Said Belqola

Said Belqola (Arabic: سعيد بلقولة; August 30, 1956 – June 15, 2002) was a Moroccan football referee, 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.

Said Belqola

Full name	Said Belqola
Born	(1956-08-30)August 30, 1956 Tiflet, Morocco
Died	June 15, 2002(2002-06-15) (aged 45) Rabat, Morocco
Other occupation	Customs officer
Domestic
Years	League	Role
1979–1986	League	Referee
1987–1989	Inter-league	Referee
1990–1992	Federal	Referee
International
Years	League	Role
1993–2002	FIFA listed	Referee

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 tournaments.^[1] At the 1998 FIFA World Cup finals, he also officiated two group matches (Germany vs. USA and Argentina vs. Croatia).^[2]

Belqola was born in Tiflet, Morocco and worked in Fez as a civil servant as a customs officer.

Belqola died on June 15, 2002, after a long battle against cancer.^[3] He was buried in Tiflet.