Şazi Tezcan

Şazi Tezcan
	Tezcan in 1947
Personal information
Full name	Şazi Tezcan
Date of birth	1907
Place of birth	Constantinople, Ottoman Empire
Date of death	1962 (aged 54–55)
Place of death	Turkey
Position(s)	Goalkeeper
Senior career*
Years	Team
	Darüşşafaka
	Kasımpaşa
	Beykoz
Other occupation
Other occupation	Physical education teacher
Other occupation	Physical education teacher
International
Years	League
1948	FIFA listed
	*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Şazi Tezcan (1907–1962) was a Turkish football player and referee. He became Turkey's first referee to officiate an international match, and became a FIFA referee in 1948.

Playing career

Born in 1907 in Constantinople (modern-day Istanbul),^[1] Tezcan played as a goalkeeper for Darüşşafaka, Kasımpaşa, and Beykoz.^[2] He was also a physical education teacher at the Commercial High School.^[2] In 1928 Tezcan broke his arm, and was unable to continue playing football and working as a teacher.^[2]

Refereeing career

In 1932, Tezcan attended the Turkish Football Federation's first training courses for referees, obtaining his diploma and starting his refereeing career.^[2] On 28 November 1937, Tezcan officiated a match at the Taksim Stadium between Fenerbahçe and Greek side AEK, which ended in a 3–2 win for AEK.^[2] Tezcan expelled Esad'ı of Fenerbahçe, despite yellow and red cards not existing at the time;^[3] the referee was punished with a lifetime ban.^[2] The Istanbul District Disciplinary Board overturned the decision on 5 March 1938.^[3]

On 1 October 1940, a new law was enacted in Turkey where referees were officially licensed: Tezcan was given the first "national referee" license.^[2] On 4 May 1947, Tezcan refereed an international game between Lebanon and Syria at the Beirut Municipal Stadium,^[4] becoming the first Turkish referee to officiate a match between two international sides.^[2] He became a FIFA referee in 1948, earning the FIFA badge.^[2]

Death

Tezcan died in 1962.^[2]

References

^ "Şazi Tezcan - Spordb". spordb.com. Retrieved 7 February 2021.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j Karakuş, Anıl (22 December 2017). "İlk Milli hakemimiz Şazi Tezcan". gzt.com. Retrieved 7 February 2021.
^ ^a ^b Görgün, Ege (31 October 2011). "Aynı anda hem hakemdi hem spor yazarı: B. Şazi Tezcan". Goal.com. Retrieved 7 February 2021.
^ K., A. (3 May 1947). "Cinq minutes aveq M. Tezcan arbitre international". Le-Jour.