Francis Rion | |
Birth Date: | 10 June 1933 |
Birth Place: | Dalhem, Belgium |
Nationality: | Belgian |
Occupation: | Football referee |
Francis Rion (10 June 1933 – 3 November 2022) was a Belgian football referee.[1] He was an international referee until 1981 and notably officiated the 1978 FIFA World Cup quarterfinal between Italy and Austria,[2] a 1 to 0 victory for the Italians.[3]
In 1994, Rion founded a referee supporters' club in Malmedy named Lès Djoyeûs Dragons d'Mâm'dî with the support of Standard Liège.[4] He became honorary president of the club in 2013. In 2015, he was made an honorary member of the Famille des Rouches, an associate of supporters of Standard Liège.