BC History: The First Canadian to Officiate a World Cup Match.

Werner Winsemann is the only Canadian to be Centre Referee in a Men's FIFA World Cup Finals match.

Born in Bremen, Germany in January 1933, Werner Winsemann moved to Canada in 1954. In 1960, Werner became a Canadian citizen and began refereeing and was a National Referee by 1970, then a FIFA Referee from 1971 to 1980. Over his career, he would be appointed to the 1974 and 1978 World Cup tournaments and the 1972 and 1976 Olympic Games. 

Appointed as the center referee for the match between Netherlands vs. Sweden in 1974, Werner is still to date the only Canadian to be the Centre Referee of a men's FIFA World Cup Finals match. Werner refereed in the North American Soccer League from 1975 to 1981, most notably the 1975 Soccer Bowl championship and the 1980 Franz Beckenbauer Farewell Match.

Werner Winsemann was a BC Soccer Director from 1978-80, was a National Referee Assessor with Canada Soccer and inducted to the Canada Soccer Hall of Fame in 2000, before being recognized as a BC Soccer Life Member in 2014. 

Due to his immense contributions to referees over the years, the BC Soccer Referee of the Year award to honor Werner's achievements. 

To Learn more about the first, and only, Canadian referee to take charge of a Men's FIFA World Cup, visit the BC Soccer Heritage and Hall of Fame.