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Tom "Tiny" WhartonOBE (3 November 1927 inGlasgow – 9 May 2005 inNewton Mearns) was a Scottishfootballreferee in the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s. Known asTiny, due to his colossal 6'4" frame, he was one of the most iconic and respected officials of his generation.
He was raised in theParkhead area of Glasgow; the brothersJohn Cairney (actor and writer) andJim Cairney (footballer withYork City) were childhood acquaintances.[1]
Anengineer by profession, Wharton took up refereeing at the age of 21 and had reached Class I status within 3 years.[2] He refereed a number of important and high-profile games during his career, including theScottish Cup finals of1961–62,1962–63,1965–66 and1970–71, and theLeague Cup finals of1960–61, 1962–63,1966–67 and 1970-71.
Wharton's prowess was recognised outsideScotland as well and he officiated 16 international matches, fromBelfast toBrazil. He also oversaw 24 international club fixtures, including the1962Cup Winners Cup Final betweenAtlético Madrid andFiorentina atHampden Park. He officiated in qualifying matches for the1962[3] and1970[4] World Cups, as well asUEFA Euro 1968 qualifying.[5]
In later years, Wharton was chairman of theScottish Football Association's Referee Supervisors Committee between 1976 and 1990 and served as part ofFIFA's Referees Committee between 1981 and 2000. He was awarded the OBE in 1990 for his services toScottish football and FIFA's Order of Merit in Gold in 1992. He was described by FIFA presidentSepp Blatter as "one of the world's most distinguished refereeing officials".[6] In 2003, he retired from the SFA's Referee Supervisors Committee.[7]