The two sons of the only Bermudian to officiate in a World Cup football match have paid tribute to their father’s groundbreaking legacy.

Keith Dunstan, who ran the line in three matches at the 1970 tournament in Mexico, died suddenly last Saturday at the age of 82. His death came just two days before his older brother, Calvin Junior Dunstan, passed away on Monday.

His sons, Charles and Thomas, spoke of their pride in the contribution their father made on the football pitch as well as the wider community.

“As children, we would always play football and cricket around the yard,” said Charles Dunstan. “Lots of children from the neighbourhood would come down and inevitably he would stop the job he was doing and join in.

“He always loved football. It was always a big part of our life growing up, especially as our uncle on my mother’s side was Arnold Woollard, who played professional football (for Newcastle United) in England.

“Dad was always talking about his time at the World Cup. He had all sorts of stories from his time there. I think I only began to realise just what he had achieved in the football world after he came back from the World Cup.”

Mr Dunstan was a hugely respected referee in Bermuda and was the first Bermudian to earn a Class 1 licence and become a Fifa-listed official.

He refereed at the 1967 Pan-Am Games, taking charge of a hotly contested semi-final during which he endured threats and physical violence after sending off two Colombian players.

At the 1970 World Cup he ran the line in the opening match between Mexico and the USSR at the Azteca Stadium in Mexico City in front of 120,000 people. He also went on to officiate in the game between El Salvador and Mexico as well as the quarter-final showdown between Mexico and Italy which Italy won 4-1.

Thomas Dunstan said: “He was always so engaging with anyone he met and a very personable man. As a father he was quite strict and disciplined

“I remember going to restaurants and he would disappear off to the kitchen to thank the chef and speak with the waiters. He would make sure he got to know everyone by name.

“Wherever he went it always seemed that he ended up going beyond what was expected of him, helping with maintenance, security, or just being the guy to sort things out.”

Mr Dunstan was born in Bermuda in 1934 to Albert and Florence Dunstan, the youngest of four siblings Vincent, Calvin and Patricia.

He grew up in the Elbow Beach area and attended Mount St Agnes school before embarking on a career as a photographer.

He married his wife, Carol, in Bermuda in 1959 and four years later began working at the airport for Pan Am and later American Airlines. The airport would remain his workplace until he retired in 1989.

The talented footballer, who enjoyed success domestically for BAA, turned to refereeing in 1956 after suffering appendicitis while on tour.

He quickly rose through the ranks, developing a reputation as a strong but fair official, not afraid to take the big decisions. After becoming the first Bermudian to officiate in a World Cup, he hung up his boots and whistle a year later.

“I remember dad coming back from the World Cup and being invited to a game involving Manchester United at the National Stadium,” said Charles. “He got to meet some incredible people through football like Sir Stanley Matthews and other stars of the game.

“He was quite a conundrum in some ways because in public he was charismatic and someone who would always be noticed at parties. But often my mother would have to drag him out of the house. Once he was out he was the life and soul.”

After retiring, Mr Dunstan became a taxi driver for several years before working in Smith’s in the men’s department. Just prior to his death Mr Dunstan had been admitted to hospital after returning from Great Britain, where he and his wife had been visiting family.

He was discharged from hospital on Saturday but had to be readmitted just moments after returning home and died the same day.

His family will scatter his ashes at Elbow Beach where he played as a child.

Larry Mussenden, the president of the Bermuda Football Association, last night extended condolences on behalf of the BFA executive, staff and all affiliates.

“Keith will be remembered for his sterling performance on the field as a referee during an exciting time of social change in Bermuda. Keith has also excelled on the international stage as a Fifa referee and represented Bermuda with pride at the World Cup level.

“The BFA is keen to have Bermudian referees on the Fifa list and we can hold up Keith Dunstan as a beacon for young referees to let them know that they can officiate on the world stage and continue to make Bermuda proud.

“We extend our condolences once again and we wish the family to know that we have them in our thoughts and prayers at this time.”