Robert Holley "Bobby" Davidson (19 July 1928 – 17 December 1993) was a Scottish Association football, football Referee (association football), referee who also operated for FIFA.

Career

He was Scotland's representative at the 1962 FIFA World Cup, 1962, 1970 FIFA World Cup, 1970 and 1974 FIFA World Cup, 1974 World Cups. He additionally took charge of the England v Rest of the World (1963), match between England national football team, England and the Rest of the World in October 1963 which celebrated the centenary of The Football Association, and refereed the 1975 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup Final between FC Dynamo Kyiv, Dynamo Kiev and Ferencvárosi TC, Ferencváros. Davidson refereed four matches over his World Cup career; two games in 1962, and a single game in each of the other competitions. In the 1962 tournament in Chile, he took charge of the Group B match between Italy national football team, Italy and West Germany national football team, West Germany on 31 May 1962, plus West Germany against Chile national football team, Chile on 6 June 1962, in the same group. He was also one of the Assistant referee (association football), linesmen during the 1962 FIFA World Cup Final, Final between Brazil national football team, Brazil and Czechoslovakia national football team, Czechoslovakia on 17 June 1962 at the Estadio Nacional de Chile, Estadio Nacional, Santiago under referee Nikolay Latyshev. The match he handled in 1970 was the group stage tie between Uruguay national football team, Uruguay and Israel national football team, Israel on 2 June 1970. He was also a Assistant referee (association football), linesman for the group match involving the Soviet Union national football team, Soviet Union versus Belgium national football team, Belgium on 6 June 1970, and again for the quarter-final on 14 June 1970, when Uruguay beat the Soviet Union 1–0. In Germany four years later, he refereed Netherlands national football team, the Netherlands against Argentina national football team, Argentina in a second phase group game on 29 June 1974. He was linesman for Poland national football team, Poland against Argentina in a group game on 15 June 1974, and also for Chile versus East Germany national football team, East Germany in another group match played on 18 June 1974. In addition, Davidson was a linesman during the second phase group match between the Netherlands and Brazil national football team, Brazil on 3 July 1974.1974 World cup second phase
the Netherlands v. Brazil (linesman): ''PlanetWorldCup.com'' website. Before the 1974 FIFA World Cup#Final, 1974 Final there was much speculation in the Scottish press that he would referee the final, some suggesting this as a sort of 'consolation prize' for Scotland national football team, Scotland being eliminated from that year's tournament without losing a game. The final was actually refereed by England's Jack Taylor (referee), Jack Taylor. Bobby Davidson later became a director and honorary chairman of Airdrieonians and served on the Scottish league management committee. He died on 23 December 1993, at the age of 65.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Davidson, Bobby 1928 births 1993 deaths Scottish football referees FIFA World Cup referees 1974 FIFA World Cup referees 1970 FIFA World Cup referees 1962 FIFA World Cup referees Directors of football clubs in Scotland Scottish Football League referees