Ali Bin Nasser

Ali Bin Nasser (also spelled Ali Bennaceur, born 2 March 1944) is a former Tunisian football referee.^[1]

1986 FIFA World Cup

He refereed the match between Argentina and England in the 1986 FIFA World Cup, where the "Hand of God" and the "Goal of the Century" were scored by Argentine captain Diego Maradona to win the march. For the "Hand of God" goal, Maradona punched the ball into the net, however, Bin Nasser claimed that he did not see this and that Maradona had headed the ball.

At the 1986 FIFA World Cup finals, he was also the first official in the group match between Poland and Portugal as well as an assistant in three further matches at the tournament, including the round of 16 fixture between Denmark and Spain.^[2] He never officiated a FIFA World Cup match again after 1986 tournament.

On 17 August 2015, Maradona visited Bin Nasser at his home in Tunisia and paid tribute to him, offering him an Argentine jersey bearing his signature and called him "my eternal friend."^[3][4][5][6]

References

1. Ali Bin Nasser - Einsätze
2. Ali Bin Nasser - Einsätze
3. 29 YEARS ON FROM THE INFAMOUS ARGENTINA-ENGLAND MATCH, Maradona holds up his hands in apology, Marca.com, 17 august 2015
4. 'My eternal friend': Diego Maradona meets infamous ref who gave 'Hand of God' goal, Daily Star, 18 august 2015
5. Maradona visits Tunisian referee who awarded him 1986 “Hand of God” goal, El Pais, 18 august 2015
6. Maradona meets infamous ‘hand of God’ referee in Tunisia, EL Arabiya news sport, 18 august 2015