Hans Wüthrich

Hans Wüthrich (* 1 November 1889, † 13 August 1982) was a was a Swiss footballer and later referee.

As footballer Wüthrich played for Concordia Basel and Yverdon-Sports. He also played for the Swiss national team.[1] He played in the game on 18 May 1913 as the Swiss won by two goals to one in Freiburg im Breisgau against Germany.[2]

After his active football Wüthrich became referee. During his time, he refereed the Swiss Cup Finals in 1934, 1937 and 1940[3] and in 1944 for the fourth time.[4]

Wüthrich was the first Swiss match official to be appointed to a FIFA World Cup final match when he was selected to run the line in the 1938 final match between Italy and Hungary in Paris. Wüthrich had already officiated in three matches prior to the final, acting as match referee in the semi-final between Italy and Brazil in Marseilles and also running the line in the notorious game between the hosts France and Italy in Paris, the game in which the Italians wore the maglia nera, a gesture of fascist defiance and provocation .

Wüthrich's performances, importantly, escaped criticism; a fillip to the reputation of his countries referees after the controversy which had surrounded Rene Mercet in the 1934 FIFA World Cup.