Charles Van de Veegaete

Charles Van de Veegaete (22 December 1877 – 1956) was a Belgian international referee who was a co-founder, president, and patron of US Tourquennoise, whose stadium now bears his name. He is the author of one of the first books on refereeing, L'Arbitre, the first edition of which appeared in the mid-1950s.

Sporting career In 1898, Van de Veegaete participated in the creation of the US Tourquennoise (UST), where he was captain of the first team until 1904, when he retired. and he remained an active part of the club until as late as 1923, when the local press stated that "Charles Van de Veegaete, the excellent referee from the North, who has been, for about twenty-five years, the driving force, the very soul of the Union Sportive Tourquennoise". His affection for the club was such that he only reluctantly attended the matches played by his protégés, and when they were in difficulty, "he looks away, so strong is his emotion". Van de Veegaete is especially recognized in the world of football for having written one of the first treatises on refereeing, such as L'Arbitre, the first edition of which appeared in the mid-1950s.

Later life During the First World War, Van de Veegaete remained in Tourcoing, "waiting for his children to come and deliver him from the yoke of the invader".

Death and legacy Van Veegaete was named a knight of the Legion of Honour in 1949. He died in 1956, at the age of either 68 or 69.

Works L'Arbitre (1956) Le football et ses règles L'arbitre de football: 463 questions et réponses sur les 17 lois du jeu avec 42 diagrammes de hors-jeu / L'art de se placer et de se déplacer / Quelques conseils à l'arbitre ("The football referee: 463 questions and answers on the 17 laws of the game with 42 offside diagrams / The art of positioning and moving / Some advice for the referee").