He was awarded the MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) in the 2011 Queen's New Years Honours List for his services to Association Football.
He was the first man to referee both the World Cup final in which he set a record of showing 14 yellow cards and a red, and the Champions League final. He began refereeing in 1989 while as a sergeant with the South Yorkshire Police.
Rotherham, South Yorkshire, England (December 2010)