 | |||
| Full name | John Blankenstein | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Born |
12 February 1949 De Bilt, Netherlands | ||
| Died |
25 August 2006 (aged 57) The Hague, Netherlands | ||
| Other occupation | Head of 'Referee-Affairs Professional Football' of the Royal Dutch Football Association | ||
| Domestic | |||
| Years | League | Role | |
| 1966–1979 | Eerste Divisie | Referee | |
| 1979–1996 | Eredivisie | Referee | |
| International | |||
| Years | League | Role | |
| 1985–1995 | FIFA listed | Referee | |
John Blankenstein (12 February 1949 in De Bilt – 25 August 2006 in The Hague) was a Dutch football referee and gay rights activist. He was notable for being one of the first homosexual athletes to come out in the Netherlands.[1]
- ^ Herman, Ryan (2021-06-26). "How football's first openly gay referee shocked the tabloids". The New European. Retrieved 2023-08-01.