Abraham Klein (Hebrew: אברהם קליין, born 29 March 1934) is an Israeli former international footballreferee. He refereed international matches between 1965 and 1982, including the 1968 and 1976 Olympics and important matches at the Mexico 1970, Argentina 1978 and Spain 1982 World Cup Finals. He was also a linesman (now assistant referee) for the 1982 World Cup Final in Spain.[2]
Klein refereed some of the most important FIFA World Cup matches between 1970 and 1982. In his first World Cup tournament in 1970 he refereed the England v Brazil group C match at Guadalajara - the defender of the title from 1966 against the champion of 1962 and 1958 (and finally again world champion 1970). Klein admitted that he tried, unsuccessfully, to end the game on time but no one heard him whistle so he kept the glamour tie going: "Not many people know, but when I blew for time the players didn't hear the whistle and as it was such a great game I let it continue for a few minutes."[3]
1974 World Cupedit
Klein did not attend the 1974 World Cup Finals in West Germany due to the terrorist atrocity visited upon Israeli athletes at the Summer Olympic Games held in Munich in 1972. Being an Israeli referee it was thought that he could be targeted by terrorist organisations.
In Klein's game Italy won with a Roberto Bettega goal but before half-time Klein denied Argentina a penalty kick. Klein said of the incident: "I analyzed all the players, which helped me to determine my tactics during the game. For example: towards the end of the first half, one of the Argentines went down in the penalty box and of course 80,000 people were whistling, screaming and crying for a penalty. I had learned from the previous games that I needed to be really close to the Argentinian players who caused the trouble. I am not telling you their names."
Brian Glanville wrote of the incident: "There was nothing more impressive in this World Cup than the way he stood between his linesmen at half-time in the Argentina - Italy game, scorning the banshee whistling of the incensed crowd." Klein said: "At half-time, as I walked into the tunnel, I was booed at by 80,000 people. In the second half, as the players were called from the dressing-rooms, my tactic was not to walk onto the pitch before the players. I knew the crowd would remember what had happened at the end of the first half, and they would definitely welcome me with whistling and yelling, which is not a good feeling for a referee. So I waited until the Argentines came out of the tunnel and I entered the pitch with them, towards the applause."[4]
The referee in the final was Sergio Gonella, the Italian. Klein's appointment, though supported originally by FIFA was disputed by the Argentinians, reputedly, because of the political links between the Netherlands and Israel. But as Klein said, later: "When I'm on the pitch, only two things are important to me: being fair to both teams and making my decisions bravely. I think all referees are fair, but not all of them are brave, probably. At the 1978 World Cup, I was leading Germany vs Austria. Well, to a Jew Germans and Austrians are the same. But they were like Dutch and Brazilians to me."
In the end Klein refereed the Third Place Match between Italy and Brazil which Brazil won. Klein was the only referee officiating three matches during the World Cup 1978.
1982 World Cupedit
Klein was also given the Brazil v Italy fixture in the 1982 World Cup, the game in which Paolo Rossi scored a hat-trick. He ran the line in the final to the Brazilian referee Arnaldo Coelho and was, reputedly, offered the chance to officiate in the event of that final being replayed.
Abraham Klein; Rubi Shalev (1995-07-01). The Referee's Referee: Becoming the Best. Soccer for Americans. ISBN978-0-916802-26-4.
Referencesedit
^"FOR THE RECORD: A roundup of the week May 23–28". Sports Illustrated. June 6, 1977. p. 83. Retrieved 4 June 2017 – via si.com/vault.
^The Forgotten Story of Abraham Klein, the 'master of the whistle' Guardian.co.uk
^Extending a match March 11, 2007, at the Wayback Machine: Klein's comments, article, Sky Sports.com website.
^ Argentina v. Italy 2006-10-25 at the Wayback Machine, 1978 World Cup: Ajax-USA.com website.
External linksedit
Abraham Klein at WorldReferee.com
Abraham Klein referee profile at Soccerway
Abraham Klein referee profile at EU-Football.info
Abraham Klein referee profile at WorldFootball.net
January 01, 1970
abraham, klein, referee, abraham, klein, hebrew, אברהם, קליין, born, march, 1934, israeli, former, international, football, referee, refereed, international, matches, between, 1965, 1982, including, 1968, 1976, olympics, important, matches, mexico, 1970, argen. Abraham Klein Hebrew אברהם קליין born 29 March 1934 is an Israeli former international football referee He refereed international matches between 1965 and 1982 including the 1968 and 1976 Olympics and important matches at the Mexico 1970 Argentina 1978 and Spain 1982 World Cup Finals He was also a linesman now assistant referee for the 1982 World Cup Final in Spain 2 Abraham KleinBorn 1934 03 29 29 March 1934 age 90 Timișoara Kingdom of RomaniaOther occupationPE TeacherDomesticYearsLeagueRole1958 1984Israeli LeagueReferee1977 1984NASL 1 RefereeInternationalYearsLeagueRole1965 1982FIFA listedReferee Contents 1 1970 World Cup 2 1974 World Cup 3 1978 World Cup 4 1982 World Cup 5 See also 6 Bibliography 7 References 8 External links1970 World Cup editKlein refereed some of the most important FIFA World Cup matches between 1970 and 1982 In his first World Cup tournament in 1970 he refereed the England v Brazil group C match at Guadalajara the defender of the title from 1966 against the champion of 1962 and 1958 and finally again world champion 1970 Klein admitted that he tried unsuccessfully to end the game on time but no one heard him whistle so he kept the glamour tie going Not many people know but when I blew for time the players didn t hear the whistle and as it was such a great game I let it continue for a few minutes 3 1974 World Cup editKlein did not attend the 1974 World Cup Finals in West Germany due to the terrorist atrocity visited upon Israeli athletes at the Summer Olympic Games held in Munich in 1972 Being an Israeli referee it was thought that he could be targeted by terrorist organisations 1978 World Cup editKlein was selected for the 1978 World Cup where he was given the Argentina v Italy match in Group A in Buenos Aires In Klein s game Italy won with a Roberto Bettega goal but before half time Klein denied Argentina a penalty kick Klein said of the incident I analyzed all the players which helped me to determine my tactics during the game For example towards the end of the first half one of the Argentines went down in the penalty box and of course 80 000 people were whistling screaming and crying for a penalty I had learned from the previous games that I needed to be really close to the Argentinian players who caused the trouble I am not telling you their names Brian Glanville wrote of the incident There was nothing more impressive in this World Cup than the way he stood between his linesmen at half time in the Argentina Italy game scorning the banshee whistling of the incensed crowd Klein said At half time as I walked into the tunnel I was booed at by 80 000 people In the second half as the players were called from the dressing rooms my tactic was not to walk onto the pitch before the players I knew the crowd would remember what had happened at the end of the first half and they would definitely welcome me with whistling and yelling which is not a good feeling for a referee So I waited until the Argentines came out of the tunnel and I entered the pitch with them towards the applause 4 The referee in the final was Sergio Gonella the Italian Klein s appointment though supported originally by FIFA was disputed by the Argentinians reputedly because of the political links between the Netherlands and Israel But as Klein said later When I m on the pitch only two things are important to me being fair to both teams and making my decisions bravely I think all referees are fair but not all of them are brave probably At the 1978 World Cup I was leading Germany vs Austria Well to a Jew Germans and Austrians are the same But they were like Dutch and Brazilians to me In the end Klein refereed the Third Place Match between Italy and Brazil which Brazil won Klein was the only referee officiating three matches during the World Cup 1978 1982 World Cup editKlein was also given the Brazil v Italy fixture in the 1982 World Cup the game in which Paolo Rossi scored a hat trick He ran the line in the final to the Brazilian referee Arnaldo Coelho and was reputedly offered the chance to officiate in the event of that final being replayed See also editList of Jews in sports non players Bibliography editAbraham Klein Rubi Shalev 1995 07 01 The Referee s Referee Becoming the Best Soccer for Americans ISBN 978 0 916802 26 4 References edit FOR THE RECORD A roundup of the week May 23 28 Sports Illustrated June 6 1977 p 83 Retrieved 4 June 2017 via si com vault The Forgotten Story of Abraham Klein the master of the whistle Guardian co uk Extending a match Archived March 11 2007 at the Wayback Machine Klein s comments article Sky Sports com website Argentina v Italy Archived 2006 10 25 at the Wayback Machine 1978 World Cup Ajax USA com website External links editAbraham Klein at WorldReferee com nbsp Abraham Klein referee profile at Soccerway Abraham Klein referee profile at EU Football info nbsp Abraham Klein referee profile at WorldFootball net nbsp Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Abraham Klein referee amp oldid 1215535736, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
