John Carpenter (referee)

John Walter Carpenter (22 August 1936 – 30 May 2021) was an Irish professional football referee who officiated primarily in the League of Ireland from 1964 to 1984, as well as for FIFA as a FIFA international referee from 1969 to 1984.

Career
Carpenter took up refereeing in the early 1960s when his playing career with St Patrick's Athletic was cut short by a broken leg. He progressed through the Dublin & District Schoolboys' League, the Leinster Junior League and the Athletic Union League before joining the League of Ireland panel in 1964.

Carpenter also had a distinguished career in European club competitions, refereeing 37 matches and culminating in the 1982 UEFA Cup Final. He also refereed 15 full international matches between 1970 and 1983; however, he failed to make the referee panel for the 1974 FIFA World Cup, instead being selected as a reserve referee. When the North American Soccer League was launched, Carpenter was one of a small number of European referees who were invited to officiate.

Personal life
Carpenter was born in Donnycarney, Dublin and originally worked as a butcher with Olhausen's in Talbot Street. He died at his Clontarf home on 30 May 2021, aged 84.