Inside the Game: A Referee’s Perspective with Keith Hackett

Keith Hackett (born 22 June 1944) is a former English football referee. He began refereeing in Sheffield in 1960 and eventually became one of the top 100 referees according to the IFFHS. Hackett advanced through the ranks, becoming a Football League linesman in 1972 and a full referee by 1976. He officiated notable matches, including the 1981 FA Cup Final and the 1986 League Cup Final. Internationally, Hackett refereed in the 1988 European Championships and the Olympic semi-final between Brazil and West Germany. After retiring in 1994, he worked as a referee assessor and became general manager of the Professional Game Match Officials Board in 2004. Hackett has authored several books on refereeing and contributed to the long-running cartoon quiz You Are The Ref.