Bio
Frank de Bleeckere
Born: 1966-07-01
Intl. since: 1998-01-01
Hometown: Oudenaarde
Country: Belgium
Speaks: Dutch, French, English, German
Occupation: Public Relations Manager
Hobbies: Golf, Movies, Music, Tennis, Traveling, Running, Squash

A third generation referee, Belgian Frank de Bleeckere started as a football player, but too often injured he decided to change his career. Belgian's World Cup record holder with 7 matches had to retire at the end of 2011 because of the age limit.

International

Frank de Bleeckere started in 1984 and got his FIFA badge in 1998. He worked his way up from the amateurs to the very top, which is - as he stated in an interview - the best way to become a good referee.

matches

The list is too long, please see his palmares. Frank has been everywhere and seen everything, but there is one thing missing: an important final.

We will never know for sure how far he would have gone, but the reason why the Belgian referee did not reach the semis (or higher) in the 2010 World Cup was the fact that both Belgian's neighbour countries, Germany and The Netherlands reached the last 4.

2012

In 2012 Frank got a job with FIFA as one of the 16 "Refereeing Technical Advisosr".

Did you know
FRANK DE BLEECKERE

  • Frank de Bleeckere won WorldReferee's golden whistle in 2006 and the bronze whistle in 2008.
  • As a teenager after school, Frank was a DJ for a pirate radio station.
  • In interviews Frank de Bleeckere stated that he considers humour, making little jokes, essential for a referee. Rather than punishing a player who cursed at him after a decision, he likes to wait till the player makes a mistake and then rub it in.
  • In 2004 it was alleged that the Belgian Football Association (KBVB) purposefully ignored the result of a vote by which De Bleeckere lost his number one position in Belgium. Johan Verbist and Paul Allaerts who came up on top of De Bleeckere had a lower FIFA ranking and without some fumbling Belgium wouldn't have a referee at the European Championships.
  • In Belgium the referee designator (Jeurissen) is from the province of Limburg and all referees who are not from there complain about his policy of assigning refs from Limburg and Antwerp to important matches. Especially the French speakers say the don't get a chance. Another complaint is that the 3 main refs (De Bleeckere, Allaerts and Gumienny) always choose the same (Dutch speaking) assistants.
  • Twice the windows of his home were smashed by angry supporters. After a match between Anderlecht and Club Brugge in 2002, hooligans did some damage to De Bleeckere's house in Volkegem, Belgium.
    Ironically, of the three men arrested two were Anderlecht fans and one was a Bruges fan.
  • When prepairing for a match Frank always makes sure he puts on his left shoe first. He also insists on pasta for lunch on the day of the match and a banana.
  • Frank took his own pillow along to the World Cup 2006.
  • In real life De Bleeckere is a sales manger for a company that manufactures doors and stairs.
  • Not every player reacts the same, so De Bleeckere believes he has to treat them accordingly. Therefore he has to know the players well.
  • Frank de Bleeckere has a website. Frank, or someone else writes a blog about his training schedule with pictures of the places he has been to. Mostly of all the guys standing in a stadium with Frank in the middle.
  • Frank de Bleeckere here seen with one of his assistants vandalizing the Basel stadium
  • Frank (red shirt) )and the other referees of the World Cup Under 20 in Cairo 2009.
  • De Bleeckere co-designed and introduced a football shoe especially for referees. It was about time, because referees are not shooters but runners. From the 2009-2010 season it's in use by referees inside Belgium's top league. There are two kinds, for solid and less solid ground. Soon they will be available in blue, a more friendly color; that's better for the image of referees, according to De Bleeckere.
  • For big matches Frank made preparations like a football trainer. He studied players, he studied teams; he knew their tactics for corners and free kicks. This knowledge gave him a lead where to be on the field and how to behave during a game.
Statistics
Statistics for FRANK DE BLEECKERE
Totals Home Away Total
Penalties 12 9 21
Fouls 0 0 0
Yellow 192 254 446
YellowRed 0 0 0
Red 12 14 26
Averages Home Away Total
Penalties 0.1 0.07 0.09
Fouls 0 0 0
Yellow 1.59 2.1 1.84
YellowRed 0 0 0
Red 0.1 0.12 0.11

Based on 121 international matches

Matches
MATCHES FOR FRANK DE BLEECKERE
Date Score Yellow Red Penalties Fouls
Champions League 2011-2012
group stageArsenalDortmund2011-11-232 - 1 4 (3-1)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)
group stageShakhtarZenit2011-10-192 - 2 4 (2-2)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)
group stageNapoliVillarreal2011-09-272 - 0 5 (2-3)0 (0-0)1 (1-0)0 (0-0)
qualifiers play-offsRubin KazanLyon2011-08-241 - 1 2 (1-1)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)
friendly
EnglandSpain2011-11-121 - 0 3 (1-2)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)
RussiaArgentina2009-08-122 - 3 1 (0-1)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)
SwitzerlandUSA2007-10-170 - 1 0 (0-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)
GermanySerbia and Montenegro2003-04-301 - 0 2 (0-2)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)
Germany u21Netherlands u211998-11-172 - 2 3 (2-1)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)
Euro 2012 qualifiers
SloveniaSerbia2011-10-111 - 0 4 (3-1)0 (0-0)1 (0-1)0 (0-0)
BulgariaEngland2011-09-020 - 3 3 (2-1)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)
RussiaSlovakia2010-09-070 - 1 2 (1-1)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)
Champions League 2010-2011
1/2 finalsBarcelonaReal Madrid2011-05-031 - 1 6 (1-5)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)
round of 16Tottenham HotspurAC Milan2011-03-090 - 0 3 (0-3)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)
group stagePartizanShakhtar2010-11-230 - 3 6 (3-3)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)
group stageHapoel Tel AvivSchalke 042010-11-020 - 0 6 (2-4)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)
group stageChelsea F.C.Marseille2010-09-282 - 0 3 (1-2)0 (0-0)1 (1-0)0 (0-0)
Champions League 2010-2011 qualifiers
play-offsYoung BoysTottenham Hotspur2010-08-173 - 2 3 (1-2)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)
WC 2010
round of 16ParaguayJapan2010-06-290 - 0 5 (1-4)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)
group stageUSAAlgeria2010-06-231 - 0 6 (2-4)1 (0-1)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)
group stageArgentinaKorea Republic2010-06-174 - 1 5 (3-2)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)
Champions League 2009-2010
1/2 finalsBarcelonaInternazionale2010-04-281 - 0 6 (1-5)1 (0-1)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)
1/4 finalsBayern MunichManchester United2010-03-302 - 1 5 (2-3)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)
round of 16ArsenalPorto2010-03-095 - 0 5 (2-3)0 (0-0)1 (1-0)0 (0-0)
group stageAPOELAtlético de Madrid2009-11-251 - 1 4 (2-2)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)
group stageLyonLiverpool2009-11-041 - 1 2 (1-1)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)
group stageReal MadridAC Milan2009-10-212 - 3 6 (3-3)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)
WC 2009 u20
finalGhana u20Brazil u202009-10-160 - 0 3 (0-3)1 (1-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)
group stageAustralia u20Brazil u202009-10-031 - 3 3 (2-1)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)
group stageNigeria u20Spain u202009-09-280 - 2 7 (2-5)1 (1-0)1 (0-1)0 (0-0)
group stageEgypt u20Trinidad and Tobago u202009-09-244 - 1 4 (3-1)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)
WC 2010 qualifiers - Europe
SwitzerlandGreece2009-09-052 - 0 4 (1-3)1 (0-1)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)
PortugalSweden2009-03-280 - 0 0 (0-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)
RomaniaFrance2008-10-112 - 2 3 (1-2)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)
Super Cup
BarcelonaShakhtar2009-08-281 - 0 6 (2-4)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)
UEFA Cup 2008 - 2009
1/2 finalsHamburger SVWerder Bremen2009-05-072 - 3 6 (3-3)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)
1/4 finalsDynamo KyivPSG2009-04-163 - 0 0 (0-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)
Champions League 2008-2009
1st knockoutLiverpoolReal Madrid2009-03-104 - 0 6 (3-3)0 (0-0)1 (1-0)0 (0-0)
group stageBordeauxChelsea F.C.2008-11-261 - 1 8 (3-5)1 (0-1)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)
Group stageManchester UnitedCeltic2008-10-213 - 0 2 (0-2)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)
group stageJuventusZenit2008-09-171 - 0 3 (1-2)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)
qualifiers 3rd roundAtlético de MadridSchalke 042008-08-274 - 0 7 (3-4)1 (0-1)1 (1-0)0 (0-0)
Euro 2008
1/2 finalsRussiaSpain2008-06-260 - 3 2 (2-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)
group stageRussiaSweden2008-06-182 - 0 5 (3-2)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)
group stageCroatiaGermany2008-06-122 - 1 6 (4-2)1 (0-1)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)
UEFA Cup 2007 - 2008
1/2 finalsFiorentinaGlasgow Rangers2008-05-010 - 0 4 (0-4)1 (0-1)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)
Champions League 2007-2008
1/4 finalsAS RomaManchester United2008-04-010 - 2 3 (2-1)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)
1st knockoutLiverpoolInternazionale2008-02-192 - 0 3 (0-3)1 (0-1)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)
group stageValenciaSchalke 042007-11-280 - 0 5 (2-3)1 (1-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)
group stageSportingAS Roma2007-11-072 - 2 6 (2-4)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)
group stageLazioReal Madrid2007-10-032 - 2 1 (0-1)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)
qualifiers 3rd roundArsenalSparta Prague2007-08-293 - 0 4 (1-3)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)
Euro 2008 qualifiers
MacedoniaCroatia2007-11-172 - 0 2 (2-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)
SwedenDenmark2007-09-080 - 0 6 (3-3)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)
ItalyScotland2007-03-282 - 0 0 (0-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)
Northern IrelandSpain2006-09-063 - 2 4 (2-2)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)
Champions League 2006-2007
1/2 finalsAC MilanManchester United2007-05-023 - 0 3 (2-1)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)
1/4 finalsChelsea F.C.Valencia2007-04-041 - 1 5 (2-3)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)
1st knockoutReal MadridBayern Munich2007-02-203 - 2 3 (0-3)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)
group stageInternazionaleSporting2006-11-221 - 0 5 (2-3)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)
group stageChelsea F.C.Barcelona2006-10-181 - 0 4 (1-3)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)
group stageBenficaManchester United2006-09-260 - 1 5 (2-3)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)
qualifiers 3rd roundShakhtarLegia Warszawa2006-08-091 - 0 4 (2-2)0 (0-0)1 (1-0)0 (0-0)
WC 2006
1/4 finalsItalyUkraine2006-06-303 - 0 3 (0-3)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)
round of 16EnglandEcuador2006-06-251 - 0 6 (3-3)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)
group stageJapanCroatia2006-06-180 - 0 5 (3-2)0 (0-0)1 (0-1)0 (0-0)
group stageArgentinaCote d'Ivoire2006-06-102 - 1 5 (3-2)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)
UEFA Cup 2005 - 2006
round of 16UdineseLevski Sofia2006-03-090 - 0 3 (1-2)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)
Champions League 2005-2006
1st knockoutBayern MunichAC Milan2006-02-211 - 1 2 (0-2)0 (0-0)1 (0-1)0 (0-0)
group stageReal MadridLyon2005-11-231 - 1 7 (2-5)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)
group stageBenficaVillarreal2005-11-020 - 1 4 (1-3)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)
group stagePanathinaikosBarcelona2005-10-180 - 0 4 (2-2)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)
qualifiers 3rd roundAnorthosisGlasgow Rangers2005-08-091 - 2 5 (2-3)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)
WC 2006 qualifiers - Europe
play-offsTurkeySwitzerland2005-11-164 - 2 9 (5-4)0 (0-0)2 (1-1)0 (0-0)
DenmarkGreece2005-10-081 - 0 7 (1-6)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)
SwedenBulgaria2005-09-033 - 0 4 (1-3)1 (0-1)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)
ArmeniaRomania2004-11-171 - 1 2 (2-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)
SloveniaItaly2004-10-091 - 0 6 (3-3)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)
WC 2005 u17
finalMexico u17Brazil u172005-10-023 - 0 7 (4-3)1 (0-1)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)
1/2 finalsTurkey u17Brazil u172005-09-293 - 4 9 (7-2)3 (3-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)
group stageQatar u17Brazil u172005-09-230 - 6 5 (3-2)2 (2-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)
group stageCote d'Ivoire u17Korea DPR u172005-09-200 - 3 4 (4-0)0 (0-0)1 (0-1)0 (0-0)
group stagePeru u17Ghana u172005-09-161 - 1 5 (2-3)1 (0-1)1 (1-0)0 (0-0)
WC 2006 qualifiers - Asia
3rd stageKorea DPRJapan2005-06-080 - 2 4 (3-1)1 (1-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)
Champions League 2004-2005
1/4 finalsLiverpoolJuventus2005-04-052 - 1 0 (0-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)
1st knockoutWerder BremenLyon2005-02-230 - 3 3 (1-2)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)
group stageAC MilanShakhtar2004-11-244 - 0 3 (2-1)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)
group stageManchester UnitedFenerbahce SK2004-09-286 - 2 3 (1-2)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)
3rd roundDeportivo La CorunaOlympiakos2004-09-150 - 0 4 (2-2)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)
qualifiers 3rd roundDynamo KyivTrabzonspor2004-08-101 - 2 4 (3-1)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)
UEFA Cup 2003 - 2004
4th roundVillarrealAS Roma2004-03-112 - 0 2 (1-1)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)
3rd roundBrøndbyBarcelona2004-02-260 - 1 3 (1-2)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)
WC 2003 u20
1/2 finalsSpain u20Colombia u202003-12-151 - 0 6 (3-3)0 (0-0)1 (1-0)0 (0-0)
round of 16Ireland u20Colombia u202003-12-092 - 3 4 (1-3)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)
group stageArgentina u20Mali u202003-12-043 - 1 3 (0-3)2 (1-1)1 (0-1)0 (0-0)
group stagePanama u20UAE u202003-12-011 - 2 5 (3-2)1 (1-0)1 (0-1)0 (0-0)
Champions League 2003-2004
group stageInternazionaleLokomotiv Moskva2003-11-051 - 1 3 (2-1)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)
group stageDeportivo La CorunaMonaco2003-10-211 - 0 2 (0-2)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)
qualifiers 3rd roundSlaviaCelta de Vigo2003-08-272 - 0 6 (1-5)1 (0-1)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)
Euro 2004 qualifiers
MacedoniaEngland2003-09-061 - 2 6 (4-2)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)
GreeceUkraine2003-06-111 - 0 2 (0-2)0 (0-0)1 (1-0)0 (0-0)
LatviaSweden2002-09-070 - 0 4 (2-2)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)
UEFA Cup 2002 - 2003
1/2 finalsCelticBoavista FC2003-04-101 - 1 6 (2-4)0 (0-0)1 (1-0)0 (0-0)
Champions League 2002-2003
2nd group stageDortmundLokomotiv Moskva2003-03-123 - 0 1 (0-1)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)
2nd group stageValenciaAS Roma2003-02-260 - 3 3 (1-2)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)
2nd group stageBarcelonaNewcastle United2002-12-113 - 1 1 (0-1)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)
group stageInternazionaleRosenborg2002-10-303 - 0 1 (1-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)
group stageAuxerreArsenal2002-10-020 - 1 1 (1-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)
qualifiers 3rd roundNewcastle UnitedZeljeznicar2002-08-284 - 0 3 (1-2)1 (0-1)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)
UEFA Cup 2001 - 2002
4th roundLyonLiberec2002-02-211 - 1 2 (0-2)0 (0-0)1 (0-1)0 (0-0)
3rd roundLeeds UnitedGrasshopper2001-12-062 - 2 2 (1-1)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)
Champions League 2001-2002
group stageBayern MunichSpartak Moskva2001-10-175 - 1 0 (0-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)
group stageFenerbahce SKLyon2001-09-250 - 1 1 (1-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)
qualifiers 2nd roundTorpedo KutaisiKobenhavn2001-07-251 - 1 1 (1-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)
WC 2002 qualifiers - Europe
MoldovaTurkey2001-10-060 - 3 2 (1-1)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)
CyprusIreland2001-03-240 - 4 2 (1-1)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)
UEFA Cup 2000 - 2001
2nd roundBoavista FCAS Roma2000-10-260 - 1 0 (0-0)1 (1-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)
1st roundDrnovice1860 Munchen2000-09-120 - 0 0 (0-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)
Champions League 2000-2001
qualifiers 2nd roundKaunasGlasgow Rangers2000-08-020 - 0 5 (2-3)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)
UEFA Cup 1999 - 2000
2nd roundJuventusLevski Sofia1999-11-041 - 1 0 (0-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)0 (0-0)
1st roundCelticHapoel Tel Aviv1999-09-162 - 0 0 (0-0)0 (0-0)1 (1-0)0 (0-0)