 |
Eldar AzimadzeSoviet football referee, FIFA referee
Date of Birth: 25.05.1934
Country:  Azerbaijan |
Content:
- The Life of a FIFA Referee: Eldar Azimzade
- Notable Match Assignments
- European Cup Matches
- - AEK (Greece) vs. Porto (Portugal) (1978)
- Domestic Achievements
The Life of a FIFA Referee: Eldar Azimzade
Early Career and International DebutElmar Azimzade began his career as a football referee in the Soviet Union. In 1979, he received FIFA certification, officially becoming an international referee.
His international debut came at the inaugural FIFA World Youth Championship held in Tunisia in 1977. He officiated three matches: Algeria vs. Syria, Argentina vs. Austria, and Spain vs. Tunisia.
Notable Match Assignments
Throughout his career, Azimzade refereed significant international matches, including:
- World Cup qualifiers: Denmark vs. Portugal (1978), Belgium vs. Netherlands (1980)
- European Championship qualifiers: Germany vs. Poland, Belgium vs. Scotland (1979)
European Cup Matches
In the UEFA Cup, Azimzade oversaw matches involving top European clubs:
- AEK (Greece) vs. Porto (Portugal) (1978)
- Torino (Italy) vs. Stuttgart (Germany) (1978)- Barcelona (Spain) vs. Ipswich Town (England) (1979)
- Memphis (Austria) vs. Aberdeen (Scotland) (1980)
- Grasshoppers (Switzerland) vs. Sochaux (France) (1980)
- Crvena Zvezda (Yugoslavia) vs. Arsenal (England) (1980)
Olympic Glory and Recognition
In 1980, Azimzade reached the pinnacle of his career when he officiated the final match of the summer Olympics between East Germany and Czechoslovakia. After the game, he was awarded a gold medal and an honorary diploma by Juan-Antonio Samaranch and João Havelange, the presidents of the International Olympic Committee and FIFA, respectively.
Domestic Achievements
Azimzade was renowned in his home country as well. He was named the USSR's top referee thrice and officiated 148 Soviet football championship matches. Additionally, he was recognized as one of the seven best referees in the USSR eight times.
