John Blankenstein was a Dutch professional football referee and one of the first gay officials at the top level of men’s football.
During his career, Blankenstein became one of the Netherlands’ most respected referees, officiating in the Eredivisie and on the international stage during the 1980s and 1990s.
He was regarded as a firm and authoritative official, handling high-profile domestic fixtures and European matches.
His career highlights included officiating the UEFA Cup final in 1993 and being chosen to referee in the 1992 European Championship.
Blankenstein never made a secret that he was gay during his professional career, which was highly unusual in men’s elite football at the time.
Blankenstein reported receiving homophobic abuse from fans and facing prejudice within the sport. Despite this, he continued officiating at the highest level and maintained his public visibility.
After retiring, Blankenstein became increasingly active in anti-discrimination work. He collaborated with the Royal Dutch Football Association (KNVB) on initiatives aimed at addressing homophobia and promoting inclusion in Dutch football.
Blankenstein died in 2006 at the age of 57. He is widely cited in discussions about LGBTQ+ representation in men’s professional football, particularly among match officials.
In 2008, the John Blankenstein Foundation was established in the Netherlands to continue anti-discrimination and inclusion work in sport.