Arthur Edward Ellis
Encyclopedia
Arthur Edward Ellis was an English
football
referee.
Ellis was a referee in The Football Association
competitions and in FIFA
international competitions. He refereed at the 1950
, 1954
and 1958
World Cups; running the line in the 1950 FIFA World Cup Final and Third Place Play-off in 1958 and refereeing the Third Place Play-off in 1954.
and the first leg of the 1960-61 second round tie in the European Cup between Real Madrid
and FC Barcelona
. In the closing minutes of that match Ellis waved down a flag as Sandor Kocsis
strode into the Madrid penalty area, and awarded a penalty when the Hungarian was fouled. The resulting score equalised the tie. Further, considerable, controversy was occasioned by Reg Leafe
in his handling of the second leg in Barcelona.
Ellis also journeyed with the English touring side in Argentina
in the Summer of 1953. He was the referee in charge of the abandoned game in Buenos Aires
against Argentina
on 17 May when it rained so much that he called the players off the field after 23 minutes. This tour began, three days before, with the representative match in the River Plate
stadium. Ellis had been bitten by a mosquito and been told he could not officiate but he refused to follow the medical advice and was later dubbed 'the yellow rat' by some of the English players for his performance. ['England v Argentina: World Cups and other Wars', (ed. Downing) p. 63)]
An Argentinian side San Lorenzo
were the opponents during the abandoned game at Highfield Road, against Coventry City in January 1956. In the first half, after awarding a penalty, Ellis was kicked by Jose Sanfilippo
and abandoned the game when the player refused to walk from the field of play. "Those people", Ellis wrote, "must learn sportsmanship and we must teach them. South Americans are more excitable and more passionate than we are. They do crazy things, impulsively, then a few minutes later they are genuinely and deeply sorry". (quoted in Downing, above).
from the second round until the semi-final before being selected for the Final in Paris
. Ellis had been informed that he would need to provide the linesmen for the European Cup match against Rot-Weiss Essen
. He wrote: "I managed to obtain the services of Jimmy Catlin (Rochdale) and Frank Ellis, then on the Yorkshire League
and now a Football League linesman. He is my younger brother. We officiated first at the first leg and, at the request of UEFA
, the same three - with Frank Ellis of the Yorkshire League still included! - were again appointed to take the second round (both legs) between Hibs
and the Swedish
champions. We also acted in the second leg of the semi-final involving Hibs
and the fine French team Rheims.
"I was chosen to referee the first-ever Final of this new competition ... Just when I thought that the linesmen ... would be there once more, the Football Association
stepped in and said it would soon be regarded by others as a closed shop. Despite the request of Rheims for an 'unchanged team', I was given two linesmen this time - Messrs. J. Parkinson, of Blackburn, and Tommy Cooper, of Bolton." [The Final Whistle, 1962, ed. Ellis, pp. 94–5].
, where his dipstick became internationally recognised. He also featured as a pools panellist
under Lord Brabazon
. Ellis died of prostate cancer
in 1999 aged 84.
Ellis published his autobiography in 1954 "Refereeing Around the World", which detailed the high points of his refereeing career as well as showing 19 pictures.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
football
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
referee.
Ellis was a referee in The Football Association
The Football Association
The Football Association, also known as simply The FA, is the governing body of football in England, and the Crown Dependencies of Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man. It was formed in 1863, and is the oldest national football association...
competitions and in FIFA
FIFA
The Fédération Internationale de Football Association , commonly known by the acronym FIFA , is the international governing body of :association football, futsal and beach football. Its headquarters are located in Zurich, Switzerland, and its president is Sepp Blatter, who is in his fourth...
international competitions. He refereed at the 1950
1950 FIFA World Cup
The 1950 FIFA World Cup, held in Brazil from 24 June to 16 July, was the fourth FIFA World Cup. It was the first World Cup since 1938, the planned 1942 and 1946 competitions having been canceled owing to World War II...
, 1954
1954 FIFA World Cup
The 1954 FIFA World Cup, the fifth staging of the FIFA World Cup, was held in Switzerland from 16 June to 4 July. Switzerland was chosen as hosts in July 1946. The tournament set a number of all-time records for goal-scoring, including the highest average goals scored per game...
and 1958
1958 FIFA World Cup
The 1958 FIFA World Cup, the sixth staging of the World Cup, was hosted by Sweden from 8 June to 29 June. The tournament was won by Brazil, who beat Sweden 5–2 in the final for their first title. To date, this marks the only occasion that a World Cup staged in Europe was not won by a European...
World Cups; running the line in the 1950 FIFA World Cup Final and Third Place Play-off in 1958 and refereeing the Third Place Play-off in 1954.
Refereeing career
He is most remembered for refereeing the notorious 1954 Battle of BerneBattle of Berne
The Battle of Berne is used to refer to a quarter-final match at the 1954 World Cup between Hungary and Brazil, played on June 27, 1954 at the Wankdorf Stadium in Berne, Switzerland....
and the first leg of the 1960-61 second round tie in the European Cup between Real Madrid
Real Madrid
Real Madrid Club de Fútbol , commonly known as Real Madrid, is a professional football club based in Madrid, Spain. The club have won a record 31 La Liga titles, the Primera División of the Liga de Fútbol Profesional , 18 Copas del Rey, 8 Spanish Super Cups, 1 Copa Eva Duarte and 1 Copa de la...
and FC Barcelona
FC Barcelona
Futbol Club Barcelona , also known as Barcelona and familiarly as Barça, is a professional football club, based in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain....
. In the closing minutes of that match Ellis waved down a flag as Sandor Kocsis
Sándor Kocsis
Sándor Kocsis Péter was a Hungarian footballer who played for Ferencváros TC, Budapest Honvéd, Young Fellows Zürich, FC Barcelona and Hungary. During the 1950s, along with Ferenc Puskás, Zoltán Czibor, József Bozsik and Nándor Hidegkuti, he was a member of the Mighty Magyars...
strode into the Madrid penalty area, and awarded a penalty when the Hungarian was fouled. The resulting score equalised the tie. Further, considerable, controversy was occasioned by Reg Leafe
Reg Leafe
Reginald James Leafe was a FIFA referee in the 1950s and early 1960s.-Career:He was appointed to the 1955 FA Cup Final at Wembley on May 7, 1955, when Newcastle United beat Manchester City 3-1. He was subsequently an English representative at the 1958 FIFA World Cup, taking charge of the Group A...
in his handling of the second leg in Barcelona.
Ellis also journeyed with the English touring side in Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
in the Summer of 1953. He was the referee in charge of the abandoned game in Buenos Aires
Estadio Monumental Antonio Vespucio Liberti
Estadio Monumental Antonio Vespucio Liberti, is a stadium in the Belgrano district of Buenos Aires, Argentina at the intersection of Figueroa Alcorta and Udaondo. It is the home venue of Club Atlético River Plate and is named after former club president Antonio Vespucio Liberti...
against Argentina
Argentina national football team
The Argentina national football team represents Argentina in association football and is controlled by the Argentine Football Association , the governing body for football in Argentina. Argentina's home stadium is Estadio Monumental Antonio Vespucio Liberti and their head coach is Alejandro...
on 17 May when it rained so much that he called the players off the field after 23 minutes. This tour began, three days before, with the representative match in the River Plate
Estadio Monumental Antonio Vespucio Liberti
Estadio Monumental Antonio Vespucio Liberti, is a stadium in the Belgrano district of Buenos Aires, Argentina at the intersection of Figueroa Alcorta and Udaondo. It is the home venue of Club Atlético River Plate and is named after former club president Antonio Vespucio Liberti...
stadium. Ellis had been bitten by a mosquito and been told he could not officiate but he refused to follow the medical advice and was later dubbed 'the yellow rat' by some of the English players for his performance. ['England v Argentina: World Cups and other Wars', (ed. Downing) p. 63)]
An Argentinian side San Lorenzo
Club Atlético San Lorenzo de Almagro
Club Atlético San Lorenzo de Almagro is an Argentine sports club based in Boedo neighbourhood, Buenos Aires, mostly known because of its football team....
were the opponents during the abandoned game at Highfield Road, against Coventry City in January 1956. In the first half, after awarding a penalty, Ellis was kicked by Jose Sanfilippo
José Sanfilippo
José Francisco "El Nene" Sanfilippo is a former Argentine footballer.During his club career he played for San Lorenzo, Boca Juniors and Banfield in Argentina, Nacional in Uruguay and Bangu and SC Bahia in Brazil He also earned 29 caps and scored 21 goals for the Argentina national football team,...
and abandoned the game when the player refused to walk from the field of play. "Those people", Ellis wrote, "must learn sportsmanship and we must teach them. South Americans are more excitable and more passionate than we are. They do crazy things, impulsively, then a few minutes later they are genuinely and deeply sorry". (quoted in Downing, above).
1955–56 European Cup
Ellis' role in the first European Cup competition was extensive, refereeing those matches played by HibernianHibernian F.C.
Hibernian Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Leith, in the north of Edinburgh. They are one of two Scottish Premier League clubs in the city, the other being their Edinburgh derby rivals, Hearts...
from the second round until the semi-final before being selected for the Final in Paris
Parc des Princes
The Parc des Princes is an all-seater football stadium located in the southwest of Paris, France. The venue, with a seating capacity of 48,712 spectators, has been the home of French football club Paris Saint-Germain since 1974. The current Parc des Princes was inaugurated on 4 June 1972, endowed...
. Ellis had been informed that he would need to provide the linesmen for the European Cup match against Rot-Weiss Essen
Rot-Weiss Essen
Rot-Weiss Essen is a German association football club based in Essen, North Rhine-Westphalia.- Early years :The club was formed as SV Vogelheim on 1 February 1907 out of the merger of two smaller clubs: SC Preussen and Deutsche Eiche. In 1910, Vogelheim came to an arrangement with Turnerbund...
. He wrote: "I managed to obtain the services of Jimmy Catlin (Rochdale) and Frank Ellis, then on the Yorkshire League
Yorkshire Football League
The Yorkshire Football League was a football competition founded in 1920 which existed until 1982 when it merged with the Midland League to become the Northern Counties East League.-Original League:...
and now a Football League linesman. He is my younger brother. We officiated first at the first leg and, at the request of UEFA
UEFA
The Union of European Football Associations , almost always referred to by its acronym UEFA is the administrative and controlling body for European association football, futsal and beach soccer....
, the same three - with Frank Ellis of the Yorkshire League still included! - were again appointed to take the second round (both legs) between Hibs
Hibernian F.C.
Hibernian Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Leith, in the north of Edinburgh. They are one of two Scottish Premier League clubs in the city, the other being their Edinburgh derby rivals, Hearts...
and the Swedish
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
champions. We also acted in the second leg of the semi-final involving Hibs
Hibernian F.C.
Hibernian Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Leith, in the north of Edinburgh. They are one of two Scottish Premier League clubs in the city, the other being their Edinburgh derby rivals, Hearts...
and the fine French team Rheims.
"I was chosen to referee the first-ever Final of this new competition ... Just when I thought that the linesmen ... would be there once more, the Football Association
The Football Association
The Football Association, also known as simply The FA, is the governing body of football in England, and the Crown Dependencies of Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man. It was formed in 1863, and is the oldest national football association...
stepped in and said it would soon be regarded by others as a closed shop. Despite the request of Rheims for an 'unchanged team', I was given two linesmen this time - Messrs. J. Parkinson, of Blackburn, and Tommy Cooper, of Bolton." [The Final Whistle, 1962, ed. Ellis, pp. 94–5].
Later life
Ellis became well known in the UK for acting as a referee in the gameshow It's a KnockoutIt's a Knockout
It's a Knockout was adapted from the French show Intervilles. It ran between from 7 August 1966 to 25 December 1988 on BBC1, 28 May 1990 on ITV, 3 August 1991 to 24 December 1994 on S4C and from 3 September 1999 to 6 January 2001 on Channel 5, produced by Richard Hearsey and Ronin Entertainment...
, where his dipstick became internationally recognised. He also featured as a pools panellist
Football pools
A football pool, often collectively referred to as "the pools", is a betting pool based on predicting the outcome of top-level association football matches set to take place in the coming week. The pools are typically cheap to enter, with the potential to win huge money. Entries were traditionally...
under Lord Brabazon
John Moore-Brabazon, 1st Baron Brabazon of Tara
John Theodore Cuthbert Moore-Brabazon, 1st Baron Brabazon of Tara, GBE, MC, PC was an English aviation pioneer and Conservative politician...
. Ellis died of prostate cancer
Prostate cancer
Prostate cancer is a form of cancer that develops in the prostate, a gland in the male reproductive system. Most prostate cancers are slow growing; however, there are cases of aggressive prostate cancers. The cancer cells may metastasize from the prostate to other parts of the body, particularly...
in 1999 aged 84.
Ellis published his autobiography in 1954 "Refereeing Around the World", which detailed the high points of his refereeing career as well as showing 19 pictures.