- Fatima Godinho, 62, died while taking photos during her holiday in the Azores
- Luis Godinho is the president of the Portuguese Football Referees Association
A Portuguese referee criticised for booking Harry Kane during England’s Euro 2024 qualifier against Malta is in mourning after his mother fell into a ravine while taking a selfie on holiday.
Luis Godinho’s mother, Fatima, lost her life after losing her balance while taking photos on the island of Sao Miguel, in the Azores.
The tragedy occurred at around 1.30pm yesterday in an impressive natural park called Ribeira dos Caldeiroes.
Local reports said the 62-year-old man fell about 20 metres down a waterfall and was already dead when firefighters arrived.
It was not immediately clear whether she was alone at the time or with friends or family.
Harry Kane was yellow-carded for jumping in England’s Euro 2024 qualifier against Malta
Fatima Godinho, 62, lost her life after losing her balance while taking photos in a stunning Azorean natural park called Ribeira dos Caldeiroes.
Godinho and his family received a message of support from the Portuguese Football Referees Association (APAF), of which he was sworn in as president at its General Assembly in April.
‘APAF sends its condolences to the President of the General Assembly, Luis Godinho, and to his family for the irreparable loss they have suffered with the death of his mother,’ it said in a statement.
‘Our most sincere condolences from the entire refereeing family to Luis and his family.’
Players and fans were left baffled when Godinho booked Kane for simulation during the Three Lions’ 2-0 win over Malta last November after he was fouled inside the area by goalkeeper Henry Bonello.
The Bayern Munich striker admitted after the match that he was “surprised” the decision was not overturned, but added elegantly: “Sometimes the VAR doesn’t want to interfere too much, but it is what it is. This is football and it’s part of the game.”
In the same match, Declan Rice had a fantastic goal disallowed because Kane allegedly interfered with play from an offside position.
In January 2017, father-of-two Godinho made headlines by sending off Porto midfielder Danilo after stepping on him.
The bizarre refereeing decision came in the 79th minute of Porto’s away game against Moreirense, when the referee was jogging backwards on the pitch with his eyes focused on the play.
Luis Godinho is the president of the Portuguese Football Referees Association
Godinho gave Danilo a second yellow card and then a red card after he tackled the player and interpreted the midfielder’s push to get away from him as an act of petulance.
The decision to expel him was described at the time as one of the most absurd in history.
Danilo took to his Instagram account after the match to share his frustration.
He said: ‘I have seen and reviewed the images over a hundred times and I honestly cannot understand this gentleman’s criteria for making such a decision.
‘I’ve seen a lot of football episodes but this was definitely the most embarrassing!’