Said Belqola

Said Belqola ( _ar. سعيد بلقولة) (born August 30, 1956 – died June 15, 2002) was a football referee from Morocco, best known for officiating the 1998 FIFA World Cup final between Brazil and France, being the first African referee to officiate a World Cup final.

Belqola's international career began when he was appointed to the international list in 1993, going on to referee the match between France and England at the Tournoi de France in 1997. He was also among the referees at the final tournaments of the Africa Cup of Nations in 1996 and 1998, officiating two matches at each of the two tournaments. [http://www.weltfussball.de/schiedsrichter_profil.php?id=17635] At the 1998 FIFA World Cup finals, he also officiated two group matches (Germany vs. United States and Argentina vs. Croatia). [http://www.weltfussball.de/schiedsrichter_profil.php?id=17635&saison_id=319&sr_typ=1&modus=3]

Belqola was born in Tiflet, Morocco and worked in Fez as a civil servant as a customs officer. He presented the ball from the 1998 World Cup final to the French Football Federation after accepting payment which he donated to local charities in Tiflet.

Belqola died on June 15, 2002 after a long battle with cancer. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/africa/2046956.stm] He was buried in Tiflet.