Former top FIFA referee Jan Keizer died on 18 November 2024, at the age of 84, after being ill for a long time.
Jan Keizer debuted as referee in professional football in 1966 and ended his active career on 29 May 1988 with the match between FC Twente and FC Groningen. Keizer was a FIFA referee from 1974 to 1987, being one of the top referees in the 80s. He refereed the final of the 1984 Olympic tournament between France and Brazil, the 1988 UEFA Cup final and attended the 1984 European Championship in France and the 1986 World Cup in Mexico. In total, Keizer refereed 386 matches in Dutch professional football, 32 international A matches and 148 European club matches.
Keizer was not popular with everyone in his time as a referee. He was known as a perky and pedantic referee due to his language and gestures. However, it is less known that football clubs and other organizations could almost always count on his cooperation whether it was an anniversary of the club, a lecture, refereeing of a match for the disabled or a ribbon that had to be cut. Jan Keizer struggled with dementia during the last years of his life. He described himself as a family man and leaves behind a wife (Netty), two sons (Edwin and Johan), a daughter (Igna) and six grandchildren.
Source: Noordhollands