FORMER Durban North resident and principal of Virginia Preparatory School, Ian McLeod, has died. The South African Football Association (Safa) confirmed the 63-year-old died on Thursday evening.

McLeod, who became the first South African to referee in a FIFA World Cup when he officiated in the 1998 global showpiece in France, was admitted to last week hospital after telling his wife that he was not feeling well.

In a statement, the Premier Soccer League (PSL) said they would observe a moment of silence for the long-serving referee.

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Over the past few months, he was a match commissioner at several matches in South Africa reported The Citizen.

McLeod has had extensive experience in primary school education. In 1981 he worked at Glenashley Senior Primary School and thereafter Harburg Primary School, where he held the position of principal.

In 1993, he became not only the principal of Virginia Preparatory School, but also a FIFA referee. In 2000 McLeod was appointed as Crawford Preparatory Durban principal and later in 2002 he was transferred to Crawford Preparatory Pretoria as their principal.

Former top referee Ian McLeod has passed away. He was admitted in hospital last week & sadly passed on this evening.
May his soul RIP pic.twitter.com/ZNadAH3Lxi

— SAFA.net (@SAFA_net) October 26, 2017

@ThabisoTema RIP Ian Mcleod he was the first SA referee to ref at FIFA world cup. may his soul rest. pic.twitter.com/f1JgfnKqHz

— George Mokwena (@GmMokwena) October 27, 2017

https://twitter.com/AndileMlondo/status/923798464093401088

The passing on of seasoned referee and later a match commissioner Ian McLeod is a tragic loss to the sport fraternity. May his soul RIP

— Lefty Mashego (@mashego_lefty) October 27, 2017

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