In the past 16 World Cups finals, 12 referees had officiated the finals.
South America has won half of the contests: Brazil with four (1958, 1962, 1970 and 1994); Argentina two (1978 and 1986) and Uruguay two (1930 and 1959).
But only two South American referees officiated the finals in World Cup -- 1982 and 1986.
In 14 other occasions, 12 European referees were present at the finals (three English, two French, one Belgian, one Swedish, one Soviet, one Swiss, one German, one Italian and one Hungarian).
A Mexican referee officiated in Italy in 1990 and a Moroccanin France 1998.
The first non-European coach in a World Cup final was Brazilian Arnaldo Cezar Coelho, in Spain 1982. Then in 1990, Uruguayan naturalized Mexican Edgardo Codesal, representative of the North/Central American and Caribbean Confederation (CONCACAF) participated in the final.
For the Korea-Japan 2002, FIFA Secretary General Michel Zen Ruffinen, declared that Italian referee Perluigi Colina is the most prepared one to act in the final.
But this would not happen should the Italian national team qualify for the finals.
Following is the list of World Cup referees for the final:
1930: Jean Langenus (Belgium)
1934: Ivan Eklind (Sweden)
1938: Georges Capdeville (France)
1950: George Reader (England)
1954: William Ling (England)
1958: Maurice Guigue (France)
1962: Nikilai Latishev (Soviet Union)
1966: Gottfried Dienst (Switzerland)
1970: Rudolf Gloeckner (East Germany)
1974: John Keith Taylor (England)
1978: Sergio Gonella (Italy)
1982: Arnaldo Cezar Coelho (Brazil)
1986: Romualdo Arppi Filho (Brazil)
1990: Edgardo Codesal (Mexico)
1994: Sandor Puhl (Hungary)
1998: Said Belqola (Morocco)
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