Thomas Balvay
Encyclopedia
Thomas Balvay was a football referee in the 1920s and 1930s and one of four Europe
an referees who participated in the first FIFA World Cup
in 1930 in Uruguay
. He was the only match official from France
at the tournament.
, an English football historian, has stated that Balvay may have been an Englishman living in Paris
during the 1920s and, as such, he would be one of the first Englishman to have participated in a FIFA World Cup
. Freddi writes: "Balway is believed to have been an Englishman living in Paris. The French FA website calls him Georges Balvay, but this is apparently an error (contemporary French sources spell it Balway and several sources call him John".
This has been used by others to underline that he was indeed an Englishman who lived and worked in Paris in the 1920s.
record his name as both Georges Balvay and Thomas Balvay. FIFA indicates that his name was John Balway.
(in 1926 and 1928).
He travelled to Uruguay on the SS Conte Verde
, which also took Jules Rimet
and the French, Belgian, Romanian and Brazilian teams to the first World Cup; picking up the teams en route from Genoa to Rio de Janeiro before disembarking at Montevideo
harbour.
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
an referees who participated in the first FIFA World Cup
1930 FIFA World Cup
The 1930 FIFA World Cup was the inaugural FIFA World Cup, the world championship for men's national association football teams. It took place in Uruguay from 13 July to 30 July 1930...
in 1930 in Uruguay
Uruguay
Uruguay ,officially the Oriental Republic of Uruguay,sometimes the Eastern Republic of Uruguay; ) is a country in the southeastern part of South America. It is home to some 3.5 million people, of whom 1.8 million live in the capital Montevideo and its metropolitan area...
. He was the only match official from France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
at the tournament.
The Mystery
However, Cris FreddiCris Freddi
Cris Freddi is a British author.Freddi was born in Reading, England. He was educated at Reading School and then Oxford University, where he was lead singer in the Les Milkins Band. Since then, he has written books on sport, short stories and novels. He has also written articles for the football...
, an English football historian, has stated that Balvay may have been an Englishman living in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
during the 1920s and, as such, he would be one of the first Englishman to have participated in a FIFA World Cup
FIFA World Cup
The FIFA World Cup, often simply the World Cup, is an international association football competition contested by the senior men's national teams of the members of Fédération Internationale de Football Association , the sport's global governing body...
. Freddi writes: "Balway is believed to have been an Englishman living in Paris. The French FA website calls him Georges Balvay, but this is apparently an error (contemporary French sources spell it Balway and several sources call him John".
This has been used by others to underline that he was indeed an Englishman who lived and worked in Paris in the 1920s.
His Name
There is also dispute as to the correct spelling of his name. The French Football FederationFrench Football Federation
The French Football Federation is the governing body of association football in France, as well as the overseas departments and territories . It was formed in 1919 and is based in the capital Paris...
record his name as both Georges Balvay and Thomas Balvay. FIFA indicates that his name was John Balway.
Career
He had been an international referee since 1922 and twice refereed the Coupe de FranceCoupe de France
The Coupe Charles Simon, commonly known as the Coupe de France , is the premier knockout cup competition in French football organized by the French Football Federation...
(in 1926 and 1928).
He travelled to Uruguay on the SS Conte Verde
SS Conte Verde
SS Conte Verde was an Italian Lloyd Sabaudo Line ocean liner active in the early 20th century.It was built in 1923 and had a GRT of 18.765. She originally provided transatlantic passenger transport between Genoa and New York City. After acquisition by Italian Line in 1932, she became a part of...
, which also took Jules Rimet
Jules Rimet
Jules Rimet was a French football administrator who was the 3rd President of FIFA, serving from 1921 to 1954. He was FIFA's longest serving president, having served for 33 years. He also served as the president of the French Football Federation from 1919 to 1946...
and the French, Belgian, Romanian and Brazilian teams to the first World Cup; picking up the teams en route from Genoa to Rio de Janeiro before disembarking at Montevideo
Montevideo
Montevideo is the largest city, the capital, and the chief port of Uruguay. The settlement was established in 1726 by Bruno Mauricio de Zabala, as a strategic move amidst a Spanish-Portuguese dispute over the platine region, and as a counter to the Portuguese colony at Colonia del Sacramento...
harbour.