Charles Corver

Who is Charles Corver?

Charles George Reinier Corver is a former Dutch football referee.

He was decorated twice by the Queen and the football association.

He is remembered for his controversial decision in the 1982 World Cup semifinal between Germany and France in Seville, Spain, when he deemed goalkeeper Harald Schumacher's collision with Patrick Battiston to be not a foul. It is regularly considered to have been one of the worst refereeing decisions ever made.

Corver was referee at two World Cups and two European championships. He refereed four European Cup finals, ten semifinals and a final World Cup for clubs in Argentina. More than 140 international matches and more than 600 national matches. After his last final in Portugal he was observer for UEFA-FIFA and KNVB for 22 years and member of the disciplinary commity for sixteen years. His profession was national sales manager at Heineken.