Karoly PALOTAI

Károly Palotai was captain of the victorious Hungarian football team at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics. He was not only a famous footballer, but a referee and sports manager. His football career started with Békéscsaba in 1953, and after a short period of time in Germany, he played with Győri ETO until the end of his sport career (1967).

Palotai later worked as an internationally recognized FIFA referee and as a sports manager. He refereed at three FIFA World Cups (1974-82), three European Championship (1976-84), and two Olympics (1972-1976). In addition, he officiated the final of the European Cup in 1976 and 1981, the European Cup Winners’ Cup final in 1979, as well as the first leg of the finals at the UEFA Cup in 1974/75. Between 1983 and 1985, he was a member of the Hungarian Olympic Committee, and later a member of the Hungarian Football Association.