Dublin-born Dermot Gallagher has more than 30 years' experience of officiating. After only three and a half years on the Football League’s list of referees he was elected to FIFA, and he spent 12 years refereeing in the Premiership.

What’s the best advice you can give to amateur refs wanting to make it pro?
I would never advise an amateur ref to make it pro, they should take it step by step at a time. It’s all about rungs on the ladder. It’s alright having dreams and suchlike – I’m not trying to knock anybody’s enthusiasm – but I think it’s best to take it in bitesize chunks: from junior league level to senior league level, then to semi-pro level and move on.

There have been some high-profile marginal offsides recently. What do you think of the technology that some people would like to see introduced into the game?
I’m adamant that goal line technology has to come. The quote I always use is that I came to England in 1969, when a man landed on the moon; thirty-six years later, I see Roy Carroll hook a ball out of the stands at Old Trafford. That to me doesn’t stand up. Let’s get that replay 100 percent – and then if there’s anything else we can do on the back of it. But do that one first.

What’s the worst abuse you’ve ever received?
 Tomas Repka gave me a right good one in 2002, for which I sent him off. But to his credit, three and a half years later – on the day he left West Ham – he knocked on my door and said “I’m leaving tonight; I’m really sorry, I was going through a bad time” and gave me a signed shirt. So good always comes out of bad.

What's the best way to stamp out abuse in the game?
I think the FA's current “Respect” programme is pretty good. They're making it go from the top to the bottom, which is interesting because before it’s always been the guy in the local park that takes the stick. Pro rata, he pays more money for a red and yellow card. Now it’s down to the professionals, who’ve got a duty and a responsibility. Let it cascade down.

Who was the best player you ever refereed?
I refereed so many great players it was unbelievable. Marco van Basten springs to mind, and I refereed Ronaldo when Bobby Robson signed him at 17 for PSV. But the nicest player, who was also one of the best, was Gianfranco Zola – the perfect gentleman, on and off the pitch.

Who is the best referee of all time?
In England, George Courtney. I didn’t model myself on anybody, but I watched George and I thought he was an absolute icon of a referee. He just stood for the stuff I believed in, he looked athletic, he was purposeful, he had everything.

But I also like a Hungarian called Károly Palotai, an ex-footballer whom I happened to meet when I refereed in Budapest once. I listened to him talk for two hours on the way back to the airport, and I just drooled over the stuff he was saying. I couldn’t believe I was in the car with an icon like that.

What do you think about the idea of ex-footballers becoming referees?
I’m all for it, to be honest. This business of you’ve got to go 20 years before you make the top is rubbish. Michael Owen played for England when he was 18. If an ex-footballer is good enough to be a Premier League referee, let him do it. But I think you have to be wary that if he does it, and he doesn’t shape up, he’s got to be accountable like all the other referees.

Is it true that most referees only start because they can’t play football?
Well I wasn’t very good at football, I didn’t know the laws of the game, my hair was falling out, my eyesight was no good... so I thought I’d become a referee!

Dermot Gallagher was speaking at the launch of Special Olympics Great Britain Unified Football programme in partnership with The Vodafone Foundation.

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