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John ("Jean") Langenus (b. December 8, 1891 in Antwerpen, Belgium – d. October 1, 1952 in Antwerpen, Belgium) was an international football referee best known for being the referee in the first 1930 FIFA World Cup Final in Montevideo, in July, 1930.

Contents 1 Uruguay 2 1928 Olympic Games 3 1930 World Cup 4 Later Career

Langenus, a diplomatic clerk in his home city, was one of only three European referees who travelled to Uruguay on board the Conte Verde, which set sail from Villefranche-Sur-Mer, just south of Nice, on June 21, 1930. This was the same ship that carried Jules Rimet, the trophy, the footballers representing France, Romania and Belgium and the other European referees Henri Christophe, (Belgium) and Thomas Balway, (France). Also on board was Costel Radulescu, the Romanian coach who worked for the Romanian Soccer Federation and operated as a linesman on two match days when Romania were not playing. [1]

Langenus had established his status as a referee who could be trusted on the big stage at the 1928 Olympic Games when he refereed the first round match in which Uruguay beat the Netherlands and went on to referee the Bronze Medal match in Amsterdam. His participation in Uruguay was assured by the fact that Belgium were one of only 4 participant nations from Europe; neither of the Dutchmen Willem Eymers nor Johannes Mutters (who refereed the Gold Medal match in 1928) attended the event.

Langenus' fellow Belgian, (the more experienced) Henri Christophe, who had refereed at the 1924 and 1928 Olympic Games, ran the line to him in the final along with the Bolivian Ulysses Saucedo (who had awarded three first half penalties during the Argentina v Mexico Group A match). Langenus would referee four matches in Uruguay in all: two group matches, the semi-final involving the hosts, and the final (all of which were played at the Estadio Centenario).

The 1930 final was made particularly difficult on account of the competing interests of the Argentinian and Uruguayan teams each asking Langenus to allow them to use their own footballs. Langenus decided on using one each half and, so the story goes, secured a fast route from the stadium to a waiting ship at the port (for him and his two cohorts) in the event of post-match trouble, only agreeing to take charge of the match hours beforehand after this assurance was granted: The 'Daily Telegraph' Football Chronicle, 2004 (ed. Barrett) p. 51. Of his reception in South America, Langenus stated: “Never before have I experienced such a public warmth that the public of Montevideo afforded me at the Final, I have not even experienced that kind of reception back on games in Europe.”

He would go on to referee in both the 1934 and 1938 World Cup tournaments but was especially critical of the former, calling the tournament 'the greatest sporting fiasco ever'. Brian Glanville wrote in his 'Football Memories: 50 years of the Beautiful Game' Langenus later noted that the 1934 World Cup was not a popular competition outside of Italy. Langenus would later write 3 books on refereeing and retired in 1945. [2]

[3]

Preceded by -

FIFA World Cup final match officials 1930

Succeeded by Ivan Eklind, Louis Baert, Mihály Ivanicsics

-- appreciation to Guido de Windt; Belgian Football Association, for his assistance in this entry --