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Peter PrendengastFootball referee, Jamaican-born
Date of Birth: 23.09.1963
Country:  Jamaica |
Content:
Early Life and Career
Peter Prendergast was born on September 23, 1963, in Jamaica. A native Jamaican, Prendergast possesses fluency in both his native English and Spanish, making him a renowned bilingual.
FIFA Referee
Prendergast's exceptional refereeing skills led him to become a FIFA referee on January 1, 1994. His debut international match as a referee was between the United States and Ireland on June 9, 1996. He has since officiated numerous matches, including the CONCACAF Gold Cup (1996, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2005), the Olympic Games, the FIFA World Cup (2002), and the Confederations Cup (2005).
Controversial 2002 World Cup and Retirement
Prendergast was one of the referees for the 2002 FIFA World Cup in Japan and South Korea. During the Round of 16 match between Brazil and Belgium, he disallowed a legitimate goal by Belgian striker Marc Wilmots, a decision deemed incorrect by television replays. Prendergast's call, made despite being the only official to observe the alleged infraction, sparked outrage among fans, commentators, and players alike.
Despite Wilmots and other Belgian players stating that Prendergast apologized in the dressing room after the match, the referee denied this account through Jamaican and Belgian newspapers. He alleged that Wilmots misquoted him and threatened legal action. The Belgian Football Federation supported Wilmots' version of events.
Brazil went on to win the World Cup that year, with many players later acknowledging the Belgium match as their toughest encounter. The Belgian team was awarded the FIFA Fair Play Award for their conduct during the tournament. Prendergast faced intense criticism from the global sporting community and initially announced his retirement from refereeing in late 2002, though he later reversed his decision.
2006 World Cup Injury
Despite being named to the refereeing team for the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany, Prendergast suffered a knee injury two weeks before the tournament, preventing him from participating.
