1985: Angella - Constantinov - Coppola

Three distinguished personalities during the International tournament "Kirdjali Cup", Bulgaria 1985. The French Alphonse Angella (in the middle) along with the International referrers Andrey Constantinov from Bulgaria (on the left) and Luigi Coppola from Italy (on the right). Alphonse Angella apart being one of the best International referees of the last decades, he has been also President of LEN TWPC and co-founder of AIA (International Referrers Association).

Source: courtesy of Mr. Andrey Constantinov

1984, Los Angeles: Csepregi coaching Canada

Gabor Csepregi, Coach of Canada at Los Angeles 1984 Olympic Games at the bench along with Geoff Brow, Brian Collyer, Bill Meyer and Robert Thompson (assistant coach). At the right side appears the Greek International referee Takis Panagakos.
Source: courtesy of Mr. Gabor Csepregi.

1981: The referee’s squad in Split

Group of international referees, in player’s costume, prior to a friendly match against the Journalists team, in the margin of Split 1981 European Championships.
Front row L-R: Silha (Romania), Klisovic (Yugoslavia), Petrasovic (Austria), Butz (West Germany), Janssen (Netherlands). Middle row L-R: Klaric (Yugoslavia), Westermark (Finland), Bonev (Bulgaria), Toygarly (Turkey), Hantal (Turkey). Back row L-R: Blan (West Germany), Papazian (France), Prelovsky (Czechoslovakia), Angella (France), David (France), Vander Vreken (Belgium), Timoc (Romania), Burge (Great Britain), Bookelman (Netherlands), Pizzorno (Italy) and Klemencic (Yugoslavia).
Source: International Swimming and Water Polo; 1982/2 Nr 6

1972, Munich: debut of Eugenio Asencio

Olympic debut of the legendary Catalan referee Eugenio Asencio in Munich 1972 Olympic Games.
Source: archives Mateo Manguillot family

1955: Manuel Segura in action

Manuel Segura, the best International referee of Argentina and South America during the 50’s.
To note the flag ....used at the time by the Argentinean referee.
Source: magazine “El Grafico” February 1955

1968, Mexico: Abe Fuchs officiating the grand final

Abe Fuchs, in action, during the final game of Mexico 1968 Olympic Games.
Source: private collection

1968, Mexico: Abe Fuchs officiating the grand final

Abe Fuchs from Belgium, one of the best International referrers of the 60’s and 70’s in action, while officiating the final game between Yugoslavia and USSR in Mexico 1968 Olympic Games.
Source: private collection

1968, Mexico: Accreditation of Mateo Manguillot

The accreditation card of the Spanish referee Mateo Manguillot in Mexico 1968 Olympic Games. Manguillot has been one of the best International referrers during the 60’s and 70’s. In 1972 he has been selected as member of FINA IWPC.
Source: archives Mateo Manguillot family

1968, Mexico: Parrini and Angella create A.I.A.

Mexico, 1968 Olympic Games: The International referees Giovanni Parrini (Italy) and Alphonse Angella (France) bring forward the initiative to create the «Association Internationale des Arbitres de Water Polo – A.I.A.». Along with them, first members of the A.I.A. Board have been elected: Alberto Amaya (Cuba), Nikolai Prostjakov (USSR), Renato Di Gennaro (Italy) and Mateo Manguillot (Spain).
Source: Un siglo de Water Polo y de filatelia tematica en el mundo; Juan Antonio Sierra

1975: The International summit of Baku

The International Water Polo referees and officials summit, at Baku USSR, in 1975 to evaluate the proposal for application of the double refereeing system during the Water Polo games. Among distinguished referees and officials we recognize: C.Marculescu (Romania), F.Salomon (Hungary), G.Koenigh (Hungary), A.Amaya (Cuba), R.Helmick (USA), Van Dorp (Netherlands), Exerov (Bulgaria), D.Brusalis (Greece), A.Tsantas (Greece), V.Sciapina (USSR).

Source: courtesy of Mr. Apostolos Tsantas

1975: The draw of European club Competitions

The expressive lady while proceeding with the draw of the 1975 European Club competitions, held in Belgrade, under the authority of Mr. Ante Lambasa, President of LEN TWPC.

Source: courtesy of Apostolos Tsantas

1975: Ante Lambasa explains the draw procedures

The legendary Yugoslavian official Mr. Ante Lambasa under the capacity of President of LEN TWPC explains the draw procedures for the European club competitions in Belgrade 1975. Among various club representatives appears into the middle the Greek referre Apostolos Tsantas representing the teams of Ethnicos and Olympiacos Piraeus.

Source: courtesy of Mr.Apostolos Tsantas

1968: The pioneers of Greek Refereeing

Takis Panagakos, Apostolos Tsantas and the veteran Nikos Bistis three of the pioneers of the Greek refereeing during a match at the pool of Athens "Zapeion" in 1968. During the 70's and beginning of 80's the couple "Tsantas and Panagakos" were representing Greece at major International competitions. Nikos Bistis was the visionary ex referee who promoted the idea of enlarging the class of Greek referees by organizing specific schools by the mid 70's.

Source: courtesy of Mr. Apostolos Tsantas

1975: The referres summit at Baku, USSR

The International Water Polo referees and officials summit at Baku, USSR in 1975, prior to Montreal Olympic Games, in order to discuss the proposal for application of the double refereeing system during the Water Polo games. First raw: Boris Popov (coach USSR)
Second raw L-R:: George Koenigh (Hungary), Fred van Dorp (Netherlands), Ferenc Salomon (Hungary), Cornel Marculescu (Romania). At the third raw we recognize the Greeks Apostolos Tsantas and Dick Brusalis.

Source: courtesy of Mr. Apostolos Tsantas

1972: The International Referrees Congress

The International Water Polo Referees during their annual Congress held in Budapest in 1972. In the first line third from left appears Mateo Manguillot (Spain), while at the second raw the Greek referees Apostolos Tsantas, Andreas Kalomiris and Nikos Bistis.

Source: courtesy of Mr. Apostolos Tsantas

Eugeni Asencio: The “fair” and “modest” Catalan referee

Eugeni Asencio, born 1937 in Barcelona has been one of the best ever International referees. Eugeni Asencio played Water Polo at the “Club Natación Barcelona” during late 50’s and early 60’s. He started his exceptional refereeing carrier, at the "6 Nations tournament of Vesteros" in Sweden 1969. He represented Spain to five Olympic Games: Munich, 1972 Moscow, 1980, Los Angeles 1984, Seoul 1988 and Barcelona 1992. Among the 432 International games he officiated at the Olympic Games, World and European Championships, he had the honour to officiate the final games at Los Angeles 1984 and Seoul 1988 Olympics and the final at Madrid, 1986 World Championships. At the Barcelona 1992, Olympics he has been selected to sweat the Olympic Official’s Oath on behalf of all Sports officials participating at the Games. The Spanish Government has rewarded Eugeni Asencio by the “Real orden del Merito” in recognition of his fairness and dedication to Water Polo.

1958, Budapest: The legendary Spanish referees

Mateo Manguillot and Tomas Batalle, the legendary Spanish referees, saved the prestige of Spanish Water Polo in Budapest 1958, European Championships. Batalle officiated four games: Holland - Great Britain 4-2, Italy - East Germany 8-3, Hungary - Yugoslavia 5-3 and the final Hungary - USSR 4-2. Manguillot has refereed the games: Hungary - Belgium 7-0, Holland - Yugoslavia 1-4, Yugoslavia - USSR 2-3 and Belgium - Poland 1-4.
Tomas Batalle debuted into the London 1948 Olympic Games. In 1960 he moved to FINA’s IWPC and retired on 1972.
Mateo Maguillot started his International carrier on 1955 during the Mediterranean Games of Barcelona and substituted Batalle to IWPC on 1972. He retired on 1984.
Source: "Historia del Water Polo Espanol"; Juan Antonio Sierra.

1992, Barcelona: Eugeni Asencio recites the Olympic Oath

The Catalan Eugeni Asencio, one of the best referees in the history of Water Polo, recites the Olympic Oath on behalf of all sports Judges and Technical Officials, at the Barcelona 1992, Olympic Games. Recognition of his dedication to the Sport and the 432 Water Polo games that he officiated during his exceptional carrier.
Source: Juan Antonio Sierra; Un siglo de Water Polo y de filatelia tematica en e mundo.

1982: A unique match at the Hajos Alfred Pool

Summer 1982: The team of Hungarian Journalists and Referees Vs Foreign Referees at the Hajos Alfred Swimming pool in Budapest (final result 4:3). Referees: Dr. Karpati (Hungary) and Alfred Balen (West Berlin). Hungarian team: Dombi, Konigh, Dr. Salamon, Marjai, Peterdi, Kelemen, Gyarfas, Kosci, Coach: Halasi. Foreign team: Gelli (Spain), Lambasa (Yugoslavia), Silha (Rumania), Selzam (FRG), Demey (France), Chirunas (Soviet Union), Merola (Italy), Tsantas (Greece), Goersten (Holland), Coach: Josef Dirnweber.
After the game Gyorgy Konigh from Hungary said: Hungarian Water Polo is still alive...We won 4-3, allthough after the match the foreign masters of the whistle begged us to annouce 4:4....We offer them a botle of wine, invite them to lunch, or anything they wish, but we stick to 4:3...".
Source: Tamas Gyarfas; International Swimming and Water Polo magazin; 1982 #7