David Elleray

He has held the position of Technical Director for the International Football Association Board since at least May 2016.

Elleray was awarded an honorary doctorate from Sheffield Hallam University in 2010. He was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2014 Birthday Honours for services to football.

Elleray is a career geography teacher and spent over 30 years at Harrow School, where he held various leadership roles such as head of geography, director of boarding, and housemaster of Druries House before his retirement in 2009. Early in his teaching career, he was noted for controversially reintroducing football (which had not been played there since 1927) at Harrow - a school better known for its rugby and cricket traditions - in 1977.

In 2004 Elleray accepted the position as Honorary President of the Board of the Referees' Association of England for three years, and was a FIFA and UEFA referee assessor and instructor. He was chairman of the Independent Schools Football Association.

He retired from refereeing at the end of the 2002–03 season. His last match was Newcastle United's 1–0 win over Birmingham on 3 May 2003, during which he sent-off Blues defender Matthew Upson.

In 2002 Elleray was voted onto the FA Council as the member for Independent Schools.

Elleray stepped down as a FIFA-listed referee in 1999, having officiated 78 international matches in 35 countries. He officiated at Wembley Stadium 13 times but was unable to officiate at the 1998 World Cup in France due to school commitments.

In 1999 Elleray had death threats from Manchester United supporters after Liverpool made a comeback which could have prevented their team winning the title. He correctly awarded Liverpool a penalty following pushing by Jesper Blomqvist on Oyvind Leonhardsen. Although he won the ball, he had clearly pushed the Norwegian and should have been sent off for a professional foul. Elleray then correctly sent off Dennis Irwin by giving a second yellow card for kicking the ball away. The game ended 2-2 after United had led 2-0. Martin Edwards, the United chairman, preposterously claimed that a medal should be struck for Elleray should Arsenal win the league. The result however did not impact United's pole position or winning the title that season due to Arsenal losing at Leeds a few days later so therefore not taking advantage. It was a long time before Elleray refereed United again.

During his refereeing career, Elleray is remembered for a number of incidents, including awarding a dubious penalty kick to Manchester United in the 1994 FA Cup Final against Chelsea. Elleray later admitted in his autobiography that he "blew without thinking" and although he knew he had made a mistake, he could not change his mind. He was also the referee when Ryan Giggs scored his 'wonder goal' in the 1999 FA Cup semi-final replay against Arsenal at Villa Park, and when David Beckham scored from inside his own half against Wimbledon in 1996. Even though he sent-off Manchester United's Roy Keane four times, when he retired Keane sent him a letter wishing him well and a signed jersey.

Elleray was recognised by coaches, players and fans for being a firm, fair and consistent referee. After the 1994 FA Cup Final, UEFA president Lennart Johansson told Elleray: "Europe needs referees like you. I do not care whether the second penalty was a foul or not. The easy decision would to have given nothing. You showed strength and courage. Congratulations!"

Elleray was educated at Dover Grammar School for Boys where he excelled at a range of sports and started refereeing football games at the age of 13 to earn extra pocket money. He won a scholarship to read geography at Hertford College, Oxford and was a keen rugby player and rower. While at university, he was promoted through the Hellenic, Isthmian and Panel Leagues and eventually become a Football League referee in 1986. He remained there until his inclusion on the original Premier League Referees' List in 1992, and also became a FIFA referee in that year.

David Roland Elleray, MBE (born 3 September 1954 in Dover, Kent), is an English former football referee who officiated in the Football League, Premier League and for FIFA. As of May 2016 he held the position of Technical Director at the IFAB.