Pieter Vink
Encyclopedia
Pieter Vink is a Dutch
football referee, who also officiates for FIFA
and UEFA
. He was the first referee to take charge of a match at the "New Wembley Stadium
" in 2007. His other occupation was as a police officer
, eventually giving this up to become a full-time referee. His main other hobby is golf
.
C-List in 1993, progressing to the competition's B-List in 1996 and then becoming a referee on the country's A-List in 2001. dec.
Internationally, he has been a FIFA
referee since 2004, also debuting as a referee in the UEFA Cup
in the same year, and then being appointed to the 2005 UEFA European Under-19 Football Championship Final at Windsor Park
, Belfast
, on July 29, 2005, when France
defeated England
3–1.
He was given the considerable honour of handling the first official match to be played at the newly-rebuilt Wembley Stadium
on March 24, 2007, a 'friendly
' between England Under-21
and Italy Under-21
which finished 3–3.
In 2007, he refereed his first match in the UEFA Champions League
, a qualifying tie between Steaua Bucharest of Romania
and FC BATE
of Belarus
, having been promoted to UEFA
's Elite list in July. He went on to handle three more games in the Group stage of the competition in that year. Vink was referee for the Euro 2008 qualifying match between Scotland
and the Ukraine
on October 13, 2007 at Hampden Park
, Glasgow
, when the Ukrainians were effectively eliminated after a 3–1 defeat. Subsequently, he took charge of Northern Ireland
's 2–1 win over Denmark
at Windsor Park, Belfast, on November 17, 2007.
Vink refereed the all-English Champions League quarter final first leg between Arsenal
and Liverpool
at the Emirates Stadium
on April 2, 2008. In the 66th minute of the match, Vink denied a penalty to Arsenal that should have been given despite Liverpool's Dirk Kuyt
"tangling with Alexander Hleb inside the area". Kuyt also refuted allegations that his fellow countryman had done him "favours" by ignoring the incident. "There were no favours. The referee called it right. To be honest I did touch Hleb but I never pulled his shirt or held him. He didn't deserve a penalty for that. It was close, but he didn't deserve a penalty," he said.
and Switzerland
in summer 2008. He refereed the third match of the competition between hosts Austria
and Croatia
.
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
football referee, who also officiates for 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...
and 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....
. He was the first referee to take charge of a match at the "New Wembley Stadium
Wembley Stadium
The original Wembley Stadium, officially known as the Empire Stadium, was a football stadium in Wembley, a suburb of north-west London, standing on the site now occupied by the new Wembley Stadium that opened in 2007...
" in 2007. His other occupation was as a police officer
Police officer
A police officer is a warranted employee of a police force...
, eventually giving this up to become a full-time referee. His main other hobby is golf
Golf
Golf is a precision club and ball sport, in which competing players use many types of clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a golf course using the fewest number of strokes....
.
Career
Vink began refereeing in 1987, and was elected to the EredivisieEredivisie
The Eredivisie is the highest football league in the Netherlands. The league was founded in 1956 two years after the start of professional football in the Netherlands. It is currently ranked the ninth best league in Europe by UEFA....
C-List in 1993, progressing to the competition's B-List in 1996 and then becoming a referee on the country's A-List in 2001. dec.
Internationally, he has been a 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...
referee since 2004, also debuting as a referee in the UEFA Cup
UEFA Cup
The UEFA Europa League is an annual association football cup competition organised by UEFA since 1971 for eligible European football clubs. It is the second most prestigious European club football contest after the UEFA Champions League...
in the same year, and then being appointed to the 2005 UEFA European Under-19 Football Championship Final at Windsor Park
Windsor Park
Windsor Park is a football stadium in Belfast, Northern Ireland and the home ground of Linfield F.C. and the Northern Ireland national football team. It is also where the Irish Cup and Irish League Cup finals are played.-History:...
, Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
, on July 29, 2005, when France
France national under-19 football team
The France national under-19 football team is the national under-19 football team of France and is controlled by the French Football Federation. The team competes in the annual UEFA European Under-19 Football Championship. They were the 2010 champions of the competition having won on home soil...
defeated England
England national under-19 football team
-Other matches:-Latest squad:The following players were named in the squad for the friendly match against Denmark.- Recent call-ups :The following players have also been called up to the England under-19 squad and remain eligible.-Past squads:...
3–1.
He was given the considerable honour of handling the first official match to be played at the newly-rebuilt Wembley Stadium
Wembley Stadium
The original Wembley Stadium, officially known as the Empire Stadium, was a football stadium in Wembley, a suburb of north-west London, standing on the site now occupied by the new Wembley Stadium that opened in 2007...
on March 24, 2007, a 'friendly
Exhibition game
An exhibition game is a sporting event in which there is no competitive value of any significant kind to any competitor regardless of the outcome of the competition...
' between England Under-21
England national under-21 football team
England's national Under-21 football team, also known as England Under-21s or England U21, is considered to be the feeder team for the England national football team....
and Italy Under-21
Italy national under-21 football team
The Italy national under-21 football team is the national under-21 football team of Italy and is controlled by the Italian Football Federation.The team competes in the UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship, held every two years...
which finished 3–3.
In 2007, he refereed his first match in the UEFA Champions League
UEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
, a qualifying tie between Steaua Bucharest of Romania
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
and FC BATE
FC BATE
FC BATE Borisov is a Belarusian football team playing in the city of Borisov. They compete in the Belarusian Premier League and are the reigning champions. BATE are the only Belarusian team to have qualified for the group stage of the UEFA Champions League and for the group stage of the UEFA...
of Belarus
Belarus
Belarus , officially the Republic of Belarus, is a landlocked country in Eastern Europe, bordered clockwise by Russia to the northeast, Ukraine to the south, Poland to the west, and Lithuania and Latvia to the northwest. Its capital is Minsk; other major cities include Brest, Grodno , Gomel ,...
, having been promoted to 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....
's Elite list in July. He went on to handle three more games in the Group stage of the competition in that year. Vink was referee for the Euro 2008 qualifying match between Scotland
Scotland national football team
The Scotland national football team represents Scotland in international football and is controlled by the Scottish Football Association. Scotland are the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside England, whom they played in the world's first international football match in 1872...
and the Ukraine
Ukraine national football team
The Ukraine national football team is the national football team of Ukraine and is controlled by the Football Federation of Ukraine. After Ukrainian Independence and breakaway from the Soviet Union, they played their first match against Hungary on 29 April 1992...
on October 13, 2007 at Hampden Park
Hampden Park
Hampden Park is a football stadium in the Mount Florida area of Glasgow, Scotland. The 52,063 capacity venue serves as the national stadium of football in Scotland...
, Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
, when the Ukrainians were effectively eliminated after a 3–1 defeat. Subsequently, he took charge of Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland national football team
The Northern Ireland national football team represents Northern Ireland in international association football. Before 1921 all of Ireland was represented by a single side, the Ireland national football team, organised by the Irish Football Association...
's 2–1 win over Denmark
Denmark national football team
The Denmark national football team represents Denmark in association football and is controlled by the Danish Football Association , the governing body for the football clubs which are organized under DBU...
at Windsor Park, Belfast, on November 17, 2007.
Vink refereed the all-English Champions League quarter final first leg between Arsenal
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
and Liverpool
Liverpool F.C.
Liverpool Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Liverpool, Merseyside. Liverpool has won eighteen League titles, second most in English football, seven FA Cups and a record seven League Cups...
at the Emirates Stadium
Emirates Stadium
Ashburton Grove, currently known as the Emirates Stadium, is a UEFA elite football stadium which is home to Arsenal FC, where they moved from Highbury in 2006. It has an current capacity of 60,361, and there have been rumours of an expansion...
on April 2, 2008. In the 66th minute of the match, Vink denied a penalty to Arsenal that should have been given despite Liverpool's Dirk Kuyt
Dirk Kuyt
Dirk Kuyt is a Dutch footballer who plays for English club Liverpool. He started his career as a striker, but he has been converted into a winger and plays the position for both Liverpool and the Netherlands national team....
"tangling with Alexander Hleb inside the area". Kuyt also refuted allegations that his fellow countryman had done him "favours" by ignoring the incident. "There were no favours. The referee called it right. To be honest I did touch Hleb but I never pulled his shirt or held him. He didn't deserve a penalty for that. It was close, but he didn't deserve a penalty," he said.
Euro 2008
On December 19, 2007, it was announced that Vink would head the Dutch team of officials selected for the Euro 2008 competition proper, held in AustriaAustria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
and Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
in summer 2008. He refereed the third match of the competition between hosts Austria
Austria national football team
The Austria national football team is the association football team that represents the country of Austria in international competition and is controlled by the Austrian Football Association ....
and Croatia
Croatia national football team
The Croatia national football team represents Croatia in international football. The team is controlled by the Croatian Football Federation, the governing body for football in the country, and has been managed since 2006 by former player Slaven Bilić...
.